How to charge the iPad 3 when planning a trip to Switzerland

Using a USB 30 pin connector and a two pinned Type C power charger to recharge the iPad 3 with a Swiss power outlet and how to charge the iPad 3 using a three pinned Type J power plug.

Swiss power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards being used throughout the world this article shows exactly what you'll need to purchase in advance to power the iPad 3 in Switzerland. These instructions were written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad 3 when you are going to Switzerland.When you're visiting Switzerland this page has useful instructions showing you how to power your iPad 3 using the standard Type J or C 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, Type J power outlets are typically used by a majority of Swiss. You will discover that power will change depending on which region you are travelling to so we recommend reading the Europe page for a complete list of countries. If you are travelling to Switzerland from a different country ensure the iPad 3 can accept a 240v supply. If your iPad 3 originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v check your iPad 3 is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to prevent the device from being damaged when powering up. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 3.

Charging the iPad 3 in Switzerland

Can you use the iPad 3 in Switzerland?

Yes, you can connect the iPad 3 to a Swiss power outlet.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPad 3 in Switzerland?

If travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for Switzerland 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 Swiss use (types J and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 to 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 iPad 3 is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these travel adapters plus compatibility with more power demanding devices. Having a 4 port adapter will allow you to recharge multiple devices at once without needing to buy multiple travel chargers for your trip to Switzerland or using up additional wall outlets. Only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of adapters can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers and using only a single wall outlet.

We suggest searching for a multipurpose travel adapter similar to this online. The travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Switzerland

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 3, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Switzerland and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from America visiting Switzerland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and offers almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Switzerland. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPad 3 in Switzerland?

Powering the iPad 3 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using a USB 30 pin connector and a two pinned Type C power charger to recharge the iPad 3 with a Swiss power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPad 3 using the Swiss power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - the cable is typically included with the iPad 3 by Apple.
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Swiss power outlet. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 round adjacent holes next to each other where the plug outlet pins go.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad 3.
  4. Turn on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up which typically takes between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad 3 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Swiss power outlet

Instructions showing how to power your iPad 3 with a Swiss power outlet by using an Apple USB 30-pin cable with a three pin Type J USB adapter.

  1. To charge the iPad 3 from a Swiss power outlet you will need to use a Type J USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should usually include the USB cable with your iPad 3).
  2. Start by taking the Type J USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power supply. This squashed hexagon shaped power supply, sometimes known as the Type J power outlet [6], looks like 3 circular holes forming a flattened triangle configuration for live, neutral and ground pins.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad 3.
  4. Turn on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your tablet screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad 3 is charging, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPad 3 from a Swiss power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Switzerland Wikipedia web page
  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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type J power outlet
  7. Type J USB power plug adapter - Type J USB chargers have three rounded pins placed in a flattened triangular pattern with the top pin acting as an earth.
  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..