Charging the iPad Air from a power outlet in Costa Rica

Instructions showing how to power the iPad Air from a Costa Rican power outlet using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a Type A USB adapter and recharging the iPad Air using a Type B power adapter.

Costa Rican power outlet

If organizing a trip it can often be helpful to know in advance if you can use your vital devices like mobiles and laptops when you arrive. By not knowing which power socket is used you are more likely to bring the wrong power charger, therefore leaving you needing to buy a potentially expensive adaptor on arrival that might not be compatible. Various standards and plug types can often lead to confusion when planning to stay in another country especially if you've never been there before. With only a handful of different types of plug sockets being used in the world this article tells you exactly what you'll need to purchase in advance to charge your iPad Air . These instructions were specifically written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge the iPad Air abroad.This step-by-step guide will show exactly how to supply power to the iPad Air when going to Costa Rica using their standard B or A type 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets, a majority of Costa Ricans typically use Type B plug outlets. If the iPad Air charges slowly or does not power up when you are travelling to Costa Rica from a different country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't power up, check the iPad Air is dual-voltage (normally marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Costa Rica

Can the iPad Air be used in Costa Rica?

Yes, you can connect the iPad Air to a Costa Rican power outlet by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPad Air in Costa Rica?

If you are travelling with more than just your iPad Air and visiting multiple countries the best international travel charger for Costa Rica to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Costa Ricans use two different standards of power outlets (types B and A) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type A. Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by switching the heads. If your type of iPad Air supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, and compatibility with more power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other adapters this means you can recharge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring seperate power adapters. By only needing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage and convenient for charging your iPad Air at the airport or on the plane. Due to their space saving versatility these types of chargers can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without needing an additional plug socket.

We recommend buying this type of flexible travel charger at an electronics retailer. The travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Costa Rica

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 Air, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Costa Rica and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable option for travellers originating from America visiting Costa Rica using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs. This gives almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more flexible 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 Costa Rica. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPad Air in Costa Rica?

Charging the iPad Air from a Costa Rican power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing how to power the iPad Air from a Costa Rican power outlet using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a Type A USB adapter.

  1. To power the iPad Air using the Costa Rican power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is typically supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Start the process by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Costa Rican power outlet. You can identify the wall supply by the 2 thin slots next to each other where the live and neutral blades go.
  3. Connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of the tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging taking around one-four hours to recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad Air from a Costa Rican power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad Air with a Costa Rican power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using an Apple USB Lightning connector and a Type B USB charger to power the iPad Air from a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air using a Costa Rican power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], this USB cable is typically supplied with the device by Apple.
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. The power supply, technically called a Type B power outlet [6], can be identified by the two slots adjacent to each other with a single semicircular shaped hole below for the longer ground pin.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of the tablet screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes around one-four hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a Costa Rican power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Costa Rica Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device 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. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  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..