Charging your iPad 4 from a power outlet in Belgium

Using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter to power the iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet and recharging the iPad 4 using a 2 pin Type E power adapter.

Belgian power outlet

If packing for a trip to Belgium it can be helpful to know if you can use any common electronics such as mobile phones or tablets when you get there. Without knowing which power socket to expect you are likely to bring the wrong adaptor, leaving you having to purchase a potentially expensive adaptor on arrival that could be incompatible and damage the iPad 4. Various combinations of voltages and sockets can often be daunting when planning to travel to a new country, especially to the first time traveller. This guide has been written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge your iPad 4 when staying abroad.This page is a step by step guide showing how to supply power to the iPad 4 when you're visiting Belgium using their standard E or C type Belgian 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, you'll find a majority of Belgians typically use Type E plugs in their plug outlets. When travelling to Belgium from a different country please double check the iPad 4 can accept a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) make sure the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to avoid the device from over-heating when powering up. If you plan on travelling to a Belgian city like Brussels or Antwerp please read the Belgium Wiki page [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 4.

Charging the iPad 4 in Belgium

Can the iPad 4 be used in Belgium?

Yes, you can connect the iPad 4 to a Belgian power outlet.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad 4 in Belgium?

If you are travelling with more than your iPad 4 the best international travel adapter for Belgium is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of plug sockets in Belgium (E and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by changing the heads. If your model of iPad 4 is compatible with Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these types of power adapters along with compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets. This means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to bring seperate travel chargers for your Belgian trip. By only bringing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand baggage while travelling. Because of their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to Belgium we suggest searching for an adaptable travel charger of this nature online; the travel charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Belgium

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Belgium and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting Belgium using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more flexible 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 Belgium. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad 4 in Belgium?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet

Using the USB Lightning Apple connector with a Type C Europlug power charger to charge your iPad 4 with a Belgian power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Belgian power outlet. You can identify the power supply by the two round holes adjacent to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad 4.
  4. Switch on the Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking between 1 to 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet

Charging the iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet by using a two pinned Type E USB adapter

Using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type E USB charger to charge your iPad 4 with a Belgian power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPad 4 using the Belgian power outlet you will need to buy a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this USB cable is normally already included with the iPad 4).
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type E USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall supply. You can recognise this plug supply by the two 4.8mm round adjacent holes next to each other where the live and neutral pins go and a single metal earth pin protruding the top to form a triangle pattern.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad 4.
  4. Switch on the Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking between 1 to 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad 4 from a Belgian power outlet by using a two pinned Type E USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Belgium Wiki page
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. 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..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  8. 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..