How to charge the iPad Air when staying in Italy

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge the iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type L power charger, how to recharge the iPad Air using a Type C power charger and how to charge the iPad Air using a Type F power plug

Italian power outlet

When planning a trip to Italy it's helpful to know if you'll be able to power your vital electronics like mobiles or laptop computers when you arrive. By not knowing which wall socket to expect you could end up either bringing too many spare adaptors or pack the wrong charger, leaving you needing to purchase a potentially overpriced power adaptor on arrival. Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can all be daunting when planning to visit a different country if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of standards used throughout the world this article tells you exactly what to purchase in advance to charge your iPad Air in Italy. If you are going to travel to Italy the following instructions show powering your iPad Air using their L, C or F type 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, most Italians will typically use the Type L wall outlets. If travelling to Italy from another country please ensure that the iPad Air can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPad Air originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) make sure that your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional transformer to stop the device from overheating when charging it. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Italy

Can the iPad Air be used in Italy?

You can connect the iPad Air to an Italian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Italy?

When you are travelling to multiple countries the best travel charger for Italy is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three types of wall outlets in Italy (types L, C and F) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your type of iPad Air supports Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters and support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers 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 on your trip to Italy. Because you are only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage whilst travelling and suitable for recharging your iPad Air at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of travel adapters can be used when you return home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel frequently we recommend searching for a multipurpose power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Italy

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unstable power grids. These travel converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international 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 Italy.
  • 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 from the US using type B plugs and is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet at almost half the 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 Italy. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Italy?

Powering the iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

A guide showing you how to charge the iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using a Lightning Apple connector and a Type C power charger.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Air from the Italian power outlet you will need to buy 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 iPad Air.
  2. Begin by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the wall outlet. This wall supply (called a Europlug or Type C power outlet [3]) is recognised by the two circular adjacent holes.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Italian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad Air will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Air is recharging taking roughly one to four hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type F power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Italian power outlet

Instructions showing how to recharge the iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a Type F power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPad Air using an Italian power outlet you will need to buy a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable with your iPad Air).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type F USB power plug adapter in the Italian power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by two 4.8mm round holes 19 mm next to each other for live and neutral pins along with grounding clips on the top and bottom.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Italian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad Air will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Air is recharging and takes between one-four hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type F power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Italian power outlet

Charging the iPad Air from an Italian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type L USB adapter

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPad Air with an Italian power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a 3 pinned Type L USB charger.

  1. If you want to power your iPad Air using an Italian power outlet you will need a Type L USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPad Air.
  2. Plug in the Type L USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This hexagon shaped wall supply, sometimes called a Type L power outlet [8], can be recognised by the 3 circular holes in a line. There are two variations of Type L wall supply, one rated for 10 amps and one for 16 amps. The 10 amp version has 4mm thick round pins that are spaced 5.5mm apart, whilst the 16 amp version has slightly larger 5mm pins spaced 8mm apart.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the cord into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Italian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Air is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad Air from an Italian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type L USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Italian page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPad 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 F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  8. iec.ch - Type L power outlet
  9. Type L USB power plug adapter - Earthed Type L USB chargers comprise of three 4mm pins placed in parallel 5.5mm apart used in Italy.
  10. 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..