How to charge the iPhone 3G when planning a trip to The Bahamas

A guide showing you how to recharge your iPhone 3G from a Bahamas power outlet by using an Apple USB 30-pin cable and a three pinned Type A power charger and how to recharge the iPhone 3G using a Type B power charger.

Bahamas power outlet

Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can all be confusing when planning to stay in another country to the first time traveller. This isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of sockets used in the world this article tells you exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPhone 3G in The Bahamas. This guide was written to prevent you needing to worry if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 3G when you are visiting The Bahamas.If you're staying in The Bahamas the following instructions show how to charge the iPhone 3G using the standard Type B or A 120 volt 60Hz plug outlets, a majority of Bahamians will typically use Type B sockets in their wall outlets. If your iPhone 3G charges slowly or does not power up when you are travelling to The Bahamas from a different country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which originate from another country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) may take longer to charge or won't power up, check the iPhone 3G is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in The Bahamas

Can the iPhone 3G be used in The Bahamas?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 3G in The Bahamas by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in The Bahamas?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone 3G then the best travel adapter for The Bahamas to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Bahamians use two different standards of wall outlets (types B and A) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by switching the heads over. If your iPhone 3G supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these types of power chargers, and support for more power hungry devices. Having a 4 port adapter will also allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to bring individual power chargers. Only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage while travelling and on hand for charging your iPhone 3G at the airport or on a flight. Because of their flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used back at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones using just a single plug socket.

We suggest searching for this type of versatile power charger online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for The Bahamas

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices via USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unstable power grids. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to The Bahamas 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 Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and offers almost the same functionality as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 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 The Bahamas. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in The Bahamas?

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Bahamas power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a two pin Type A USB charger to power the iPhone 3G with a Bahamas power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 3G from the Bahamas power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple normally supply this USB cable when you purchase the iPhone 3G.
  2. Start the process by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the Bahamas power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by the 2 thin adjacent slots for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Bahamas power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is powering up which typically takes between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Bahamas power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 3G from a Bahamas power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using an Apple USB 30-pin connector and a three pinned Type B power charger to charge the iPhone 3G from a Bahamas power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 3G using the Bahamas power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will normally include this cable when you buy the iPhone 3G.
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. The plug supply, sometimes known as the Type B power outlet [6], is identified by two slots where the plug outlet blades go with a hole below for the longer ground pin.
  3. Connect one end of the cable into the mains USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Switch on the Bahamas power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPhone 3G will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes roughly one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 3G from a Bahamas power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about The Bahamas
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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. 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..