Charging the iPhone 5C in Mexico

A guide on how to charge the iPhone 5C from a Mexican power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a two pin Type A USB charger and charging the iPhone 5C using a three pin Type B USB charger.

Mexican power outlet

Varying complicated combinations of region codes and plug types can all be daunting when planning on staying in a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of plug sockets being used in the world this guide tells you exactly what to purchase in advance to charge the iPhone 5C . These guidelines have been written to help prepare visitors wanting to power the iPhone 5C abroad.If you are staying in Mexico these useful instructions show how to power your iPhone 5C by using the B or A type Mexican 127 volt 60Hz wall outlets, you will find most Mexicans use the Type B plugs in their plug outlets. Type A electrical sockets aren't as commonplace but still used by some hotels in Mexico. Power sources vary from country to country so please read our Wikiconnections travel power sockets page where you'll find a complete list showing charging devices in different regions. If the iPhone 5C slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when travelling to Mexico from another country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Electrical devices which originated from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) can take longer to charge or won't power up, so check your iPhone 5C is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5C.

Charging the iPhone 5C in Mexico

Can you use the iPhone 5C in Mexico?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5C to a Mexican power outlet by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 5C in Mexico?

When travelling with more than just your iPhone 5C the best travel power adapter for Mexico is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Mexicans use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by changing the supplied plugs. If your model of iPhone 5C is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, and compatibility with more power demanding devices.

Unlike other travel chargers this means you can recharge more than one device at once without needing to buy multiple power chargers. By only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used back at home 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 wall outlet.

For those travelling frequently we suggest buying this type of versatile power charger at your preferred electronics retailer; the multipurpose power charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Mexico

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 when visiting counties with unstable power grids. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Mexico 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 best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from America going to Mexico using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Mexico. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 5C in Mexico?

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

A guide on how to charge the iPhone 5C from a Mexican power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a two pin Type A USB charger.

  1. To power the iPhone 5C from a Mexican power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is typically supplied with the device.
  2. First plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Mexican power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by the 2 thin slots adjacent to each other where the twin plug outlet blades sit. Type A power outlets in Mexico might not be as common however are still used by some hotels.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains 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 Mexican 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 one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C from a Mexican power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 5C from a Mexican power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a three pin Type B USB charger to recharge the iPhone 5C with a Mexican power outlet.

  1. To power the iPhone 5C using a Mexican power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple should typically include the cable when you buy the iPhone 5C.
  2. First plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise the wall supply by the 2 thin slots adjacent to each other with a semicircular shaped hole below for the longer ground pin. Type B plug outlets are the most common sockets found in Mexico.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Lightning charging 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 can be found at bottom of your iPhone 5C under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Mexican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of the cell screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5C is charging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 5C 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 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 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..