Charging the iPhone 3GS when visiting Poland

Instructions showing how to power your iPhone 3GS with a Polish power outlet with a USB 30-pin connector and a Type C power charger and powering the iPhone 3GS using a Type E power adapter.

Polish power outlet

If you are packing for a holiday it's helpful to know in advance if you can power all your essential electronics like cell phones and laptop computers when you arrive. By not knowing which plug socket is being used in Poland you could end up either weighing your bags down with unnecessary spare adaptors or bring the wrong power adaptor, leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially expensive power adaptor when you arrive which could be incompatible. Varying different region codes and sockets can all be confusing when planning on visiting a new country to the first time traveller. This isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of standards used throughout the world this article tells you exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPhone 3GS in Poland. The following step-by-step guide shows exactly how to charge your iPhone 3GS when you are in Poland using their standard types E or C 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, Type E plug outlets will be typically used by most Poles. When you are travelling to Poland from another country please double check your iPhone 3GS can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts make sure your device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged whilst powering it up. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Poland

Can you use the iPhone 3GS in Poland?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 3GS to a Polish power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Poland?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone 3GS then the best travel charger for Poland to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Poles use two different standards of wall outlets (E and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by changing the plugs over. If your iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers along with additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets. This will allow you to recharge multiple devices at once without needing to buy multiple travel chargers or using up additional power outlets. Because you are only needing to bring a single travel charger will keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage. Due to their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and phones without using up an additional power outlet.

For those travelling regularly we recommend buying an adaptable power adapter of this nature at an electronics retailer, the power adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Poland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 3GS, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which can be necessary for visitors of regions with unreliable power supplies. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Poland and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from America visiting Poland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 perfect for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Poland. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Poland?

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

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a two pin Type C USB charger to power the iPhone 3GS with a Polish power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 3GS using a Polish power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple normally supply this USB cable when you purchase the iPhone 3GS).
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type C USB power plug adapter in the Polish power outlet. This plug outlet, also called the Europlug, can be identified by the 2 adjacent holes next to each other.
  3. Connect one end of the cord into the mains USB 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 Polish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPhone 3GS will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is recharging and takes roughly one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Polish power outlet

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

Using an Apple USB 30-pin connector and a two pinned Type E power charger to charge the iPhone 3GS from a Polish power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 3GS using the Polish power outlet you'll need to buy a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], typically already supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type E USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can identify the plug supply by two large round holes 19mm apart from each other and a long metal earth pin protruding the top in a triangle pattern.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains 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. Switch on the Polish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 3GS is recharging which takes around 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a Polish power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Poland country Wiki page
  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..