How to charge the iPad Mini when staying in Belgium

A page on how to recharge the iPad Mini with a Belgian power outlet by using a Lightning Apple connector and a Europlug Type C USB adapter and how to recharge the iPad Mini using a Type E USB charger.

Belgian power outlet

Various region codes and sockets can all be daunting when planning to stay in a different country if you've never visited before. These instructions were written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPad Mini when you are staying abroad.When staying in Belgium these useful instructions show how to supply power to your iPad Mini using their E or C type 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, you'll discover most Belgians will typically use the Type E sockets in their power outlets. Most power sources will change regionally so please read our Wikiconnections global power supplies page for a full list showing powering devices in different destinations. If travelling to Belgium from another country please check that your iPad Mini can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v make sure the iPad Mini 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 charging it. If you plan to visit a Belgian destination like Brussels we suggest referring to the Belgian Wikipedia page [1] for more indepth details prior to travelling to the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in Belgium

Can the iPad Mini be used in Belgium?

You can connect the iPad Mini to a Belgian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Mini in Belgium?

When you are travelling to more than one country then the best international travel power adapter for Belgium to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of plug sockets that Belgians use (types E and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 - 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 iPad Mini is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB power chargers plus support for certain power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger means you can charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring multiple travel adapters. Because you are only needing to bring a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage as well as being convenient for charging your iPad Mini at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of travel adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones, tablets and e-readers with only a single wall outlet.

If you travel frequently we recommend searching for an adaptable power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Belgium

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad Mini, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Belgium and over 150 countries around the world:

  • 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 option for travellers originating from North America going to Belgium.
  • 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 from the US using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Belgium. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Mini in Belgium?

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

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter to recharge your iPad Mini from a Belgian power outlet.

  1. If you want to power your iPad Mini from the Belgian power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple should usually supply this USB cable with your iPad Mini.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Belgian power outlet. You can recognise this power supply by 2 adjacent holes next to each other.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Lightning charging cable into the power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Mini.
  4. Turn on the Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is recharging and takes roughly 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Belgian power outlet

Powering the iPad Mini with a Belgian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type E power charger to power your iPad Mini from a Belgian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini from the Belgian power outlet you will need a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this USB cable with your iPad Mini).
  2. Start the process by plugging the Type E USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. This round wall supply (sometimes called a Type E power outlet [6] or CEE 7/7 outlet) can be identified by the two 4.8mm round holes 19mm apart from each other where the two pins sit along with one metal earth pin protruding in the top forming a triangular pattern.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple USB power cord into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up, typically taking around 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a Belgian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Belgian Wikipedia 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..