Charging your iPad from a power outlet in Cuba

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad with a Cuban power outlet with a 30-pin connector with a 3 pin Type A power charger, charging the iPad using a three pin Type B power charger and how to charge the iPad using a Type C USB charger

Cuban power outlet

Various combinations of voltages and region codes can often be confusing when planning to stay in a new country especially for the first time traveller. This page has been specifically written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad when you are going abroad.This page contains useful instructions which shows how to power your iPad when visiting Cuba using their standard C, A or B type 110 volt 60Hz wall outlets, Type C wall outlets will be used by a majority of Cubans. If your iPad charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Cuba 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) may take longer to charge or won't power up, check that the device is a dual voltage device (you'll find these are normally indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise 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 that you have installed Apple iOS 5 or greater on the iPad.

Charging the iPad in Cuba

Can you use the iPad in Cuba?

You can connect the iPad to a Cuban power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for the iPad in Cuba?

If you are travelling to more than one country or bringing more than your iPad the best international travel adapter for Cuba to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three different standards of plug sockets in Cuba (types C, A and B) and using a travel adapter like this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world just by changing the heads over. If your type of iPad supports Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these USB power chargers, and compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets. This will also allow you to power more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack multiple travel chargers on your Cuban trip. Only packing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage and convenient for charging your iPad at the airport or on the plane. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used when you return home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones using just a single wall outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we suggest searching for a multipurpose power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer - the power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Cuba

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, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is necessary for visitors of regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 North America going to Cuba.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This gives the same set of features as the BESTEK with 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 suitable for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Cuba. [10] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPad in Cuba?

Powering the iPad with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad with a Cuban power outlet with a 30-pin connector with a 3 pin Type A power charger.

  1. To power the iPad using a Cuban power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (typically already included with the iPad).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. You can recognise the wall outlet by two adjacent slots next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB 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 Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of the tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging taking around 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad with a Cuban power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using the USB 30-pin Apple cable with a Type B power adapter to recharge your iPad with a Cuban power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad using the Cuban power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - typically already included with the iPad.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type B USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Cuban power outlet. You can identify the wall supply by the 2 thin slots next to each other where the live and neutral blades go with a single semicircle hole below for the slightly long ground pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB 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 Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of your tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging which takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad with a Cuban power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPad from a Cuban power outlet

A guide showing how to recharge the iPad from a Cuban power outlet by using a USB 30 pin connector and a Type C USB charger.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPad from a Cuban power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple usually supply the cable when you buy your iPad).
  2. Plug the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The wall outlet, sometimes called the Type C power outlet [8], is identified by the 2 round holes adjacent to each other where the twin plug outlet pins sit.
  3. Plug in one end of the 30 pin 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 base of the iPad.
  4. Turn on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up and takes roughly 1 to 4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPad from a Cuban power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia entry about Cuba
  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. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. 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..
  10. 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..