Charging the iPad 3 when staying in Thailand

Instructions showing you how to recharge your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet with the USB 30 pin Apple cable with a three pin Type A power charger, recharging the iPad 3 using a three pinned Type B power charger and powering the iPad 3 using a two pin Type C power plug

Thai power outlet

Varying different combinations of region codes and sockets can often lead to confusion when planning to stay in another country, especially to the first time traveller. These step by step instructions will show what you'll need to power your iPad 3 when you're visiting Thailand by using their types B, A or C Thai 220 volt 50Hz power outlets, please be aware that Type B power outlets will be typically used by most Thai. Power sockets differ depending on which region you are in therefore we suggest reading the power supplies list for a full list of countries. If you are visiting Thailand from a different region please check that your iPad 3 can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v check the iPad 3 is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to stop the device from over-heating during charging. If you plan on visiting places like Bangkok or Chiang Rai read the Thai Wikipedia web page [1] for more indepth details on travelling to the location. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 3.

Charging the iPad 3 in Thailand

Can you use the iPad 3 in Thailand?

You can connect the iPad 3 to a Thai power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPad 3 in Thailand?

When travelling with more than your iPad 3 the best travel charger for Thailand is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Thai use three different standards of plug sockets (types B, A and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and C. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by switching the supplied heads. If your type of iPad 3 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these types of power adapters, plus additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port adapter means you can power more than one device at the same time without needing to pack individual travel chargers. Only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling and on hand for charging your iPad 3 at the airport or on the plane. Due to their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used when you return home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without needing an additional power outlet.

For those travelling frequently we suggest searching for this type of versatile power charger at an electronics retailer, the power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Thailand

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad 3, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which can be crucial for visitors of counties with unstable power grids. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America visiting Thailand.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from North America using type B plugs and gives almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Thailand. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPad 3 in Thailand?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet

Instructions showing you how to power your iPad 3 with a Thai power outlet with a 30 pin cable and a three pinned Type A power adapter.

  1. In order to power the iPad 3 from the Thai power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (typically already included with your iPad 3 by Apple).
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Thai power outlet. This plug supply (called the Type A power outlet [3]) can be recognised by the two adjacent slots where the twin pins go.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple cord into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad 3.
  4. Switch on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the tablet screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up and takes between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet

Charging the iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions showing you how to recharge your iPad 3 with a Thai power outlet with a USB 30 pin Apple cable with a three pinned Type B power charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPad 3 from the Thai power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually already included with your iPad 3).
  2. Firstly plug the Type B USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can recognise this power outlet by two thin slots parallel to each other for live and neutral blades with a single semicircular hole below for the long earth pin.
  3. Connect one end of the cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad 3.
  4. Switch on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad 3 is powering up which takes between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet with the USB 30-pin Apple cable with a two pin Type C USB charger.

  1. To charge your iPad 3 using the Thai power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will usually include the cable when you buy the iPad 3.
  2. Start the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Thai power outlet. This ungrounded power outlet is recognised by 2 adjacent holes for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad 3.
  4. Switch on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad 3 is charging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Thai power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Thai Wikipedia web page
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device 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. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  10. 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..