How to charge the iPhone 5S when staying in France

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Europlug Type C USB charger to power your iPhone 5S from a French power outlet and how to recharge the iPhone 5S using a double pin Type E USB adapter.

French power outlet

Various region codes and plug types can all cause confusion when planning on visiting another country especially if you've never visited before. This page has instructions showing exactly what you'll need to charge your iPhone 5S when you're visiting France using their E or C type 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, Type E plug outlets are used by most French. You'll discover that most power sockets will vary depending on which country you visiting therefore we suggest that you read our Wiki Connections world power supplies list where you'll find a complete list of powering devices in different destinations. If visiting France from a different region double check your iPhone 5S can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v make sure the iPhone 5S 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 over-heating whilst powering it up. If you plan to stay somewhere like Paris or Marseilles we suggest referring to the France country page on wikipedia.org [1] for further details on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in France

Can the iPhone 5S be used in France?

You can connect the iPhone 5S to a French power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5S in France?

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 5S then the best international travel power adapter for France to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. French use two different types of plug sockets (E and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by changing the included heads over. If your model of iPhone 5S can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker charging times with one of these power adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters. Only needing to bring a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage as well as being on hand for charging your iPhone 5S at an airport or on a plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without using up an additional wall outlet.

We suggest buying this type of flexible power charger online, the power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for France

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 5S, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of regions with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both France 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 option for travellers originating from North America going to France using 3 pinned 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 from the US using type B plugs and gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting France. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5S in France?

Powering the iPhone 5S with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Europlug Type C USB charger to power your iPhone 5S from a French power outlet.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 5S using a French power outlet you will need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will typically include the USB cable with your iPhone 5S.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter in the French power outlet. The plug outlet can be identified by the two round holes next to each other.
  3. Then connect one end of the cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Turn on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 5S will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5S is charging which should take roughly 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from a French power outlet

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type E USB charger to recharge your iPhone 5S from a French power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 5S using a French power outlet you'll need to buy a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this cable is usually already supplied with the device).
  2. Start the process by plugging the Type E USB power plug adapter in the French power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by two 4.8mm round adjacent holes next to each other and a metal grounding pin protruding from the top to form a triangular shape.
  3. Connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. You can find the Lightning connector on your iPhone 5S situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5S.
  4. Switch on the French 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 phone is powering up, typically taking around one to four hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your iPhone 5S from a French power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - France country page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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 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 E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  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..