How to charge the iPhone 3GS when staying in Malawi

How to connect a Malawian power outlet to the iPhone 3GS

Malawian power outlet

Varying different combinations of region codes and plugs can often be daunting when planning to stay in another country, especially for the first time traveller. These instructions were written to stop visitors needing to worry if they can power the iPhone 3GS abroad.This page is a guide showing exactly how to power the iPhone 3GS when travelling to Malawi by using a 230 volt 50Hz G Type power outlet, the Malawians will use 13 amp plugs for power outlets. When travelling anywhere you'll find that most power supplies change from country to country so please read the Wiki Connections travel power connections list for a full list showing regions. If travelling to Malawi from another country please make sure your iPhone 3GS can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v make sure that the iPhone 3GS is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to avoid the device from overloading when powering up. If you plan to visit a Malawian destination like Lilongwe we suggest referring to the Malawian entry on Wikipedia [1] for more indepth details prior to travelling to the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Malawi

Can the iPhone 3GS be used in Malawi?

You can connect the iPhone 3GS to a Malawian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best power charger for the iPhone 3GS in Malawi?

When you are travelling to multiple countries the best travel adapter for Malawi to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by changing the included plugs. If your iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times with one of these power chargers plus compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger will allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel chargers or using up additional wall outlets. By only needing to pack a single international USB travel charger will keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage whilst travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, phones and speakers without needing an additional power outlet.

We suggest buying this type of flexible power charger online. The power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Malawi

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices via USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable power grids. These travel converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Malawi using 3 pin type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Malawi. [6] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPhone 3GS in Malawi?

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Malawian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Using an Apple 30 pin cable with a 3 pinned Type G power charger to power your iPhone 3GS from a Malawian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 3GS from a Malawian power outlet you will need a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should usually supply the USB cable with your iPhone 3GS).
  2. Plug in the Type G USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power outlet (technically known as the Type G power outlet [3]) looks like three vertical rectangular holes in a triangle configuration for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Switch on the Malawian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your phone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging which typically takes roughly 60-240 minutes to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Malawian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Malawian entry on Wikipedia
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable charging..
  5. USB to Apple 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..