Charging the iPhone 5C when staying in Barbados

Instructions showing how to power the iPhone 5C with a Barbadian power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pinned Type A power charger and powering the iPhone 5C using a three pinned Type B power charger.

Barbadian power outlet

If you are packing for a trip it's helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to use any indispensable devices like mobiles and cameras that you'll be bringing with you. Without knowing which power supply is being used in Barbados you are more likely to bring the wrong adaptor, leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced charger on arrival that might not be compatible. Differing frequencies and standards can all be confusing when planning on staying in a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. However this isn't as complex as it appears, with only a handful of different types of standards used throughout the world this article shows exactly what you'll need in advance to charge the iPhone 5C . If travelling to Barbados the following useful instructions show how to charge the iPhone 5C by using the B or A type Barbadian 115 volt 50Hz plug outlets, Type B plug outlets will be used by most Barbadians. If your iPhone 5C does not power up or charges slowly when you are visiting Barbados from another region then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originate from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't power up, so check the iPhone 5C is dual-voltage (you'll find these are normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you intend on staying at a Barbadian city such as Bridgetown refer to the Barbadian Wikipedia web page [1] for more details. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5C.

Charging the iPhone 5C in Barbados

Can the iPhone 5C be used in Barbados?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5C in Barbados.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in Barbados?

If you are travelling with more than just your iPhone 5C and visiting more than one country then the best travel power adapter for Barbados is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Bajans use two different types of power outlets (B and A) and using a power adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by switching the supplied plugs. If your model of iPhone 5C is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, along with support for more power demanding devices.

Having a four port adapter will also allow you to power more than one device at the same time without needing to pack individual travel chargers or occupying additional power sockets. By only needing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage as well as being suitable for recharging your iPhone 5C at an airport or on your flight. Because of their flexibility these types of power adapters can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without using up an additional plug socket.

We recommend searching for an adaptable power adapter like this online; the multipurpose power charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Barbados

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5C, but 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 unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Barbados and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from America going to Barbados using type B US plug sockets.
  • 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 from America using type B plugs and 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 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Barbados. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5C in Barbados?

Charging the iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing how to power the iPhone 5C with a Barbadian power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pinned Type A power charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should typically include this cable when you buy your iPhone 5C).
  2. Begin by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. This ungrounded wall outlet, technically called the Type A power outlet [3], can be identified by the two slots next to each other.
  3. Connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. The iPhone 5C Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5C under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Barbadian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the cellphone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5C is powering up which should take between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet

Using the USB Lightning Apple connector with a 3 pin Type B USB charger to recharge the iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 5C from the Barbadian power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually include the cable when you buy the iPhone 5C).
  2. Firstly plug the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. You can recognise the wall supply by the 2 thin slots next to each other where the live and neutral plug outlet blades sit with a single semicircular shaped hole below for the long ground pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C situated at the bottom of your iPhone 5C.
  4. Turn on the Barbadian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 5C will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 5C is recharging, typically taking roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 5C from a Barbadian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Barbadian Wikipedia web 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..