How to charge the iPad Air 2 when staying in China

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge an iPad Air 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a USB Lightning connector and a Type I power charger, how to recharge an iPad Air 2 using a Type A power plug and how to recharge an iPad Air 2 using a Type C power charger

Chinese power outlet

If packing for a holiday it can often be helpful to know if you'll be able to use all your common devices when you reach your destination. However without knowing which power socket is used in China you may bring the wrong charger, thereby leaving you needing to buy a suitable charger when you arrive. Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of standards used in the world this article tells you exactly what to buy in advance to charge your iPad Air 2 in China. This page has been specifically written to prevent travellers worrying if they can power the iPad Air 2 when going to China.This page contains a step by step guide demonstrating what you'll need to supply power to your iPad Air 2 when you're visiting China by using the standard types I, A or C Chinese 220 volt 50Hz wall outlets, Type I plug outlets are used by most Chinese. When you are visiting China from a different region make sure that the iPad Air 2 can accept a 240 volt supply. If the iPad Air 2 originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts ensure that the iPad Air 2 is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to prevent the device from being damaged whilst powering it. If you intend on visiting tourist destinations such as Shanghai or Guilin refer to the Chinese Wikipedia page [1] for further information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on an iPad Air 2.

Charging an iPad Air 2 in China

Can the iPad Air 2 be used in China?

You can use an iPad Air 2 in China.

What is the best travel charger for an iPad Air 2 in China?

If travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for China is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three different standards of power outlets in China (types I, A and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and 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 iPad Air 2 supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers for your Chinese trip or occupying additional power outlets. By only needing to pack a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis 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 with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for China

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 2, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both 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 China using 3 pinned type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for 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 most travellers from around the world visiting China. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for an iPad Air 2 in China?

How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

Using a USB Lightning cable with a Type A power charger to power your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. To supply power to an iPad Air 2 using a Chinese power outlet you will need a Type A 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.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Chinese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 slots next to each other where the twin pins slide into.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB Apple power cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging which takes around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

Using a USB Lightning cable and a Type C power charger to power your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to an iPad Air 2 using a Chinese power outlet you will need a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will typically include the USB cable with your iPad Air 2.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter in the Chinese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 holes next to each other where the twin plug outlet pins slide into.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning charging cable into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is charging which takes around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge an iPad Air 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a USB Lightning connector and a Type I power charger.

  1. To supply power to your iPad Air 2 using a Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable when you first purchase the iPad Air 2).
  2. Plug in the Type I USB power plug adapter into the wall outlet. This wall supply (called a Type I power outlet [8]) can be identified by three thin slots forming a triangular pattern with a single vertical pin at the bottom and the top pair of slots sloping upwards for the live, neutral and earth blades. Be aware that the neutral and live blades are reversed compared to Argentinian plug outlets, check that your Type I travel adaptor is compatible in China.
  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 an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging which typically takes roughly 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Chinese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Chinese 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 C power outlet
  7. 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..
  8. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  9. Type I USB power plug adapter - Type I USB chargers use three short flat blades in a V format with the top blade acting as a grounding pin.
  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..