How to charge the iPad Air when staying in Barbados

Instructions showing how to power your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger and charging the iPad Air using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter.

Barbadian power outlet

When planning a trip to Barbados it's helpful to know if you'll be able to use all your important gadgets such as mobile phones or laptops when you're there. However without knowing which power socket is being used in Barbados you may bring the wrong power adaptor, therefore leaving you having to buy or borrow a suitable charger when you arrive. Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can often be confusing when planning to visit a different country if you've never visited before. These instructions will show you exactly how to power the iPad Air when travelling to Barbados by using their Type B or A 115 volt 50Hz power outlets, Type B power outlets are normally used by most Bajans. If the iPad Air doesn't power up or recharges slowly when you are travelling to Barbados from a different region please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts may take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPad Air is a dual voltage device (normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Barbados

Can the iPad Air be used in Barbados?

You can connect the iPad Air to a Barbadian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best power charger for the iPad Air in Barbados?

If travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for Barbados is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of wall outlets in Barbados (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your iPad Air is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker charging times with one of these power chargers, and additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Unlike other travel adapters this will also allow you to recharge more than one device simultaneously without needing to buy individual travel chargers. Because you are only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPad Air at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and smartphones with only a single plug socket.

We suggest buying an adaptable power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Barbados

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 Air, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which can be useful for visitors of regions with unreliable power grids. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Barbados and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Barbados using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Barbados. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPad Air in Barbados?

How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet

Instructions on how to recharge your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger.

  1. If you want to power your iPad Air using a Barbadian power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (normally included with your device).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This power supply, sometimes called the Type A power outlet [3], is recognised by the two thin adjacent slots next to each other.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Barbadian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your tablet screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet

Powering the iPad Air with a Barbadian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type B power charger.

  1. If you want to power your iPad Air from a Barbadian power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPad Air).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This wall supply (called a Type B power outlet [6]) can be identified by the two thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades with a single hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the cord into the power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Barbadian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your tablet screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a Barbadian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Barbadian page on wikipedia.org
  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..