Charging the iPad Air from a power outlet in England

How to connect a British power outlet to the iPad Air

British power outlet

Varying different standards and voltages can often be confusing when planning to visit a new country if you've never been there before. When you're planning a trip to England these useful instructions show how to power your iPad Air by using a 230 volt 50Hz Type G power outlet, with the Britons using a BS 1363 13 amp plug for wall outlets. Power sockets are different depending on which region you are in therefore we suggest reading the travel power supplies page for a full list of countries. When you are visiting England from another country check the iPad Air can accept a 240v supply. If the iPad Air was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v ensure that your device is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overheating whilst powering it. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in England

Can you use the iPad Air in England?

You can connect the iPad Air to a British power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPad Air in England?

If you are travelling with more than your iPad Air the best international travel charger for England is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by changing the included plugs over. If your iPad Air supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, plus compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other adapters this means you can recharge more than one device at once without needing to bring multiple power adapters on your British trip or using up additional wall outlets. Because you are only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand baggage while travelling. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and phones without needing an additional power outlet.

We suggest searching for a flexible power adapter of this nature online. The multipurpose power charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for charging multiple USB devices in numerous countries.

Alternative travel adapter for England

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 Air, however 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 come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both England 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 power adapter for travellers originating from North America going to England.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from North America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for 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 England. [6] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPad Air in England?

How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPad Air from a British power outlet

Using a USB Lightning connector and a Type G USB adapter to power the iPad Air with a British power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPad Air from a British power outlet you will need to use a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is normally supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type G USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the British power outlet. This power outlet, sometimes called the Type G power outlet [3], can be identified by the 3 rectangular holes with shutters in a triangle pattern for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the British power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the iPad Air screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad Air is powering up which takes between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPad Air from a British power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia web page about England
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable 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. 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..