Charging the iPad 4 when planning a trip to Bulgaria

Instructions on how to recharge the iPad 4 from a Bulgarian power outlet with the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter and recharging the iPad 4 using a 2 pin Type F USB plug.

Bulgarian power outlet

Varying different voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country, especially if you've never been there before. However this isn't as complicated as it appears, with only a handful of different types of common standards being used in the world this article shows exactly what to purchase in advance to power your iPad 4 . If visiting Bulgaria these instructions show powering the iPad 4 by using their standard F or C type Bulgarian 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets. You'll find power will differ regionally therefore we suggest reading the Europe page for a complete list of regions and countries. When visiting Bulgaria from another region ensure your iPad 4 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v make sure the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to prevent the device from overheating during charging. If you intend on staying in a destination such as Sofia we recommend reading the Bulgaria Wikipedia page [1] for more details. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 4.

Charging the iPad 4 in Bulgaria

Can you use the iPad 4 in Bulgaria?

You can use the iPad 4 in Bulgaria by using a power adaptor.

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

If you are travelling to multiple countries and bringing along more than your iPad 4 then the best travel charger for Bulgaria to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different types of power outlets that Bulgarians use (F and C) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type C. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your iPad 4 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these types of USB power adapters along with compatibility with certain power hungry devices.

Unlike other chargers this will allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to pack multiple power adapters for your Bulgarian trip. By only bringing a single international travel charger will also keep the weight and size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand baggage and on hand for recharging your iPad 4 at an airport or on the plane. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets without needing an additional wall outlet.

We recommend buying this type of versatile power adapter 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.

Alternative travel adapter for Bulgaria

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful for visitors of regions with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Bulgaria 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 compact option for travellers originating from America going to Bulgaria.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper 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 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 Bulgaria. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad 4 in Bulgaria?

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

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

  1. If you want to power your iPad 4 from a Bulgarian power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should normally supply the cable with the iPad 4).
  2. Start by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Bulgarian power outlet. The power outlet, sometimes called the Type C power outlet [3] or Europlug, can be recognised by 2 circular holes next to each other where the twin plug outlet pins slide into.
  3. Plug in one end of the Lightning cable into the USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad 4.
  4. Switch on the Bulgarian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking between one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad 4 from a Bulgarian power outlet

Powering the iPad 4 with a Bulgarian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A guide showing how to power the iPad 4 from a Bulgarian power outlet with the Apple USB Lightning connector with a Type F Schuko power adapter.

  1. To charge your iPad 4 from the Bulgarian power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - usually supplied with your iPad 4.
  2. Start by inserting the Type F USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can recognise this plug supply by the two 4.8mm round holes 19 mm next to each other for live and neutral pins and a pair of thin grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB 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. Turn on the Bulgarian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad 4 is powering up and takes around one to four hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad 4 with a Bulgarian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Bulgaria 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 F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  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..