How to charge the iPhone 5S when planning a trip to Panama

A step-by-step guide showing how to power your iPhone 5S from a Panamanian power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a 2 pinned Type A power charger and how to charge the iPhone 5S using a three pinned Type B power plug.

Panamanian power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can often cause confusion when planning to visit a different country, especially if you've never visited before. These instructions were specifically written to help assist travellers wanting to charge their iPhone 5S abroad.When you are visiting Panama these instructions show how to power the iPhone 5S using the standard types B or A 120 volt 60Hz power outlets. If your iPhone 5S charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Panama from a different country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which originated from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that your device is dual-voltage (usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use. If you intend to visit a Panamanian destination such as Panama City or Colón we also suggest referring to the wikipedia.org entry about Panama [1] for more information prior to the location. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in Panama

Can you use the iPhone 5S in Panama?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5S to a Panamanian power outlet.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Panama?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPhone 5S and visiting more than one country then the best travel charger for Panama to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of wall outlets that Panamanians use (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by changing the included plugs. If your model of iPhone 5S supports Fast Charge (note not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from quicker charging times by using one of these types of power chargers, along with support for certain power hungry devices like tablets.

Unlike other chargers this means you can power multiple devices at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers or using up additional power outlets. Because you are only needing to bring a single lightweight travel charger will help keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers using just a single plug socket.

For those travelling frequently we suggest buying this type of versatile travel adapter at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose power charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Panama

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5S, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is necessary when visiting regions with unstable power grids. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 option for travellers originating from America visiting Panama.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also 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 and offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet for almost half 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 perfect for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Panama. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5S in Panama?

Powering the iPhone 5S with a Panamanian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning Apple connector with a Type A power charger to charge the iPhone 5S from a Panamanian power outlet.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 5S from the Panamanian power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (the cable is typically included with the iPhone 5S by Apple).
  2. Begin by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the power supply. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 adjacent slots next to each other.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with a Panamanian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 5S from a Panamanian power outlet

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 5S from a Panamanian power outlet by using the Apple Lightning connector and a three pinned Type B power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 5S from the Panamanian power outlet you will need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - the cable is typically included with the iPhone 5S by Apple.
  2. Begin by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. This plug outlet (technically known as a Type B power outlet [6]) can be recognised by the 2 slots next to each other where the short live and neutral blades sit with a semicircular hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cable into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPhone 5S 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 charging your iPhone 5S from a Panamanian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Panama
  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..