How to charge the iPhone 3G when visiting Switzerland

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a two pinned Type C USB charger to recharge the iPhone 3G with a Swiss power outlet and how to charge the iPhone 3G using a three pinned Type J power plug.

Swiss power outlet

If you are planning a holiday to Switzerland it can be useful to know if you'll be able to charge any important devices like mobiles and tablets when you're there. By not knowing which power supply is being used in Switzerland you could end up either weighing yourself down with unnecessary spare adaptors or bring the wrong power adaptor, leaving you having to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced adaptor when you're there. Various frequencies and region codes can often cause confusion when planning to stay in another country, especially if you've never visited before. This page was specifically written to prevent travellers needing to worry if they can charge their iPhone 3G when abroad.This page contains instructions which shows what you'll need to charge the iPhone 3G when you are in Switzerland by using their Type J or C Swiss 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, Type J power outlets will be typically used by most Swiss. Most power supplies will vary depending on which area you are travelling to therefore we recommend reading the Europe page for a full list of countries. If you are visiting Switzerland from a different country please ensure your iPhone 3G can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) ensure that your device is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged whilst powering it. If you plan to visit a Swiss city such as Zürich we recommend reading the Switzerland Wikipedia web page [1] for more indepth details. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in Switzerland

Can the iPhone 3G be used in Switzerland?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 3G in Switzerland by using a power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in Switzerland?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone 3G then the best travel adapter for Switzerland to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of wall outlets in Switzerland (types J and C) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world simply by changing the supplied plugs. If your model of iPhone 3G supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers along with additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets. This will allow you to recharge multiple devices at once without needing to bring multiple power chargers. Only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will keep the size down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage whilst travelling as well as being on hand for recharging your iPhone 3G at the airport or on a plane. Due to their versatility these types of power chargers can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers without using up an additional power outlet.

For those travelling regularly we suggest buying an adaptable power adapter like this online. The travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Switzerland

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 wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unstable power grids. These travel adapters come 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 travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable option for travellers originating from North America visiting Switzerland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet at 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 a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Switzerland. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in Switzerland?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Swiss power outlet

Using the Apple 30-pin cable with a two pin Type C USB charger to recharge the iPhone 3G with a Swiss power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 3G using a Swiss power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple typically supply the USB cable with your iPhone 3G).
  2. First plug in the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Swiss power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by the 2 round holes adjacent to each other where the two plug outlet pins go.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is powering up which should take between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Swiss power outlet

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

A guide on how to recharge the iPhone 3G from a Swiss power outlet with a USB 30 pin Apple cable with a three pin Type J USB charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 3G from the Swiss power outlet you will need a Type J USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (normally already supplied with your device by Apple).
  2. Begin by plugging the Type J USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. The flattened hexagon shaped wall supply (sometimes known as the Type J power outlet [6]) can be identified by the 3 circular holes forming a flattened triangle shape.
  3. Connect one end of the cable into the mains USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Switch on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 3G screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging which typically takes around 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Switzerland Wikipedia web page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type J power outlet
  7. Type J USB power plug adapter - Type J USB chargers have three rounded pins placed in a flattened triangular pattern with the top pin acting as an earth.
  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..