Charging your iPhone 4 from a power outlet in Mexico

Using the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a two pin Type A power adapter to power the iPhone 4 from a Mexican power outlet and charging the iPhone 4 using a three pinned Type B power adapter.

Mexican power outlet

If packing for a holiday to Mexico it can be helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to power your common electronics such as mobiles and cameras when you arrive. Without knowing which power socket to expect you are likely to bring the wrong charger, leaving you having to purchase a suitable power adaptor on arrival that could be incompatible and cause damage to your iPhone 4. Differing standards and voltages can all lead to confusion when planning to visit another country for the first time traveller. With only a handful of different types of plug sockets used throughout the world this article shows exactly what you'll need to pick up in advance to power your iPhone 4 . This guide has been written to prevent visitors having to worry if they can charge the iPhone 4 when they're travelling to Mexico.The following guide tells you exactly what you'll need to charge the iPhone 4 when you're travelling to Mexico using their standard B or A type Mexican 127 volt 60Hz power outlets, you'll discover a majority of Mexicans typically use Type B power outlets. Type A electrical sockets aren't as commonplace but still used by some hotels in Mexico. If your iPhone 4 slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when travelling to Mexico from a different country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) may take longer to charge or won't turn on, check that your iPhone 4 is dual-voltage (usually marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Mexico

Can the iPhone 4 be used in Mexico?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 4 to a Mexican power outlet.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 4 in Mexico?

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 4 the best international travel adapter for Mexico to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of power outlets that Mexicans use (B and A) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type A. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your type of iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, plus additional support for more power hungry devices.

Unlike other adapters this means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy individual travel chargers or using up additional power sockets. Because you are only bringing a single international travel charger will also keep the size down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand baggage. Because of their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers using only a single power outlet.

For those travelling to Mexico we recommend buying this type of versatile power adapter online. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Mexico

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, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 compact option for travellers originating from America visiting Mexico.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from America using type B plugs and offers practically the same functionality as the BESTEK with only 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 perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Mexico. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 4 in Mexico?

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Mexican power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a 30-pin cable and a 2 pin Type A power charger to charge your iPhone 4 with a Mexican power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 4 using the Mexican power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], usually included with the device by Apple.
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Mexican power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the 2 thin adjacent slots for live and neutral pins. Type A plug outlets in Mexico might not be as commonplace but might still used in some hotels.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the mains power 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 Mexican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 4 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up and takes around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Mexican power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Mexican power outlet

A page showing how to recharge the iPhone 4 from a Mexican power outlet with the Apple USB 30-pin connector and a 3 pin Type B power adapter.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 4 using the Mexican power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Mexican power outlet. You can identify the wall outlet by two slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades with a hole below for the slightly long grounded pin. The most frequently used outlets in Mexico are Type B power sockets.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter 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 Mexican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Mexican power outlet

See also

  1. Visitmexico - Visit Mexico Web Site
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  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 B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  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..