Charging the iPhone 3GS when planning a trip to Finland

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet using a 30-pin connector with a two pinned Type C power adapter and charging the iPhone 3GS using a Type F power charger.

Finnish power outlet

Varying different voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country, especially if you've never been there before. These instructions have been specifically written to prepare travellers wanting to power their iPhone 3GS abroad.If visiting Finland these instructions show powering the iPhone 3GS by using their standard F or C type Finnish 230 volt 50Hz power outlets. If you are visiting Finland from another region make sure that the iPhone 3GS can accept a 240 volt supply. If your iPhone 3GS was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to avoid the device from over-heating whilst powering it up. If you plan to stay in a destination such as Helsinki we suggest reading the Finland Wikipedia page [1] for more details. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Finland

Can you use the iPhone 3GS in Finland?

You can use the iPhone 3GS in Finland by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 3GS in Finland?

When travelling with more than just your iPhone 3GS the best international travel adapter for Finland is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Finns use two different standards of wall outlets (types F and C) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type C. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your type of iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers, plus additional support for more power demanding devices.

This means you can recharge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to buy individual travel chargers. By only packing a single lightweight USB travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand baggage and on hand for recharging your iPhone 3GS at an airport or on the flight. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple phones and tablets with just a single power outlet.

We recommend buying an adaptable travel charger of this nature at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Finland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be crucial when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Finland and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting Finland.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 suitable for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Finland. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 3GS in Finland?

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet using a 30-pin connector with a two pinned Type C power adapter.

  1. To charge the iPhone 3GS from a Finnish power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should normally supply the cable with the iPhone 3GS).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify the power outlet by the two adjacent holes next to each other where the live and neutral pins slide into.
  3. Connect one end of the power cable into the bottom of the USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Switch on the Finnish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your iPhone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet using a 30-pin cable and a 2 pin Type F power adapter.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 3GS using the Finnish power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually supplied with your iPhone 3GS).
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Finnish power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the two 4.8mm round adjacent holes where the plug outlet pins sit along with a pair of thin grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Turn on the Finnish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 3GS screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Finnish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Finland Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. 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..
  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 F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  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..