Charging an iPad Air 2 when staying in Taiwan

Using a USB Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A power charger to charge an iPad Air 2 from a Taiwanese power outlet and powering an iPad Air 2 using a three pinned Type B power charger.

Taiwanese power outlet

Various combinations of frequencies and standards can all be daunting when planning on staying in a foreign country, especially if you've never visited before. This page was written to stop travellers having to worry if they'll be able to power their iPad Air 2 when they are travelling to Taiwan.When you're planning a trip to Taiwan the following instructions show how to power the iPad Air 2 by using the Type B or A Taiwanese 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets, please be aware that Type B power outlets are typically used by most Taiwanese. If the iPad Air 2 charges slowly or does not power up when visiting Taiwan from a different country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which come from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts can take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check that your device is a dual voltage device (you'll find these are usually indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on an iPad Air 2.

Charging an iPad Air 2 in Taiwan

Can you use an iPad Air 2 in Taiwan?

You can connect an iPad Air 2 to a Taiwanese power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for an iPad Air 2 in Taiwan?

If you are travelling with more than just your iPad Air 2 and visiting more than one country then the best travel adapter for Taiwan to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Taiwanese use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by switching the supplied heads. If your model of iPad Air 2 is compatible with Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these travel adapters and additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets. Unlike other travel adapters this means you can recharge multiple devices at once without needing to bring individual power adapters on your Taiwanese trip or using up additional wall outlets. Because you are only packing a single USB travel charger will keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage and suitable for charging your iPad Air 2 at an airport or on the flight. Because of their flexibility these types of power adapters can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without needing an additional wall outlet.

We suggest searching for a versatile power charger of this nature online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Taiwan

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

  • 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 adapter for travellers originating from North America going to Taiwan.
  • 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 North America using type B plugs and gives almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet at almost half 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 Taiwan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for an iPad Air 2 in Taiwan?

Powering an iPad Air 2 with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a Lightning connector with a Type A USB adapter to power an iPad Air 2 with a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air 2 using a Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should normally include this cable when you purchase your iPad Air 2).
  2. Firstly you'll need to plug the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The power supply (known as the Type A power outlet [3]) is recognised by 2 slots adjacent to each other where the two plug outlet pins sit.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Turn on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad Air 2 will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging which takes around one-four hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering an iPad Air 2 with a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Charging an iPad Air 2 from a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning connector and a Type B USB adapter to power your iPad Air 2 with a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air 2 using a Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (the cable is normally supplied with your device by Apple).
  2. Firstly plug the Type B USB power plug adapter into the power supply. This plug supply (known as the Type B power outlet [6]) can be recognised by the 2 slots next to each other for live and neutral blades with a hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Apple USB power cable into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Switch on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging taking around 1 - 4 hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging an iPad Air 2 from a Taiwanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Taiwan
  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 Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  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..