Charging your Kindle Fire from a power outlet in Germany

A step by step guide showing how to power a Kindle Fire with a German power outlet using USB Micro type B cable and a Type C Europlug power charger and charging a Kindle Fire using a two pin Type F power adapter.

German power outlet

If you are organizing a trip it is helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to power any common electrical devices that you are bringing with you. Without knowing which power socket is used you are more likely to bring the wrong adaptor, leaving you having to buy a suitable adaptor when you need to recharge which might be incompatible and damage the device. Different standards and sockets can often be daunting when planning to travel to a new country if you've never visited before. However this isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of common standards being used throughout the world this guide tells you exactly what you'll need to buy in advance to charge your Kindle Fire . When you're going to travel to Germany these instructions show powering the Kindle Fire by using the Type F or C German 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, you'll find a majority of Germans normally use the Type F wall outlets. Most power changes depending on which country you are in so we recommend reading the power supplies and Europe page for a full list of regions and countries. When you are visiting Germany from another country make sure that the Kindle Fire can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v double check the device is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to prevent the device from overheating whilst powering it.

The following instructions show you how to connect the German power outlet to the tablet. This guide assumes that you have installed the most recent version of Fire OS for the tablet, but if not visit Amazon for the latest Kindle Fire software update to ensure you have the most up-to-date fixes for your device. Visit Amazon for the Kindle Fire device support [2] for more information.

Charging a Kindle Fire in Germany

Can the Kindle Fire be used in Germany?

Yes, you can connect a Kindle Fire to a German power outlet by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power charger for recharging a Kindle Fire in Germany?

If travelling to more than one country or bringing along more than your Kindle Fire the best international travel charger for Germany to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of plug sockets in Germany (F and C) and using a power adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the supplied plugs. If your Kindle Fire supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these travel chargers, along with compatibility with more power demanding devices like tablets. This means you can power more than one device at once without needing to buy multiple power adapters on your trip. By only needing to bring a single USB travel charger will keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand baggage while travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your Kindle Fire at an airport or on the flight. Due to their versatility these types of chargers can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones using just a single power outlet.

We recommend searching for this type of flexible travel adapter at an electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Germany

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies. 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 adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power converter for travellers originating from North America visiting Germany using 3 pinned type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs and is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the 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 ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting Germany. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging a Kindle Fire in Germany?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your Kindle Fire from a German power outlet

Using type B USB Micro connector with a three pinned Type C USB adapter to power a Kindle Fire from a German power outlet.

  1. In order to power a Kindle Fire from a German power outlet you will need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Begin by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the German power outlet. This unearthed plug supply is identified by two adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB micro type B connector into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on a Kindle Fire.
  4. Switch on the German power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears at the top corner of the Kindle Fire screen will display a lightning bolt icon to indicate that the tablet is charging.
  6. It will take between around 4 hours to 12 hours to completely recharge but this may take longer depending on the model of tablet you are using, the charger strength and if you are using the device whilst recharging. For more information please read the Kindle Fire device support [2] for more details on the charging procedure. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your Kindle Fire from a German power outlet

Powering a Kindle Fire with a German power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your Kindle Fire with a German power outlet using Type B USB cable and a Type F Schuko USB charger.

  1. To power the Kindle Fire using the German power outlet you'll need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Plug the Type F USB power plug adapter into the power supply. You can recognise the wall outlet by the two large round holes 19 mm next to each other and two metal grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on a Kindle Fire.
  4. Turn on the German power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top corner of the Kindle display will show a lightning icon to indicate that your tablet is charging.
  6. It will take between 4 hours to 12 hours to fully recharge, however this may take longer depending on the type of Kindle you are using, the strength of the power and if you are using the Kindle during the charging process. For more information on charging please read the Kindle Fire device support [2] for more details on battery times and the charging procedure. [AD]
Powering a Kindle Fire with a German power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - German country page on Wikipedia.org
  2. Amazon - Kindle Fire device support
  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 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable - Used to connect USB devices which have a USB Mini-B port to computers, power supplies and other devices.
  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..