Charging the iPhone when staying in America

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPhone with an American power outlet with a 30 pin connector and a Type A USB adapter and how to charge the iPhone using a Type B USB adapter.

American power outlet

Complicated combinations of voltages and region codes can often cause confusion when planning to travel to another country if you've never been there before. This page contains a step by step guide showing exactly what you'll need to supply power to the iPhone when you are visiting America using their standard Type B or A 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets, please be aware Type B plug outlets are typically used by a majority of Americans. If the iPhone charges slowly or does not power up when visiting America from a different country then check that it is compatible with a 120 volt power supply. Typically electrical devices which come from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check your iPhone is dual voltage (you'll find these are usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use.

This page details the iPhone first generation, the original iPhone is missing some features which have since been introduced to more recent iPhones. Visit the Apple category page for a full range of Apple iPhones. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 3 or greater on the iPhone.

Charging the iPhone in America

Can the iPhone be used in America?

Yes, you can use the iPhone in America.

What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone in America?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone and visiting more than one country then the best travel adapter for America is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of plug sockets in America (types B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A. As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts to 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the included heads. If your type of iPhone supports Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these travel chargers along with support for more power demanding devices.

Having a 4 port adapter means you can power more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack multiple travel chargers on your American trip or occupying additional wall sockets. Because you are only packing a single USB travel charger will keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling. Due to their space saving versatility these types of chargers can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and phones without needing an additional power outlet.

We suggest searching for a multipurpose power adapter like this online; the multipurpose power charger illustrated below 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 America

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, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is necessary for visitors of regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both America 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 option for travellers originating from North America visiting America.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This gives the same set of features as the BESTEK with just 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 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 America. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone in America?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone from an American power outlet

Instructions showing how to charge your iPhone with an American power outlet with a 30 pin cable and a Type A USB adapter.

  1. In order to power the iPhone from the American power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], the cable is normally supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can recognise this wall outlet by two thin slots next to each other.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Switch on the American power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your cellphone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging which takes around 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone from an American power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone from an American power outlet

A guide on how to charge the iPhone from an American power outlet by using the USB 30 pin Apple cable and a Type B power adapter.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone from the American power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], the USB cable is typically supplied with the device by Apple.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter into the American power outlet. This power outlet (called the Type B power outlet [6]) can be recognised by 2 thin slots adjacent to each other where the twin plug outlet blades sit with a single semicircular shaped hole below for the longer ground pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Switch on the American power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes around one-four hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone from an American power outlet

See also

  1. Visittheusa - Visit The USA
  2. Apple - the original iPhone product manual
  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..