How to charge the iPhone 3GS when staying in Belgium

Instructions showing how to charge the iPhone 3GS with a Belgian power outlet by using a USB 30-pin connector and a Type C power charger and how to recharge the iPhone 3GS using a Type E power plug.

Belgian power outlet

When planning a trip to Belgium it is useful to know in advance if you can charge any electronics like mobiles or laptop computers when you arrive. By not knowing which wall socket to expect you could end up either bringing too many spare adaptors or pack the wrong charger, meaning needing to purchase a potentially overpriced power adaptor on arrival. Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning on travelling to a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards used in the world this guide shows exactly what to buy in advance to charge your iPhone 3GS in Belgium. This page has been specifically written to prevent travellers worrying if they can power the iPhone 3GS when going to Belgium.This guide shows what you'll need to supply power to your iPhone 3GS when you're visiting Belgium by using the standard Type E or C Belgian 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, a majority of Belgians use Type E sockets in their power outlets. When you are travelling to Belgium from a different region double check your iPhone 3GS can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) double check your device is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to prevent the device from being damaged during charging. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Belgium

Can the iPhone 3GS be used in Belgium?

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

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Belgium?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPhone 3GS or visiting multiple countries the best travel charger for Belgium is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Belgians use two different types of wall outlets (E and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers for your trip to Belgium or occupying additional power outlets. By only needing to pack a single international USB travel charger will keep the overall weight and size down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage. Due to their flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and smartphones with only a single plug socket.

We suggest buying this type of flexible power charger online, the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries with perfect reliably.

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 via USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which is useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come 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 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 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 America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features 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 a more generous 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Belgium. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Belgium?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Belgian power outlet

Using a 30 pin Apple connector and a Type C power charger to power your iPhone 3GS from a Belgian power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 3GS using a Belgian power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable when you first purchase the iPhone 3GS).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power supply, also known as the Type C power outlet [3], is recognised by the 2 round adjacent holes where the pins sit.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter 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. Turn on the Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your cell screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging taking between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Belgian power outlet

How to use a Type E power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a Belgian power outlet

Instructions showing how to charge the iPhone 3GS with a Belgian power outlet by using a USB 30-pin connector and a Type E power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 3GS using a Belgian power outlet you will need a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 3GS.
  2. Plug in the Type E USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This round wall supply, also called a Type E power outlet [6], can be recognised by the two 4.8mm round adjacent holes where the pins sit with a long metal grounding pin protruding from the top to form a triangular pattern.
  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 Belgian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 3GS will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging which typically takes roughly 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a Belgian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Belgian page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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..