How to charge your iPad Mini from a power outlet in England

A page on how to power your iPad Mini from a British power outlet using a USB Lightning connector and a Type G power charger.

British power outlet

Various region codes and plug types can all be daunting when planning to stay in a different country if you've never visited before. However this isn't as complicated as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of plug sockets being used throughout the world this guide shows exactly what you'll need in advance to power your iPad Mini in England. This useful guide shows what you'll need to charge the iPad Mini when visiting England by using the standard 230 volt 50Hz Type G power outlet, the Britons will use BS 1363 13 amp plugs for wall outlets. You will find that most power sockets vary depending on which region you're taking a trip to therefore please read the WikiConnections travel power sockets list for a full list showing countries. If travelling to England from another country please make sure your iPad Mini can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v make sure that the iPad Mini is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to avoid the device from overheating when charging it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in England

Can you use the iPad Mini in England?

Yes, you can use the iPad Mini in England.

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

When you are travelling to multiple countries the best travel power adapter for England to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by switching the plugs. If your iPad Mini supports Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these power chargers and additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Unlike other chargers having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device simultaneously without needing to buy seperate power chargers for your British trip or occupying additional power outlets. By only packing a single travel charger will help keep the size down, making it perfect to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets and using only a single plug socket.

We recommend searching for a versatile travel charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries.

Alternative travel adapter for England

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 iPad Mini, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unreliable 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 England and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact option for travellers originating from North America going to England.
  • 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 originating from North America using type B plugs. This 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 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 England. [6] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPad Mini in England?

Powering the iPad Mini with a British power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Using the Lightning Apple connector with a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter to recharge your iPad Mini from a British power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini from the British power outlet you will need a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply the USB cable with your iPad Mini).
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type G USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. The plug outlet (sometimes called a Type G power outlet [3]) looks like three vertical slots in a triangle shape for live, neutral and earth pins.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the British power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your tablet screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is charging which typically takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini with a British power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - England country entry on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable 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. 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..