How to charge the iPhone 6 Plus when visiting Germany

A guide showing you how to recharge your iPhone 6 Plus with a German power outlet by using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type C Europlug power charger and powering the iPhone 6 Plus using a Schuko Type F USB charger.

German power outlet

Varying different combinations of region codes and sockets can all be confusing when planning on visiting a new country for the first time traveller. These instructions were specifically written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge your iPhone 6 Plus abroad.This step by step guide will show how to power your iPhone 6 Plus when you're travelling to Germany using their standard types F or C 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, a majority of Germans typically use the Type F sockets in their wall outlets. Most power supplies will change depending on which area you are travelling to so we suggest reading the Europe page for a complete list of countries. If you are visiting Germany from a different region please ensure your iPhone 6 Plus can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) ensure that your device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged whilst powering it. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Charging the iPhone 6 Plus in Germany

Can the iPhone 6 Plus be used in Germany?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 6 Plus in Germany by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 6 Plus in Germany?

When you are travelling to more than one country and bringing more than just your iPhone 6 Plus the best international travel charger for Germany is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of wall outlets that Germans use (F and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by changing the plugs over. If your iPhone 6 Plus is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these types of power chargers, and support for more power hungry devices. Unlike other travel adapters this means you can power multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy seperate power adapters on your German trip or occupying additional wall sockets. By only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage. Due to their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used when you return home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and phones without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling frequently we suggest buying an adaptable travel adapter like this online. The travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Germany

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices via USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unstable power grids. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable option for travellers originating from North America visiting Germany.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at 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 a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Germany. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 6 Plus in Germany?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 Plus from a German power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a Type C Europlug USB charger to recharge the iPhone 6 Plus with a German power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 6 Plus using a German power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will normally supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 6 Plus.
  2. Start the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the German power outlet. This ungrounded wall outlet, sometimes called a Type C power outlet [3], is identified by 2 adjacent holes.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 Plus. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 Plus situated at the bottom of your iPhone 6 Plus.
  4. Turn on the German power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is powering up which should take between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 Plus from a German power outlet

Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a German power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A guide showing you how to power your iPhone 6 Plus with a German power outlet with the Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type F Schuko power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 6 Plus from the German power outlet you will need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (normally already supplied with your device by Apple).
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type F USB power plug adapter in the power supply. This sunken circular power supply, sometimes known as the Type F power outlet [6], can be identified by two 4.8mm adjacent holes next to each other where the plug outlet pins go along with a pair of grounding clips above and below.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Apple USB cable into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 Plus Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 6 Plus under the home button.
  4. Switch on the German power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 6 Plus screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging which should take around 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a German power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia web page about Germany
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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. 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..