How to charge the iPad Air from a power outlet in Colombia

A page on how to recharge the iPad Air with a Colombian power outlet with an Apple USB Lightning connector and a two pinned Type A USB charger and charging the iPad Air using a Type B power adapter.

Colombian power outlet

Various voltages and standards can all cause confusion when planning to stay in a different country especially for the first time traveller. When going to Colombia this page has instructions showing how to power the iPad Air using their standard types B or A Colombian 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets. If the iPad Air slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when visiting Colombia from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally devices which come from another country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) either take longer to charge or won't power up, so check your device is dual voltage (usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you plan on travelling to a place like Bogotá please refer to the wikipedia.org page about Colombia [1] for more information prior to the location. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Colombia

Can you use the iPad Air in Colombia?

Yes, you can use the iPad Air in Colombia by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPad Air in Colombia?

If you are travelling to more than one country and bringing along more than just your iPad Air the best travel adapter for Colombia to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Colombians use two different types of plug sockets (types B and A) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by changing the supplied heads. If your iPad Air supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times by using one of these types of power chargers, along with additional support for certain power demanding devices.

Unlike other travel adapters having a four port charger means you can charge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers for your trip to Colombia or using up additional wall sockets. By only bringing a single travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage whilst travelling and on hand for charging your iPad Air at an airport or on the plane. Due to their flexibility these types of power chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

We suggest searching for this type of versatile travel charger at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Colombia

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 portable option for travellers originating from North America going to Colombia using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Colombia. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPad Air in Colombia?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Colombian power outlet

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Type A power charger to charge the iPad Air with a Colombian power outlet.

  1. To supply power to your iPad Air from the Colombian power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - the USB cable is usually already included with your device.
  2. Begin by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall outlet. You can recognise the power supply by two thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB Lightning charging cord into the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad Air will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up which takes between 1-4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Colombian power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Colombian power outlet

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Type B power charger to charge the iPad Air with a Colombian power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air from the Colombian power outlet you will need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple should usually include the USB cable when you purchase the iPad Air.
  2. First plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Colombian power outlet. You can recognise the power supply by two thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades with a single hole below for the longer earthed pin.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB Lightning charging cord into the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad Air will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up which should take between 1-4 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Colombian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org page about Colombia
  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..