Charging your iPhone 5 from a power outlet in Thailand

Instructions on how to power the iPhone 5 from a Thai power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter, recharging the iPhone 5 using a 2 pin Type A power charger and charging the iPhone 5 using a three pinned Type B power adapter

Thai power outlet

Complicated combinations of region codes and plugs can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to another country for the first time traveller. These instructions have been specifically written to stop you having to worry if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 5 when staying in Thailand.This page contains instructions telling you how to charge your iPhone 5 when staying in Thailand using the standard B, A or C type Thai 220 volt 50Hz power outlets, Type B wall outlets are normally used by a majority of Thai. When travelling to Thailand from a different country please check that your iPhone 5 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check the device is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overloading during charging. If you're planning on taking a trip to a tourist destination like Bangkok or Hat Yai please refer to the Thai country page on Wikipedia [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

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Charging the iPhone 5 in Thailand

Can the iPhone 5 be used in Thailand?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5 to a Thai power outlet by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 5 in Thailand?

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 5 the best international travel charger for Thailand to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Thai use three different types of power outlets (types B, A and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa simply by changing the included plugs over. If your type of iPhone 5 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these travel chargers, and compatibility with certain power hungry devices. Unlike other travel chargers having a 4 port adapter will allow you to power more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack multiple power adapters or occupying additional power sockets. Because you are only bringing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 5 at an airport or on the plane. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and smartphones without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to Thailand we recommend buying this type of versatile power adapter at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated below is the universal multi-device USB wall charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Thailand

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 iPhone 5, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting Thailand using 3 pin type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs and offers the same set of features as the BESTEK with 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 ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting Thailand. [10] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 5 in Thailand?

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Thai power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5 with a Thai power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable with a Type A USB adapter.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 5 using the Thai power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 5.
  2. Start by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify the power supply by the two slots next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 5 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is charging and takes around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Thai power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 5 from a Thai power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions on how to power the iPhone 5 from a Thai power outlet with a Lightning Apple cable and a Type B USB charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 5 using the Thai power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - this USB cable is typically supplied with your iPhone 5 by Apple.
  2. Start by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The plug supply (technically called the Type B power outlet [6]) is recognised by 2 slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades with a hole below for the earth pin.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 found at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Turn on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking roughly 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5 from a Thai power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Thai power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions on how to power the iPhone 5 from a Thai power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type C Europlug power adapter.

  1. To power the iPhone 5 using the Thai power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - Apple will usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 5.
  2. Start by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify this plug supply by the 2 circular adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Thai power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the iPhone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is charging taking around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Thai power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Thai country page on Wikipedia
  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 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. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. 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..
  10. Universal multi-device USB wall charger - A universal multi-device USB wall charger features USB PD and standard ports for fast charging simultaneous. These includes interchangeable international plug adapters making it ideal for travel and certified for safety to protect against current and heat.