How to charge the iPhone 4 when staying in China

A page on how to power your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet with an Apple 30 pin cable with a 3 pinned Type I USB adapter, how to recharge the iPhone 4 using a Type A power plug and charging the iPhone 4 using a 2 pinned Type C USB charger

Chinese power outlet

Various region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of sockets being used throughout the world this article tells you exactly what to purchase in advance to charge your iPhone 4 in China. This page is a simple guide which shows what you'll need to charge the iPhone 4 when you are in China by using the standard types I, A or C Chinese 220 volt 50Hz wall outlets, Type I plug outlets are normally used by most Chinese. Power sources will change depending on which region you're taking a trip to therefore we suggest that you read our Wikiconnections global power connections list for a full list showing regions and countries. If travelling to China from another country please ensure the iPhone 4 can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPhone 4 came from a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) make sure that the device is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional converter to avoid the device from overheating when powering up. If you plan on visiting tourist destinations such as Shanghai or Guilin we suggest referring to the Chinese Wikipedia page [1] for further information on travelling to the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in China

Can the iPhone 4 be used in China?

You can connect the iPhone 4 to a Chinese power outlet.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 4 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 4 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 4 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 4, 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 4 in China?

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a USB 30-pin Apple connector and a Type A power charger to power your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 4 from the Chinese power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 4.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Chinese power outlet. The plug outlet, technically known as the Type A power outlet [3], is recognised by the 2 adjacent slots.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is charging which takes roughly 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet

A page on how to power your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet with an Apple 30 pin cable with a 2 pinned Type C USB adapter.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 4 using a Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will typically supply this cable with your iPhone 4.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power supply, also called the Type C power outlet [6], is recognised by the two circular holes adjacent to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple 30 pin cable into the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 4 will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet

How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet

A page on how to power your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet with an Apple 30 pin cable with a 3 pinned Type I USB adapter.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 4 using a Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple should usually supply this cable when you first purchase the iPhone 4.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type I USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This wall supply (sometimes called a Type I power outlet [8]) can be recognised by the three thin slots forming a triangular pattern with a single vertical pin at the bottom and the top pair of slots sloping upwards for the live, neutral and earth blades. Note that the live and neutral pins are configured reversed compared to Argentinian power outlets so please check that your Type I power adaptor is compatible in China.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple 30 pin USB cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 4 will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Chinese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Chinese Wikipedia page
  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 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..