How to charge the iPhone 4 when visiting Russia

A guide showing how to recharge the iPhone 4 with a Russian power outlet with a USB 30 pin Apple cable with a two pin Type C USB charger and powering the iPhone 4 using a two pin Type F USB plug.

Russian power outlet

When packing for a trip it's helpful to know in advance if you can use all your electronics when you arrive at your destination. But, without knowing which wall socket is used you may end up either bringing unnecessary adaptors or pack the wrong adaptor, leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially expensive power adaptor when you arrive. Various standards and voltages can often cause confusion when planning to travel to another country, especially to the first time traveller. This page was specifically written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPhone 4 when you are travelling to Russia.This page contains step-by-step instructions showing exactly what you'll need to charge the iPhone 4 in Russia by using their types F or C Russian 220 volt 50Hz power outlets, a majority of Russians typically use the Type F sockets in their wall outlets. If you are travelling to Russia from a different country please ensure that your iPhone 4 can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) ensure that 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 when powering up. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Russia

Can the iPhone 4 be used in Russia?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 4 in Russia.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 4 in Russia?

If you are travelling to multiple countries and bringing more than just your iPhone 4 the best international travel charger for Russia is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Russians use two different standards of wall outlets (F and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by switching the supplied heads. If your type of iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers along with additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets. Unlike other travel adapters this means you can power more than one device at the same time without needing to buy seperate travel adapters for your trip or using up additional wall outlets. Only needing to bring a single lightweight travel charger will keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage while travelling and convenient for charging your iPhone 4 at the airport or on the flight. Because of their flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when you return home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers without using up an additional power outlet.

For those travelling on a regular basis we suggest buying an adaptable travel adapter like this 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 Russia

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 4, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which can be necessary for travellers to regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These power 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 most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Russia using type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US 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 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 wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Russia. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 4 in Russia?

Charging the iPhone 4 from a Russian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

A guide showing how to recharge the iPhone 4 with a Russian power outlet with a USB 30 pin Apple cable with a two pin Type C USB charger.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 4 from the Russian power outlet you will need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - Apple should typically include this cable when you buy the iPhone 4.
  2. First plug in the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Russian power outlet. You can identify this plug outlet by two circular adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cable into the mains USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the Russian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is recharging, typically taking around 1-4 hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 4 from a Russian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

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

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a two pinned Type F power charger to charge the iPhone 4 from a Russian power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 4 from a Russian power outlet you will need to buy a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple will normally supply this USB cable when you purchase your iPhone 4).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type F USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise this wall outlet by the two circular holes 19 mm adjacent to each other and two thin grounding clips above and below.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the Russian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is powering up and takes between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Russian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Russian page on Wikipedia.org
  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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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..