How to charge the iPad Mini 4 from a power outlet in Switzerland

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Europlug Type C USB adapter to recharge your iPad Mini 4 from a Swiss power outlet and recharging the iPad Mini 4 using a 3 pinned Type J power plug.

Swiss power outlet

Various standards and plugs can all be confusing when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. These guidelines have been written to prepare people wanting to power the iPad Mini 4 when they are visiting Switzerland.If going to Switzerland this page has instructions showing how to supply power to your iPad Mini 4 by using the standard Type J or C 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, please be aware Type J wall outlets will be used by most Swiss. If travelling to Switzerland from another region check your iPad Mini 4 can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) ensure that the device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to prevent the device from overloading when charging it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 9 or greater on the iPad Mini 4.

Charging the iPad Mini 4 in Switzerland

Can you use the iPad Mini 4 in Switzerland?

Yes, you can use the iPad Mini 4 in Switzerland by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 4 in Switzerland?

If travelling with more than your iPad Mini 4 or visiting multiple countries the best travel power adapter for Switzerland to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of wall outlets that Swiss use (types J and C) and using a travel charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by switching the included heads over. If your iPad Mini 4 is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster recharging times by using one of these power adapters, along with support for certain power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port charger will also allow you to charge multiple devices at once without needing to buy multiple travel adapters for your Swiss trip. Only packing a single travel charger will keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their space saving versatility these types of travel adapters can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones, tablets and e-readers with only a single wall outlet.

We suggest searching for this type of versatile travel charger at an electronics retailer; the multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Switzerland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices via USB, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to regions with unreliable power supplies. These travel 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 visiting Switzerland using type B US 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 from North America using type B plugs. This gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet at almost half the 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 a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Switzerland. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 4 in Switzerland?

Powering the iPad Mini 4 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Europlug Type C USB adapter to recharge your iPad Mini 4 from a Swiss power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPad Mini 4 using the Swiss power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply the USB cable when you purchase the iPad Mini 4).
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the wall outlet. You can identify the plug outlet by 2 round holes adjacent to each other where the twin pins sit.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Lightning charging cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 4. The iPad Mini 4 lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Mini 4.
  4. Turn on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging taking roughly 60-300 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini 4 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Powering the iPad Mini 4 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

Using a Lightning Apple connector with a Type J power charger to recharge the iPad Mini 4 with a Swiss power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPad Mini 4 from the Swiss power outlet you'll need to buy a Type J USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should typically include the USB cable when you first purchase your iPad Mini 4).
  2. First plug the Type J USB power plug adapter into the Swiss power outlet. The squashed hexagon shaped wall supply, technically known as the Type J power outlet [6], looks like three large circular holes in a triangular pattern.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple USB cord into the bottom of the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 4. The iPad Mini 4 lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Mini 4.
  4. Switch on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up, typically taking roughly 1-4.5 hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini 4 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Switzerland country entry on Wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - iPad Mini 4 user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. 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..
  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 J power outlet
  7. Type J USB power plug adapter - Type J USB chargers have three rounded pins placed in a flattened triangular pattern with the top pin acting as an earth.
  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..