Charging your iPhone 3GS from a power outlet in Ecuador

A page showing how to recharge the iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet with the USB 30 pin Apple cable and a Type A USB charger and how to power the iPhone 3GS using a Type B USB plug.

Ecuadorian power outlet

Complicated region codes and voltages can all be daunting when planning on visiting another country if you've never been there before. These guidelines have been specifically written to prepare visitors wanting to power their iPhone 3GS abroad.If you are staying in Ecuador these instructions show powering the iPhone 3GS by using their types B or A 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets. You will discover that power sockets change depending on which area you are travelling to so please read the power supplies and South America page for a full list of regions and countries. If the iPhone 3GS charges slowly or does not power up when visiting Ecuador from a different country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originated from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) may take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check your iPhone 3GS is dual-voltage (normally indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. If you're planning on staying at a place like Guayaquil or Quito please refer to the Ecuadorian country wikipedia page [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Ecuador

Can the iPhone 3GS be used in Ecuador?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 3GS to an Ecuadorian power outlet by using the correct power convertor.

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

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 3GS the best international travel adapter for Ecuador to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Ecuadorians use two different standards of wall outlets (types B and A) and using a travel adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by changing the heads. If your model of iPhone 3GS is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these USB power adapters and additional support for more power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other adapters this means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy individual travel chargers on your Ecuadorian trip or using up additional power sockets. Only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage while travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 3GS at an airport or on the flight. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple phones and tablets without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to Ecuador we suggest buying this type of versatile power adapter online. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Ecuador

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing 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 useful for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Ecuador 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 most popular portable option for travellers originating from America going to Ecuador.
  • 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 originating from America using type B plugs and offers practically the same functionality as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Ecuador. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Ecuador?

Charging the iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

A page showing how to recharge the iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet with the USB 30 pin Apple cable and a Type A USB charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 3GS using the Ecuadorian power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple will usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 3GS).
  2. Plug the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Ecuadorian power outlet. This unearthed plug supply (technically called the Type A power outlet [3]) can be recognised by 2 thin slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple 30 pin USB cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter 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 Ecuadorian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the mobile screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking roughly 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet

Using the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a three pin Type B power adapter to power the iPhone 3GS with an Ecuadorian power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 3GS using an Ecuadorian power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually supplied with your iPhone 3GS by Apple).
  2. Insert the Type B USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. You can identify the power supply by the two slots where the live and neutral blades slide into with a single semicircular shaped hole below for the earthed pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into 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 Ecuadorian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your mobile will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 3GS is charging which should take between one-four hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from an Ecuadorian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Ecuadorian country wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS 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..