Charging the iPhone 5 from a power outlet in North Korea

Instructions showing you how to power your iPhone 5 with a North Korean power outlet with a USB Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A power charger, charging the iPhone 5 using a two pin Type C Europlug power charger and how to charge the iPhone 5 using a Schuko Type F USB charger

North Korean power outlet

Various combinations of standards and plug types can often lead to confusion when planning on travelling to another country, especially to the first time traveller. This guide has been specifically written to assist people wanting to power their iPhone 5 when they are abroad.This page contains instructions demonstrating exactly what you'll need to charge the iPhone 5 when you're travelling to North Korea using their standard Type F, A or C 220 volt 60Hz wall outlets. When travelling to North Korea from another region make sure the iPhone 5 can be used with a 240v supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts make sure that your iPhone 5 is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to stop the device from overloading during charging. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in North Korea

Can you use the iPhone 5 in North Korea?

You can connect the iPhone 5 to a North Korean power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

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

When travelling to multiple countries or bringing more than just your iPhone 5 then the best international travel charger for North Korea to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. North Koreans use three different types of power outlets (F, A and C) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by changing the supplied plugs. If your iPhone 5 is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these USB power chargers, and compatibility with more power demanding devices.

Unlike other chargers having a 4 port charger means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to pack multiple power chargers on your North Korean trip or occupying additional wall sockets. Only packing a single USB travel charger will also keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage and convenient for charging your iPhone 5 at the airport or on the plane. Due to their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets using just a single wall outlet.

If you travel to different continents we suggest buying this type of versatile travel charger at an electronics retailer, the travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for North Korea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unreliable or unstable power grids. These travel 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 portable option for travellers originating from North America visiting North Korea using 3 pinned 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 offers the same set of features as the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the 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 perfect for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting North Korea. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPhone 5 in North Korea?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet

Instructions showing you how to power your iPhone 5 with a North Korean power outlet with a USB Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A power charger.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 5 using the North Korean power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple usually supply the cable with the iPhone 5).
  2. Firstly you'll need to plug the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise this power outlet by two thin slots next to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Apple USB power cable into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Turn on the North Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging which takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pinned Type C USB adapter to power your iPhone 5 with a North Korean power outlet.

  1. To charge your iPhone 5 using the North Korean power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will usually include the cable when you buy the iPhone 5.
  2. Firstly you'll need to plug the Type C USB power plug adapter into the power supply. The wall supply is recognised by 2 round holes adjacent to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB cable into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Turn on the North Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your cellphone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging which takes around 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5 with a North Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

A guide showing how to charge the iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet by using an Apple USB Lightning cable and a Schuko Type F USB charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone 5 from a North Korean power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the cable is normally supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the North Korean power outlet. You can recognise this power outlet by two large round holes 19 mm apart from each other for live and neutral pins and a pair of two metal grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Connect one end of the USB Apple power cable into 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. Switch on the North Korean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the mobile screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is powering up and takes roughly 1 to 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a North Korean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about North Korea
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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 C power outlet
  7. 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..
  8. iec.ch - Type F power outlet
  9. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  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..