How to charge the iPhone 5 from a power outlet in Puerto Rico

A guide on how to power your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type A USB adapter and powering the iPhone 5 using a 3 pinned Type B USB charger.

Puerto Rican power outlet

Various voltages and standards can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country especially for the first time traveller. This useful guide shows what you'll need to charge the iPhone 5 when staying in Puerto Rico by using their B or A type 120 volt 60Hz power outlets, you will discover most Puerto Ricans will typically use the Type B sockets in their power outlets. Power sources vary from region to region therefore we suggest that you read the WikiConnections travel power sockets guide for a full list showing countries. If your iPhone 5 charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Puerto Rico from another region please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which come from another country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) can take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPhone 5 is dual voltage (you'll find these are normally indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use. If you intend on staying somewhere like San Juan we suggest referring to the Puerto Rican Wikipedia page [1] for more indepth details on visiting the area. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Puerto Rico

Can the iPhone 5 be used in Puerto Rico?

You can connect the iPhone 5 to a Puerto Rican power outlet.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5 in Puerto Rico?

If travelling to multiple countries or bringing along more than just your iPhone 5 the best travel charger for Puerto Rico is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Puerto Ricans use two different types of plug sockets (B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by switching the plugs. If your iPhone 5 supports Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times with one of these power adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers this means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to buy individual travel adapters on your trip to Puerto Rico. Because you are only needing to bring a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage while travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets and using only a single plug socket.

For those travelling to different continents we recommend searching for a multipurpose power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Puerto Rico

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable power grids. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 Puerto Rico.
  • 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 America using type B plugs. This is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 Puerto Rico. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5 in Puerto Rico?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet

A guide on how to power your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type A USB adapter.

  1. To power your iPhone 5 from the Puerto Rican power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple normally include this cable when you first purchase the iPhone 5.
  2. Begin by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the Puerto Rican power outlet. This unearthed wall supply, sometimes called a Type A power outlet [3], is recognised by two thin slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Connect the USB end of the cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Puerto Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a 3 pinned Type B USB charger to power your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 5 from the Puerto Rican power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually supply this cable with your iPhone 5).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Puerto Rican power outlet. You can recognise the power supply by 2 slots next to each other where the short live and neutral plug outlet blades go with a single semicircle shaped hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB Apple cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 found at the bottom of your iPhone 5.
  4. Switch on the Puerto Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your phone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging and takes between one-four hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Puerto Rican power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Puerto Rican Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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..