Charging the iPad when staying in France

Instructions on how to charge your iPad from a French power outlet by using the USB 30-pin Apple cable with a two pin Type C power charger and powering the iPad using a Type E USB charger.

French power outlet

Varying different standards and voltages can often be daunting when planning to travel to another country if you've never been there before. These step by step instructions will show how to power your iPad when you are travelling to France using their standard Type E or C 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets, you'll find a majority of French use the Type E plugs in their plug outlets. Power sockets change from region to region therefore we suggest reading the power supplies list for a full list of countries. If you are visiting France from another region please double check your iPad can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If your iPad originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) check that the device is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged when powering up. This page details the original iPad first generation, visit the Apple category page for the latest range of Apple iPads. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 5 or greater on the iPad.

Charging the iPad in France

Can the iPad be used in France?

Yes, you can use the iPad in France.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad in France?

When travelling to multiple countries or bringing more than your iPad the best international travel charger for France to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two types of power outlets in France (E and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by changing the heads over. If your iPad can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, and compatibility with more power demanding devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port adapter means you can power more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack individual travel chargers. By only needing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage whilst travelling. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets using just a single wall outlet.

If you travel to different continents we recommend buying this type of versatile travel charger at your preferred electronics retailer - the power adapter illustrated here 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 France

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, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unstable power supplies. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 option for travellers originating from America visiting France 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 originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 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 majority of travellers from around the world visiting France. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad in France?

Powering the iPad with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge your iPad from a French power outlet by using the USB 30-pin Apple cable with a two pin Type C power charger.

  1. To power the iPad using a French power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should normally include this USB cable when you purchase your iPad).
  2. Firstly you'll need to plug the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The power supply, sometimes known as a Europlug or Type C power outlet [3], can be identified by the two holes next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector is found at the bottom of the iPad.
  4. Switch on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up which should take between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Powering the iPad with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge your iPad from a French power outlet with the USB 30 pin Apple cable with a two pinned Type E power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPad from a French power outlet you will need to use a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will usually include the cable when you buy the iPad.
  2. Plug in the Type E USB power plug adapter into the French power outlet. You can recognise the wall outlet by the two circular adjacent holes next to each other and one long metal earth pin protruding from the top forming a triangular shape.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad.
  4. Switch on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up which typically takes between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad with a French power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - French country Wiki page
  2. Apple - official iPad 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  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..