How to charge the iPhone 5C when planning a trip to Bulgaria

A guide on how to recharge the iPhone 5C with a Bulgarian power outlet with a Lightning cable and a two pinned Type C power adapter and how to recharge the iPhone 5C using a Type F power adapter.

Bulgarian power outlet

Varying different region codes and sockets can all be confusing when planning to stay in another country to the first time traveller. This isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of sockets used in the world this article tells you exactly what to buy in advance to charge the iPhone 5C . This page contains a step by step guide showing how to power the iPhone 5C when you're travelling to Bulgaria by using the Type F or C Bulgarian 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets. If travelling to Bulgaria from a different region make sure the iPhone 5C can accept a 240v supply. If your iPhone 5C originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) check the iPhone 5C is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to prevent the device from overheating when charging it. If you are planning to visit a city like Sofia we recommend reading the wikipedia.org entry about Bulgaria [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5C.

Charging the iPhone 5C in Bulgaria

Can the iPhone 5C be used in Bulgaria?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5C in Bulgaria by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in Bulgaria?

If travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for Bulgaria to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Bulgarians use two different standards of power outlets (F and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world just by changing the included plugs. If your model of iPhone 5C is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers and additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other chargers this means you can charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack seperate travel adapters for your trip or occupying additional wall sockets. By only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage whilst travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 5C at the airport or on a plane. Due to their flexibility these types of power chargers can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers using just a single plug socket.

We recommend searching for this type of versatile power charger online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Bulgaria

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover 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 best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from America going to Bulgaria using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly 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 is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 Bulgaria. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in Bulgaria?

Charging the iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

A guide on how to recharge the iPhone 5C with a Bulgarian power outlet with a Lightning cable and a two pinned Type C power adapter.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 5C using the Bulgarian power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], typically already supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type C USB power plug adapter in the Bulgarian power outlet. This plug outlet, also called the Europlug, can be identified by the 2 adjacent holes next to each other where the plug outlet pins go.
  3. Connect one end of the charging cable into the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C situated at the bottom of your iPhone 5C.
  4. Turn on the Bulgarian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5C is powering up, typically taking roughly one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

A guide showing you how to charge your iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple connector with a Schuko Type F USB adapter.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet you will need to buy a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple typically supply this USB cable when you purchase your iPhone 5C.
  2. Start the process by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power outlet. The recessed round wall supply, sometimes known as a Schuko plug or Type F power outlet [6], can be identified by two large adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins and two thin grounding clips above and below.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Lightning power cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5C under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Bulgarian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C from a Bulgarian power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Bulgaria
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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..