How to charge the iPhone 3GS when planning a trip to Cuba

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet by using a USB 30-pin Apple connector with a Type A power charger, powering the iPhone 3GS using a Type B power charger and recharging the iPhone 3GS using a two pin Type C USB charger

Cuban power outlet

Differing combinations of frequencies and region codes can often be daunting when planning on staying in a new country to the first time traveller. This guide has been written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPhone 3GS abroad.When you are visiting Cuba these instructions show how to power the iPhone 3GS using their standard types C, A or B Cuban 110 volt 60Hz power outlets, please be aware Type C wall outlets will be used by most Cubans. If the iPhone 3GS does not power up or charges slowly when travelling to Cuba from another country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originate from a country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts either take longer to charge or won't turn on, check that the iPhone 3GS is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. If you plan to stay in a destination like Havana or Santa Clara we also suggest referring to the Wikipedia page about Cuba [1] for more information on the location. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Cuba

Can you use the iPhone 3GS in Cuba?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 3GS in Cuba.

What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Cuba?

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 3GS and visiting more than one country then the best travel adapter for Cuba to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three different standards of wall outlets that Cubans use (types C, A and B) and using a travel charger like this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by changing the supplied heads. If your type of iPhone 3GS can support Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB travel chargers and additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices.

Having a 4 port adapter will allow you to recharge more than one device at once without needing to pack individual travel adapters for your Cuban trip. Only bringing a single travel charger will also keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 3GS at the airport or on a flight. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers using just a single plug socket.

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

Alternative travel adapter for Cuba

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 3GS, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Cuba and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Cuba using type B plug sockets.
  • 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 from America using type B plugs. This offers the same functionality as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 Cuba. [10] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Cuba?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet by using a USB 30-pin Apple connector with a Type A power charger.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple typically supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 3GS).
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Cuban power outlet. This power outlet, technically called a Type A power outlet [3], can be identified by the two slots next to each other.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Switch on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet

Using a USB 30-pin Apple connector with a Type B power charger to charge the iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 3GS using a Cuban power outlet you will need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - this cable is typically included with the iPhone 3GS.
  2. Begin by taking the Type B USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the power supply. This power outlet, technically called a Type B power outlet [6], can be identified by two thin slots with a single hole below for the long earth pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Switch on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPhone 3GS will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up taking between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet

Charging the iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge the iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet with a USB 30 pin connector and a two pinned Type C USB charger.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 3GS from the Cuban power outlet you will need a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (the cable is typically included with the iPhone 3GS by Apple).
  2. Firstly insert the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Cuban power outlet. This ungrounded wall supply (known as the Europlug) can be identified by the two holes next to each other.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple cord into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Turn on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the phone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 3GS is recharging which takes around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 3GS from a Cuban power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia page about Cuba
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS 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. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. 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..
  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..