How to charge the iPad Mini when staying in Taiwan

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter and how to recharge the iPad Mini using a Type B power plug.

Taiwanese 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. This page has been specifically written to help prepare people wanting to charge their iPad Mini abroad.When visiting Taiwan the following instructions show charging your iPad Mini using their B or A type 110 volt 60Hz power outlets, Type B power outlets are used by most Taiwanese. Most power supplies differ from region to region so please read the WikiConnections world power supplies page for a full list showing regions and countries. If your iPad Mini charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Taiwan from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically electrical devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 240 volts either take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPad Mini is dual voltage (you'll find these are normally marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in Taiwan

Can the iPad Mini be used in Taiwan?

You can connect the iPad Mini to a Taiwanese power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best power charger for the iPad Mini in Taiwan?

If travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for Taiwan is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Taiwanese use two different types of plug sockets (B and A) and using a travel charger like this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by changing the supplied heads over. If your model of iPad Mini 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 adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Unlike other travel adapters this will also allow you to charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to buy individual power chargers. Because you are only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers without needing an additional wall outlet.

If you travel regularly we recommend searching for this type of versatile travel adapter online, the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below 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 Taiwan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Mini, 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 useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Taiwan 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 Taiwan.
  • 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 one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Taiwan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPad Mini in Taiwan?

Powering the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini from the Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will typically include the USB cable with your iPad Mini.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This wall supply (sometimes 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 Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Mini.
  4. Turn on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging which should take roughly one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable and a Type B power charger to recharge your iPad Mini from a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini from the Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPad Mini.
  2. Insert the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power supply, technically known as the Type B power outlet [6], is recognised by the two thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades with a single semicircle shaped hole below for the slightly longer earthed pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning charging cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad Mini will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Taiwan country Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPad 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..