Charging your iPad Mini from a power outlet in The United Kingdom

A page showing how to charge your iPad Mini from a UK power outlet with a Lightning Apple cable and a Type G USB charger.

UK power outlet

When organizing a holiday it can often be helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to power any common electronics such as cell phones or tablets when you get to your destination. However by not knowing which wall socket is being used you could end up either having to bring too many adaptors or bring the wrong power charger, therefore leaving you needing to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced charger when you need to recharge that could be incompatible and damage the iPad Mini. Differing voltages and standards can often be confusing when planning on visiting a foreign country, especially to the first time traveller. These instructions have been specifically written to stop visitors having to worry if they can charge the iPad Mini when they're travelling abroad.If going to travel to The United Kingdom the following useful instructions show how to charge the iPad Mini by using their 230 volt 50Hz Type G wall outlet, with the British using BS 1363 13 amp plugs for charging. You'll find power supplies will vary depending on which area you are travelling to so please read the Europe and power supplies page for a complete list of regions and countries. If you are visiting The United Kingdom from another country make sure that the iPad Mini can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) make sure the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to stop the device from being damaged whilst powering it up. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in The United Kingdom

Can the iPad Mini be used in The United Kingdom?

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

What is the best power adapter for the iPad Mini in The United Kingdom?

When you are travelling with more than your iPad Mini or visiting more than one country the best international travel charger for The United Kingdom to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger.

As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by switching the supplied plugs. If your iPad Mini supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB power adapters, plus additional support for certain power hungry devices.

Unlike other travel chargers having a 4 port charger will allow you to power more than one device at the same time without needing to pack multiple power chargers on your trip. By only packing a single USB travel charger will help keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used when you return home so when you're not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers using just a single power outlet.

We recommend searching for a flexible travel charger of this nature online; the multipurpose power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries.

Alternative travel adapter for The United Kingdom

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable power supplies. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both The United Kingdom 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 most popular portable option for travellers originating from America going to The United Kingdom.
  • 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 cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet for 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 most travellers from around the world visiting The United Kingdom. [6] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPad Mini in The United Kingdom?

How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a UK power outlet

A guide showing how to charge your iPad Mini from a UK power outlet with a Lightning Apple cable and a Type G USB charger.

  1. In order to power the iPad Mini from a UK power outlet you will need to use a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - this USB cable is typically supplied with your iPad Mini by Apple.
  2. Plug the Type G USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. The wall outlet (called the Type G power outlet [3]) looks like 3 rectangular slots forming a triangle shape for live, neutral and earth.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Apple Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the UK power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad Mini screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is powering up and takes roughly one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a UK power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about The United Kingdom
  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..