Charging your iPad from a power outlet in Costa Rica

Using a 30-pin Apple connector with a two pinned Type A power adapter to recharge your iPad with a Costa Rican power outlet and powering the iPad using a Type B power adapter.

Costa Rican power outlet

If packing for a trip to Costa Rica it can often be useful to know if you can power all your devices such as mobiles and laptop computers when you're there. Without knowing which power supply is being used in Costa Rica you are more likely to bring the wrong charger, leaving you having to buy a suitable adaptor when you need to recharge which might be incompatible. Various combinations of region codes and voltages can often be confusing when planning on visiting a foreign country, especially to the first time traveller. This useful guide tells you exactly how to supply power to the iPad when you are visiting Costa Rica by using their standard B or A type 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets, a majority of Costa Ricans will use Type B plugs in their wall outlets. If the iPad charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Costa Rica from another region please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originated from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) may take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that your iPad is dual voltage (you'll find these are usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. This page details the original iPad first generation, visit the Apple category page for the latest range of Apple iPads. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 5 or greater on the iPad.

Charging the iPad in Costa Rica

Can the iPad be used in Costa Rica?

Yes, you can connect the iPad to a Costa Rican power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPad in Costa Rica?

When you are travelling with more than your iPad then the best travel charger for Costa Rica is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of plug sockets that Costa Ricans use (types B and A) and using a travel adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa simply by switching the supplied plugs over. If your iPad can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB power chargers, plus additional compatibility with certain power hungry devices. Unlike other travel chargers having a 4 port adapter will allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy individual travel chargers on your Costa Rican trip. Only needing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the size down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your iPad at an airport or on the flight. Due to their versatility these types of chargers can be used back at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to Costa Rica we recommend buying a versatile power charger of this nature online; the power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Costa Rica

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable power supplies. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Costa Rica and over 150 countries around the world:

  • 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 compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting Costa Rica using type B American 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 the US using type B plugs and offers the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more flexible 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 majority of travellers from around the world visiting Costa Rica. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPad in Costa Rica?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad from a Costa Rican power outlet

Using the 30-pin Apple cable with a Type A power adapter to power the iPad with a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPad from a Costa Rican power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (the cable is normally already included with your iPad).
  2. Begin by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Costa Rican power outlet. You can recognise the wall outlet by two slots next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the charging cable into the bottom of the mains power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad.
  4. Turn on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of the tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking roughly one to four hours to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad from a Costa Rican power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad from a Costa Rican power outlet

Using the USB 30-pin Apple cable and a Type B USB adapter to power the iPad with a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge the iPad from the Costa Rican power outlet you will need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (the USB cable is normally already supplied with your iPad).
  2. Start by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Costa Rican power outlet. This power outlet, sometimes known as a Type B power outlet [6], is identified by the 2 thin slots next to each other with a single semicircular shaped hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the 30 pin cable into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad from a Costa Rican power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia entry about Costa Rica
  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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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..