How to charge the iPhone 4S when planning a trip to Cuba

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet by using a USB 30-pin Apple connector with a Type C power charger, charging the iPhone 4S using a Type A power charger and charging the iPhone 4S using a Type B USB adapter

Cuban power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and voltages can often lead to confusion when planning on staying in a foreign country for the first time traveller. If you are staying in Cuba this page has useful instructions showing how to power your iPhone 4S using the standard Type C, A or B 110 volt 60Hz power outlets, most Cubans use the Type C power outlets. If the iPhone 4S charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Cuba from a different region check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Electrical devices which originated from a country which use a higher voltage such as 240 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that the device is dual-voltage (you'll find these are usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. If you plan on staying somewhere such as Havana or Santiago de Cuba please read the Cuba Wikipedia web page [1] for more information prior to the area. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4S.

Charging the iPhone 4S in Cuba

Can you use the iPhone 4S in Cuba?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 4S in Cuba.

What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 4S in Cuba?

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 4S and visiting more than one country then the best travel adapter for Cuba to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three different standards of wall outlets that Cubans use (types C, A and B) and using a travel charger like this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by changing the supplied heads. If your type of iPhone 4S can support Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB travel chargers and additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices.

Having a 4 port adapter will allow you to recharge more than one device at once without needing to pack individual travel adapters for your Cuban trip. Only bringing a single travel charger will also keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 4S at the airport or on a flight. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers using just a single plug socket.

For those travelling frequently we suggest buying this type of versatile travel adapter at your preferred electronics retailer; the multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Cuba

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 4S, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Cuba and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Cuba using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs. This offers the same functionality as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet for almost half the 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Cuba. [10] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPhone 4S in Cuba?

Charging the iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a USB 30 pin Apple connector with a Type A power adapter to charge the iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 4S using a Cuban power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple typically supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 4S.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. The plug supply (technically known as a Type A power outlet [3]) can be recognised by the 2 adjacent slots next to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 4S.
  4. Switch on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 4S will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 4S with a Cuban power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a 30 pin Apple cable with a Type B USB adapter to recharge your iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 4S using the Cuban power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will usually supply the USB cable when you purchase the iPhone 4S.
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. The plug outlet (technically known as a Type B power outlet [6]) can be recognised by the 2 slots next to each other with a single hole below for the slightly longer ground pin.
  3. Connect one end of the cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 4S.
  4. Turn on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging taking roughly 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4S with a Cuban power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet by using a USB 30-pin Apple connector with a Type C power charger.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple typically supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 4S).
  2. Insert the Type C USB power plug adapter in the Cuban power outlet. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 holes adjacent to each other where the twin pins sit.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 4S.
  4. Switch on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4S from a Cuban power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Cuba Wikipedia web page
  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 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. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. 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..
  10. 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..