Charging the iPhone 3G when planning a trip to Ireland

Instructions on how to recharge your iPhone 3G from an Irish power outlet with a 30-pin Apple cable and a 3 pin Type G power adapter.

Irish power outlet

Complicated combinations of region codes and voltages can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country, especially if you've never been there before. When you're planning a trip to Ireland this page contains useful instructions showing charging the iPhone 3G by using their standard 230 volt 50Hz G Type Irish plug outlet, with the Irish using 13 amp plugs for power outlets. When visiting Ireland from a different region please double check the iPhone 3G can be used with a 240 volt supply. If your iPhone 3G was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to prevent the device from overloading whilst powering it. If you intend on visiting an Irish city like Dublin read the Irish country entry on wikipedia [1] for further details. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in Ireland

Can you use the iPhone 3G in Ireland?

You can use the iPhone 3G in Ireland by using a power adaptor.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 3G in Ireland?

If you are travelling to multiple countries and bringing along more than your iPhone 3G then the best travel charger for Ireland to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your type of iPhone 3G is compatible with Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these travel chargers, plus additional support for more power demanding devices like tablets. Unlike other travel chargers this will allow you to charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to buy individual power adapters for your Irish trip or using up additional power sockets. Because you are only needing a single USB travel charger will help keep the overall size down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage while travelling as well as being suitable for charging your iPhone 3G at the airport or on your flight. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets with just a single power outlet.

For those travelling to Ireland we suggest searching for a flexible travel charger like this at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Ireland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting Ireland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet at almost half 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 suitable for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Ireland. [6] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 3G in Ireland?

How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPhone 3G from an Irish power outlet

A guide showing you how to power the iPhone 3G from an Irish power outlet with a 30-pin Apple cable and a 3 pin Type G power charger.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 3G using the Irish power outlet you will need to use a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually supplied with your iPhone 3G).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type G USB power plug adapter into the Irish power outlet. This power outlet (technically called the Type G power outlet [3]) can be recognised by 3 vertical holes containing plastic shutters in a triangular shape for live, neutral and earth.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB power adapter 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 Irish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your cell will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up taking around 1-4 hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPhone 3G from an Irish power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Irish country entry on wikipedia
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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..