How to charge the iPhone 5C when staying in Taiwan

Using a Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger to power your iPhone 5C from a Taiwanese power outlet and charging the iPhone 5C using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter.

Taiwanese power outlet

When planning a trip to Taiwan it is useful to know in advance if you can charge any electronics like mobiles or laptop computers at your destination. By not knowing which wall socket is used you could bring the wrong charger, leaving you needing to purchase a potentially overpriced adaptor when you get there. Varying complicated combinations of region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country especially to the first time traveller. These instructions were written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 5C when going abroad.This page contains a useful guide telling you what you'll need to supply power to your iPhone 5C when you're travelling to Taiwan by using the standard types B or A Taiwanese 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets, most Taiwanese use Type B sockets in their power outlets. If the iPhone 5C slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are visiting Taiwan from a different region please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts may take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPhone 5C is a dual voltage device (usually marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5C.

Charging the iPhone 5C in Taiwan

Can the iPhone 5C be used in Taiwan?

You can connect the iPhone 5C to a Taiwanese power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best power charger for the iPhone 5C in Taiwan?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPhone 5C or visiting multiple countries then the best international travel charger for Taiwan is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Taiwanese use two different types of wall outlets (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your iPhone 5C supports Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters, and support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters. Because you are only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling and suitable for recharging your iPhone 5C at the airport or on the plane. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

We suggest buying an adaptable 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 for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Taiwan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices via USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Taiwan.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for 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 perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Taiwan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPhone 5C in Taiwan?

Powering the iPhone 5C with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable with a Type A power charger to power your iPhone 5C from a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 5C from the Taiwanese 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 typically supply the USB cable with your iPhone 5C.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. This wall supply (called a Type A power outlet [3]) is recognised by the two thin adjacent slots.
  3. Connect the USB 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 iPhone 5C. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5C situated at the bottom of your iPhone 5C.
  4. Switch on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5C with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 5C from a Taiwanese power outlet

Using a USB Lightning cable and a Type B power charger to power your iPhone 5C from a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 5C from the Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple should usually supply this cable with your iPhone 5C.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Taiwanese power outlet. The power supply (called a Type B power outlet [6]) can be identified by two thin slots with a hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning charging cable into the USB power 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. Switch on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of your cell screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 5C from a Taiwanese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Taiwanese page on wikipedia.org
  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..