Charging the iPad 2 when visiting Costa Rica

A guide showing you how to recharge your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet by using an Apple USB 30-pin cable and a three pinned Type A power charger and charging the iPad 2 using a Type B USB adapter.

Costa Rican power outlet

When organizing a vacation it can often be helpful to know if you can charge your common electrical devices like mobile phones and cameras when you're there. By not knowing which power supply is being used in Costa Rica you could end up either over packing with unnecessary spare adaptors or pack the wrong adaptor, leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially expensive power adaptor when you get there that could be incompatible. Varying different region codes and sockets can all be confusing when planning on visiting a new country to the first time traveller. This isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of common standards used throughout the world this article shows exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPad 2 in Costa Rica. These instructions have been written to stop you needing to worry if you'll be able to charge the iPad 2 when you are going to Costa Rica.If visiting Costa Rica these instructions show how to power the iPad 2 using the standard Type B or A 120 volt 60Hz plug outlets, most Costa Ricans will typically use Type B wall outlets. If your iPad 2 charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Costa Rica from a different country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which originate from another country which use a higher voltage such as 240 volts may take longer to charge or won't power up, check the iPad 2 is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad 2.

Charging the iPad 2 in Costa Rica

Can you use the iPad 2 in Costa Rica?

Yes, you can connect the iPad 2 to a Costa Rican power outlet.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPad 2 in Costa Rica?

If you are travelling with more than just your iPad 2 and visiting more than one country the best travel power adapter for Costa Rica is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of power outlets in Costa Rica (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by switching the supplied heads. If your type of iPad 2 can support Fast Charge (not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these travel adapters plus compatibility with more power demanding devices.

Unlike other travel chargers this means you can power more than one device at the same time without needing to buy seperate travel adapters on your Costa Rican trip or occupying additional wall sockets. By only packing a single international USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPad 2 at the airport or on a plane. Due to their versatility these types of power adapters can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers and using only a single power outlet.

If you travel to Costa Rica we recommend searching for this type of flexible power adapter at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose power charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Costa Rica

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad 2, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is necessary for visitors of regions with unstable power supplies. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Costa Rica 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 portable option for travellers originating from North America visiting Costa Rica.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Costa Rica. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPad 2 in Costa Rica?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a two pin Type A USB charger to power the iPad 2 with a Costa Rican power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPad 2 using a Costa Rican power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - normally already supplied with your device.
  2. Plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power supply. The plug outlet, sometimes called the Type A power outlet [3], is identified by two slots next to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple 30 pin USB cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 2. The iPad 2 dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad 2.
  4. Turn on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up taking between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet

Instructions showing you how to charge your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet by using an Apple 30-pin cable and a three pinned Type B power charger.

  1. If you want to charge your iPad 2 using a Costa Rican power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], typically already supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power supply. This plug outlet (technically called a Type B power outlet [6]) is recognised by two slots parallel to each other with a semicircular shaped hole below for the long earth pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 2. The iPad 2 dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad 2.
  4. Switch on the Costa Rican power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad 2 is recharging which takes around 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad 2 from a Costa Rican power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about Costa Rica
  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. 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..