How to charge the iPhone 5 in India

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5 with an Indian power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple cable with a two pin Europlug Type C power charger, recharging the iPhone 5 using a three pinned Type D power charger and charging the iPhone 5 using a three pin Type M USB plug

Indian power outlet

Complicated combinations of voltages and plug types can all be daunting when planning on staying in a foreign country, especially if you've never visited before. This guide was written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 5 abroad.When you are going to travel to India these useful instructions show how to power your iPhone 5 by using the Type D, C or M Indian 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, please be aware Type D plug outlets are normally used by a majority of Indians. If visiting India from a different country please ensure that your iPhone 5 can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check that your iPhone 5 is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overheating whilst powering it. If you plan on travelling to a place such as Mumbai or Delhi read the India page on Wikipedia.org [1] for further details. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in India

Can the iPhone 5 be used in India?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5 in India.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 5 in India?

When travelling with more than your iPhone 5 the best travel charger for India is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Indians use three different standards of plug sockets (types D, C and M) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can 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 type of iPhone 5 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these types of power adapters, plus additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other adapters having a 4 port charger means you can power more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack individual travel chargers. By only packing a single international travel charger will help keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling and on hand for charging your iPhone 5 at the airport or on the plane. Due to their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without needing an additional power outlet.

We suggest searching for this type of versatile power charger at an electronics retailer, the travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for India

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 5, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unstable power grids. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact option for travellers originating from North America visiting India.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from North America using type B plugs and gives almost the same functionality 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 a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting India. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 5 in India?

Charging the iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5 with an Indian power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple cable with a two pin Europlug Type C power charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 5 from the Indian power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (usually already included with your iPhone 5).
  2. Firstly plug the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can recognise this wall outlet by the two circular adjacent holes next to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB power cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Indian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 5 screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging, typically taking around one-four hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet by using a two pinned Europlug Type C USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 5 with an Indian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type D USB adapter

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a three pin Type D power charger to charge the iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet you will need to use a Type D USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually include the cable with the iPhone 5).
  2. Firstly plug the Type D USB power plug adapter in the power supply. This plug supply, sometimes known as the Type D power outlet [6], can be identified by the three holes in a triangular shape for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Apple USB power cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Indian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the cell screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is powering up which should take between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with an Indian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type D USB adapter

How to use a Type M power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet

Using a USB Lightning Apple connector with a three pin Type M USB charger to recharge the iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 5 using the Indian power outlet you'll need a Type M USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple should typically include this cable when you buy the iPhone 5.
  2. Start by taking the Type M USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Indian power outlet. You can recognise the wall supply by the 3 large round holes in a triangle pattern for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB charging cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Indian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 5 screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is charging, typically taking roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type M power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from an Indian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - India page on Wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  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 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 D power outlet
  7. Type D USB power plug adapter - Designed for usage in South Asian countries such as India and Nepal, the Type D USB power plug adapter offers a practical solution for converting local 3-prong grounded outlets into USB ports, providing reliable charging for a range of USB devices..
  8. iec.ch - Type M power outlet
  9. Type M USB power plug adapter - South African Type M USB chargers have three large circular pins in a triangular shape with the top earthed pin longer and larger in diameter.
  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..