Charging the iPhone 4 when staying in Taiwan

Using the USB 30-pin Apple connector with a two pin Type A USB charger to recharge the iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet and charging the iPhone 4 using a 3 pin Type B USB plug.

Taiwanese power outlet

Different combinations of region codes and plug types can often lead to confusion when planning on visiting a different country, especially to the first time traveller. If you are staying in Taiwan this page contains instructions showing you how to charge your iPhone 4 by using their types B or A Taiwanese 110 volt 60Hz power outlets, please be aware that Type B power outlets are typically used by a majority of Taiwanese. If your iPhone 4 doesn't power up or recharges slowly when you are visiting Taiwan 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 (for example 220 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't power up, so check your iPhone 4 is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Taiwan

Can you use the iPhone 4 in Taiwan?

You can connect the iPhone 4 to a Taiwanese power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 4 in Taiwan?

If you are travelling to multiple countries then the best international travel charger for Taiwan to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of power outlets that Taiwanese use (B and A) and using a travel adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by changing the plugs over. If your iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers along with support for more power hungry devices. Unlike other travel adapters this will allow you to recharge multiple devices at once without needing to bring individual power adapters on your Taiwanese trip or occupying additional wall sockets. Only needing to bring a single travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets with just a single plug socket.

We recommend buying an adaptable power adapter like this online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Taiwan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which is necessary for visitors of regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 America going to Taiwan using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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. This is a much more cost effective alternative to 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 a flexible 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Taiwan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 4 in Taiwan?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet

Using the USB 30-pin Apple connector with a two pin Type A USB charger to recharge the iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 4 from the Taiwanese power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (typically already included with your iPhone 4 by Apple).
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Taiwanese power outlet. This plug outlet, sometimes known as the Type A power outlet [3], can be recognised by the two adjacent slots where the live and neutral blades go.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple cord into the bottom of the USB mains 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. Turn on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging which should take around one-four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet

Using the 30-pin Apple connector with a Type B USB adapter to power the iPhone 4 with a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 4 from the Taiwanese power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually already included with your iPhone 4).
  2. Insert the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Taiwanese power outlet. You can recognise this power outlet by two thin slots parallel to each other for live and neutral blades with a single semicircular hole below for the slightly long earth pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter 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. Turn on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes around 1 to 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Taiwanese power outlet

See also

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