How to charge your iPad 4 from a power outlet in Costa Rica

A page on how to power your iPad 4 with a Costa Rican power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power adapter and recharging the iPad 4 using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter.

Costa Rican power outlet

When planning a trip it can be useful to know in advance if you can charge your essential devices when you're there. Without knowing which wall socket is used you are more likely to bring the wrong power adaptor, therefore having to buy a potentially overpriced power adaptor on arrival. Varying complicated combinations of frequencies and region codes can all cause confusion when planning on staying in another country especially if you've never visited before. These instructions were written to prevent you needing to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPad 4 when you are staying abroad.When you're going to travel to Costa Rica the following instructions show charging your iPad 4 using the standard types B or A Costa Rican 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets, please note that Type B wall outlets will be normally used by most Costa Ricans. If the iPad 4 does not power up or charges slowly when travelling to Costa Rica from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which originated from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, check your device is dual voltage (usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 4.

Charging the iPad 4 in Costa Rica

Can you use the iPad 4 in Costa Rica?

Yes, you can use the iPad 4 in Costa Rica.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad 4 in Costa Rica?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPad 4 then the best international travel power adapter for Costa Rica to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of plug sockets that Costa Ricans use (types B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by switching the plugs. If your iPad 4 supports Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times with one of these power chargers, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets. Unlike other chargers having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack seperate power chargers for your trip or occupying additional power outlets. Only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets with only a single plug socket.

For those travelling often we recommend searching for a flexible power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with 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 around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad 4, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Costa Rica 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 most popular compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting Costa Rica.
  • 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 North America using type B plugs. This is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more generous 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 Costa Rica. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad 4 in Costa Rica?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 4 from a Costa Rican power outlet

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter to recharge your iPad 4 from a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPad 4 from the Costa Rican power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually supply this cable with your iPad 4).
  2. First insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall outlet. This power outlet (technically known as the Type A power outlet [3]) can be identified by two thin slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad 4.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your tablet screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging and takes between one-four hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 4 from a Costa Rican power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPad 4 from a Costa Rican power outlet

A page on how to recharge your iPad 4 with a Costa Rican power outlet by using a Lightning Apple connector and a Type B USB adapter.

  1. If you want to charge the iPad 4 from the Costa Rican power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply this cable with your iPad 4).
  2. Plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power outlet (technically known as the Type B power outlet [6]) can be identified by two thin slots adjacent to each other with a single hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Connect one end of the USB cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad 4.
  4. Turn on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad 4 will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up, typically taking around one to four hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPad 4 from a Costa Rican power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org page 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 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..