How to charge the iPhone 3GS from a power outlet in South Africa

Instructions showing how to power your iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet with an Apple USB 30-pin cable with a two pin Type F USB adapter, how to charge the iPhone 3GS using a two pinned Type C power plug and how to charge the iPhone 3GS using a three pinned Type M power plug

South African power outlet

If you are organizing a vacation it can be helpful to know if you'll be able to charge any important devices that you'll be bringing along with you. Without knowing which plug socket is being used in South Africa you could end up either over packing with unnecessary adaptors or pack the wrong charger, therefore having to purchase a suitable charger on arrival. Varying complicated voltages and standards can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards being used throughout the world this article shows exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPhone 3GS in South Africa. This page has step-by-step instructions telling you exactly what you'll need to supply power to your iPhone 3GS when travelling to South Africa by using the M, C, F or N type South African 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets, Type M plug outlets will be typically used by most South Africans. If travelling to South Africa from a different region check that the iPhone 3GS can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts make sure that your device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to stop the device from over-heating during charging. If you plan to stay in a destination such as Cape Town or Johannesburg we also suggest referring to the South African country page on wikipedia [1] for more information prior to the location. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in South Africa

Can the iPhone 3GS be used in South Africa?

You can use the iPhone 3GS in South Africa by using the correct power convertor.

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

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 3GS and visiting multiple countries the best travel adapter for South Africa to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are four different types of plug sockets that South Africans use (M, C, F and N) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by switching the plugs over. If your iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these travel adapters, plus compatibility with more power hungry devices. This will allow you to recharge more than one device at once without needing to pack individual travel adapters for your South African trip. By only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand luggage and suitable for recharging your iPhone 3GS at an airport or on a plane. Due to their flexibility these types of power chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel to South Africa we recommend searching for this type of flexible power adapter online. The travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for South Africa

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 power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both South Africa and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from North America visiting South Africa using type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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 and is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 perfect for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting South Africa. [12] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 3GS in South Africa?

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

A guide on how to recharge the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet with a USB 30 pin cable and a two pinned Type C USB charger.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 3GS using the South African power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (the USB cable is usually already included with your iPhone 3GS by Apple).
  2. Begin by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power supply. You can identify the plug supply by two circular adjacent holes.
  3. Connect one end of the cable into the USB 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. Turn on the South African 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 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

Instructions showing how to power your iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet with an Apple USB 30-pin cable with a two pin Type F USB adapter.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 3GS from the South African power outlet you will need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - the cable is typically included with the iPhone 3GS by Apple.
  2. Begin by plugging the Type F USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. The recessed circular wall supply can be identified by the two 4.8mm holes 19 mm apart from each other, plus metal grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains 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 South African power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPhone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

How to use a Type M power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a South African power outlet

A guide on how to recharge the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet with a USB 30 pin cable and a three pinned Type M USB charger.

  1. In order to charge your iPhone 3GS using a South African power outlet you'll need to use a Type M USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should usually include the USB cable with your iPhone 3GS).
  2. Firstly plug the Type M USB power plug adapter in the South African power outlet. This wall supply, technically known as a Type M power outlet [8], looks like three large holes in a triangular pattern.
  3. Connect one end of the cable into the USB 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. Turn on the South African 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 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type M power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a South African power outlet

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type N USB adapter

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

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 3GS from the South African power outlet you'll need a Type N USB power plug adapter [11] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (the cable is typically included with the iPhone 3GS by Apple).
  2. Begin by taking the Type N USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the power outlet. This flattened hexagon shaped power supply, sometimes known as the Type N power outlet [10], looks like three holes forming a flattened triangular configuration for live, neutral and ground pins.
  3. Then connect one end of the power cord 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 South African power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your cellphone will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is powering up which should take between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a South African power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type N USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - South African country page on wikipedia
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. 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..
  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 F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  8. iec.ch - Type M power outlet
  9. Type M USB power plug adapter - South African Type M USB chargers have three large circular pins in a triangular shape with the top earthed pin longer and larger in diameter.
  10. iec.ch - Type N power outlet
  11. Type N USB power plug adapter - The three 4mm rounded pins on a grounded Brazilian Type N USB charger form a flattened triangular pattern.
  12. 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..