How to charge the iPad Mini when staying in Trinidad

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPad Mini with a Trinidad power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter and powering the iPad Mini using a Type B power charger.

Trinidad power outlet

Differing voltages and sockets can all cause confusion when planning on staying in another country, especially for the first time traveller. These instructions were written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad Mini when you're visiting abroad.If you are going to travel to Trinidad these useful instructions show how to supply power to your iPad Mini using their B or A type 115 volt 60Hz power outlets, Type B power outlets are used by most Trinidadians. If the iPad Mini slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are visiting Trinidad from a different country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which come from another country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, check your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you intend on travelling to a Trinidad place like Port of Spain please read the wikipedia.org entry about Trinidad [1] for more information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in Trinidad

Can the iPad Mini be used in Trinidad?

You can connect the iPad Mini to a Trinidad power outlet by using a power convertor.

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

When you are travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for Trinidad is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Trinidadians use two different types of plug sockets (B and A) and using a travel charger like this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by changing the supplied heads over. If your model of iPad Mini can support Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters, and additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices. Having a four port charger means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers. Only packing a single lightweight USB travel charger will keep the overall weight and size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling and suitable for recharging your iPad Mini at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers with only a single plug socket.

We suggest buying an adaptable power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The power charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Trinidad

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Mini, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Trinidad and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Trinidad.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs and is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 Trinidad. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Mini in Trinidad?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet

A page on how to power your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger.

  1. To supply power to the iPad Mini using a Trinidad power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (normally included with your device).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. You can identify this power supply by 2 thin slots adjacent to each other for live and neutral blades.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning charging cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Trinidad power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad Mini will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet

A page on how to power your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type B power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPad Mini using a Trinidad power outlet you will need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPad Mini).
  2. Plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 slots parallel to each other where the twin blades slide into with a single semicircle shaped hole below for the slightly longer earthed pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Trinidad power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad Mini will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPad Mini from a Trinidad power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Trinidad
  2. Apple - official iPad 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. 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..