Charging the iPad Air when staying in Gambia

How to connect a Gambian power outlet to the iPad Air

Gambian power outlet

If organizing a trip to Gambia it can often be useful to know if you'll be able to charge your common gadgets like mobile phones and laptop computers that you'll be bringing with you. But, without knowing which wall socket is used you may end up either over packing with unnecessary spare adaptors or bring the wrong power adaptor, thereby leaving you having to borrow a suitable charger when you're there that might be incompatible. Varying complicated standards and voltages can often be daunting when planning to travel to another country especially to the first time traveller. This guide was written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad Air abroad.When you're staying in Gambia the following useful instructions show how to supply power to the iPad Air using a standard 230 volt 50Hz G Type wall outlet, with the Gambians using 13 amp plugs for power outlets. If visiting Gambia from a different country ensure that your iPad Air can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts make sure your iPad Air is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional voltage converter to prevent the device from overheating when powering up. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Gambia

Can you use the iPad Air in Gambia?

Yes, you can connect the iPad Air to a Gambian power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Gambia?

If you are travelling to multiple countries then the best international travel charger for Gambia to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 volts - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the included heads over. If your type of iPad Air can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, and support for more power demanding devices.

This will allow you to recharge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring individual power adapters on your Gambian trip or occupying additional wall sockets. Only needing to bring a single travel charger will also keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage whilst travelling. Due to their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers without using up an additional power outlet.

For those travelling frequently we suggest searching for this type of versatile power charger at an 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 countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Gambia

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, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties 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 Gambia and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power adapter for travellers originating from America going to Gambia using type B plug sockets.
  • 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 originating from the US using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Gambia. [6] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Gambia?

Powering the iPad Air with a Gambian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a three pin Type G USB charger to recharge the iPad Air from a Gambian power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPad Air from a Gambian power outlet you will need to use a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (the USB cable is usually included with the iPad Air).
  2. Start by plugging the Type G USB power plug adapter in the Gambian power outlet. This wall outlet, technically called a Type G power outlet [3], looks like 3 vertical rectangular slots with shutters in a triangle pattern for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB power cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Gambian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPad Air screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking around one-four hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a Gambian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Gambia page on Wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable 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. 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..