Charging the Kindle Fire when planning a trip to America

A page showing how to charge your Kindle Fire with an American power outlet using USB Micro type B connector with a 3 pin Type A power adapter and recharging a Kindle Fire using a Type B USB plug.

American power outlet

Varying complicated region codes and voltages can all lead to confusion when planning to visit a foreign country especially for the first time traveller. This isn't as complicated as it appears, with only a handful of different types of common standards being used in the world this article tells you exactly what to buy in advance to power your Kindle Fire . If visiting America these instructions show powering the Kindle Fire by using their standard B or A type American 120 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type B plug outlets will be normally used by a majority of Americans. If the Kindle Fire charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting America from another country check that it is compatible with a 120 volt power supply. Typically devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) either take longer to charge or won't turn on, check that your Kindle Fire is dual-voltage (normally indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use.

This list of instructions shows how to connect the American power outlet to your Kindle tablet. This page assumes that you have installed the most recent version of the Fire operating system for the Kindle tablet, but if not please visit Amazon for the latest Kindle Fire software update which makes sure you have the most up-to-date fixes for your device. For more information go to the Amazon support site for the Kindle Fire device support [2] .

Charging a Kindle Fire in America

Can you use a Kindle Fire in America?

You can use a Kindle Fire in America by using a power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for a Kindle Fire in America?

When you are travelling with more than your Kindle Fire or visiting more than one country the best travel charger for America to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of plug sockets in America (B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa simply by changing the included heads over. If your type of Kindle Fire is compatible with Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from faster charging times with one of these types of travel chargers, plus additional support for more power demanding devices like tablets. This means you can charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to bring seperate travel chargers or occupying additional wall outlets. Only needing a single USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage while travelling as well as being suitable for charging your Kindle Fire at the airport or on your flight. Due to their versatility these types of chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to different places we suggest searching for a versatile power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for America

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips 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 which cover both America and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting America.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting America. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for a Kindle Fire in America?

How to use a Type A power charger for charging your Kindle Fire from an American power outlet

A page showing how to charge your Kindle Fire with an American power outlet using USB Micro type B connector with a 3 pin Type A power adapter.

  1. If you want to power the Kindle Fire using the American power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Insert the Type A USB power plug adapter into the American power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the 2 thin slots next to each other.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on a Kindle Fire.
  4. Switch on the American power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top corner of the tablet will display a lightning bolt icon to indicate that your tablet is charging.
  6. It will take between 4 hours to 12 hours to fully charge, however this is likely to be longer depending on the type of Kindle tablet you have, the charger strength and if you are using the Kindle during charging. For further information please read the Kindle Fire device support [2] for more details on the charging process and battery life. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for charging your Kindle Fire from an American power outlet

Charging a Kindle Fire from an American power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using Type B USB Micro connector with a Type B USB charger to charge your Kindle Fire with an American power outlet.

  1. To charge a Kindle Fire from an American power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [5].
  2. Start by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The wall outlet, sometimes known as a Type B power outlet [6], can be recognised by 2 thin slots parallel to each other for live and neutral blades with a semicircle hole below for the earth pin.
  3. Connect one end of the USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on a Kindle Fire.
  4. Turn on the American power outlet.
  5. The battery symbol which is found in the top corner of the Fire will display a lightning bolt icon to indicate that your device is charging.
  6. It takes between approximately 4 hours to 12 hours to completely recharge, however this is likely to be longer depending on the model of Fire you are charging, the charger strength and if you are using the Kindle during charging. Please read the Kindle Fire device support [2] for more details on battery life and the recharging procedure. [AD]
Charging a Kindle Fire from an American power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Visittheusa - Visit The USA
  2. Amazon - Kindle Fire device support
  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 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable - Used to connect USB devices which have a USB Mini-B port to computers, power supplies and other devices.
  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..