Charging the iPhone 4 from a power outlet in Cuba

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet using the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a Type C power adapter, recharging the iPhone 4 using a Type A USB plug and charging the iPhone 4 using a three pinned Type B power adapter

Cuban power outlet

If packing for a holiday to Cuba it can be helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to power any common electronics such as mobiles and cameras when you arrive. But by not knowing which plug socket is used you are likely to bring the wrong adaptor, meaning having to purchase a potentially expensive adaptor on arrival that could be incompatible and damage the iPhone 4. Various combinations of voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country especially for the first time traveller. These instructions have been specifically written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 4 abroad.When you're visiting Cuba this page has instructions showing charging the iPhone 4 using the types C, A or B 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type C plug outlets will be used by a majority of Cubans. If the iPhone 4 charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Cuba from another country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically electrical devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't power up, check that the device is a dual voltage device (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

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Charging the iPhone 4 in Cuba

Can you use the iPhone 4 in Cuba?

You can use the iPhone 4 in Cuba.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 4 in Cuba?

When travelling to more than one country or bringing more than your iPhone 4 then the best travel charger for Cuba is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Cubans use three different types of power outlets (types C, A and B) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the included heads. If your iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers along with compatibility with certain power hungry devices. This means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to bring seperate travel chargers for your Cuban trip. By only bringing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling. Because of their flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers with just a single power outlet.

We recommend buying this type of versatile power adapter online. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated here is the universal multi-device USB wall charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Cuba

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 4, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from America going to Cuba.
  • 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 America using type B plugs and offers practically the same functionality as the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at 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 Cuba. [10] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 4 in Cuba?

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using the Apple 30-pin cable and a 2 pin Type A power adapter to recharge your iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet.

  1. To charge the iPhone 4 from a Cuban power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (typically already included with the device by Apple).
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the wall supply. The wall outlet, sometimes known as a Type A power outlet [3], can be recognised by two slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your cell will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is powering up taking roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Cuban power outlet

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a three pinned Type B power adapter.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 4 from a Cuban power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple usually include the cable with the iPhone 4).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall supply. You can identify the power supply by the two slots next to each other for live and neutral blades with a hole below for the slightly long earth pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Switch on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the mobile will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Cuban power outlet

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet using the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a Type C power adapter.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 4 using the Cuban power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - Apple usually include this cable with the iPhone 4.
  2. Start by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the Cuban power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the two round adjacent holes next to each other where the live and neutral pins go.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the Cuban power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging, typically taking between 1 to 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Cuban power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Cuban 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 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. 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.