How to charge the iPhone 3G when staying in China

Instructions on how to recharge your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet with the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type C power charger, powering the iPhone 3G using a 2 pinned Type A USB charger and charging the iPhone 3G using a 3 pinned Type I USB adapter

Chinese power outlet

Differing region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country if you've never visited before. This guide shows what you'll need to supply power to your iPhone 3G when you're visiting China by using the standard types I, A or C Chinese 220 volt 50Hz wall outlets, you'll discover most Chinese will typically use the Type I wall outlets. Most power supplies change depending on which region you're taking a trip to therefore we suggest that you read our Wikiconnections travel power sockets guide where you'll find a complete list of powering devices in different regions. If travelling to China from another country please ensure that the iPhone 3G can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPhone 3G originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts ensure that the iPhone 3G is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to avoid the device from over-heating whilst powering it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in China

Can the iPhone 3G be used in China?

You can connect the iPhone 3G to a Chinese power outlet.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in China?

If travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for China is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Chinese use three different types of plug sockets (I, A and C) and using a travel charger like this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C. As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by changing the supplied heads over. If your model of iPhone 3G can support Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel chargers and support for certain power demanding devices. Having a four port charger means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers or using up additional wall sockets. Only packing a single lightweight USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling and suitable for recharging your iPhone 3G at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and speakers with only a single plug socket.

We suggest buying an adaptable power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for China

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 3G, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting China.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs and is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 suitable for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting China. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in China?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet

A page on how to power your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet with the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type A power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 3G using a Chinese power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (normally included with your device).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This wall supply (called a Type A power outlet [3]) can be identified by two thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the cellphone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging taking between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type C power charger to power your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 3G from the Chinese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 3G).
  2. Start the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Chinese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 adjacent holes where the pins slide into.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your phone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Chinese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

Using the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type I power charger to recharge your iPhone 3G from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 3G from the Chinese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 3G).
  2. Start the process by taking the Type I USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Chinese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 3 slots for the live, neutral and ground. Please note that the neutral and live blades are reversed compared to Argentinian plug outlets so check that your Type I travel adaptor is compatible with a Chinese power supply.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your phone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around one to four hours to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Chinese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Chinese Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G 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 C power outlet
  7. 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..
  8. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  9. Type I USB power plug adapter - Type I USB chargers use three short flat blades in a V format with the top blade acting as a grounding pin.
  10. 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..