How to charge the iPhone 5S in Iceland

A guide on how to charge the iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pinned Type C power adapter and recharging the iPhone 5S using a Schuko Type F USB plug.

Iceland power outlet

When packing for a holiday to Iceland it's useful to know in advance if you'll be able to power any indispensable devices like mobiles and tablets at your hotel. However, without knowing which power supply to expect you may end up either having to bring unnecessary spare adaptors or bring the wrong power adaptor, thereby leaving you having to purchase a suitable adaptor when you're there that might be incompatible. Differing standards and plugs can all be confusing when planning to visit another country if you've never been there before. These guidelines were specifically written to prevent people needing to worry if they can charge the iPhone 5S when travelling abroad.This step by step guide will show you exactly how to supply power to your iPhone 5S when staying in Iceland using the standard F or C type 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets, you'll find most Icelanders use the Type F plugs in their plug outlets. When travelling to Iceland from another country check that the iPhone 5S can accept a 240v supply. If the iPhone 5S was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) ensure that the device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional converter to prevent the device from over-heating when charging it. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in Iceland

Can the iPhone 5S be used in Iceland?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5S in Iceland.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Iceland?

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 5S the best travel power adapter for Iceland is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Icelanders use two different standards of wall outlets (types F and C) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the included heads. If your type of iPhone 5S can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB power adapters, plus compatibility with more power demanding devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port adapter will also allow you to power multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy seperate travel adapters. Only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage and convenient for charging your iPhone 5S at the airport or on a flight. Because of their versatility these types of power adapters can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers and using only a single power outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we suggest buying this type of versatile travel charger at your preferred electronics retailer - the power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Iceland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5S, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Iceland and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international 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 Iceland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also 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 and gives almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half the 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 wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Iceland. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Iceland?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet

A guide on how to charge the iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pinned Type C power adapter.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 5S using the Iceland power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (normally already supplied with your iPhone 5S by Apple).
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Iceland power outlet. This unearthed plug outlet (known as the Type C power outlet [3] or Europlug) is identified by 2 round adjacent holes next to each other where the pins go.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Iceland 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 5S is charging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5S with an Iceland power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A guide on how to charge the iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet by using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Type F power adapter.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 5S from an Iceland power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually include the cable with the iPhone 5S).
  2. Firstly plug in the Type F USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise the wall outlet by the two circular adjacent holes next to each other where the pins go, plus a pair of metal grounding clips on the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning power cord into the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Iceland power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the cell screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5S is powering up which takes between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with an Iceland power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia page about Iceland
  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..