How to charge the iPhone 3G when staying in Tuvalu

How to connect a Tuvaluan power outlet to the iPhone 3G

Tuvaluan power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning on travelling to a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. These instructions were written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 3G when going abroad.When you're visiting Tuvalu the following instructions show charging your iPhone 3G using their 220 volt 50Hz I Type plug supply. When travelling anywhere you'll find that most power sockets will vary from region to region so we recommend reading our Wikiconnections travel power sockets guide where you'll find a complete list of powering devices in different countries. If travelling to Tuvalu from another country please ensure the iPhone 3G can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPhone 3G was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v check that your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional transformer to stop the device from overheating when charging it. If you plan on travelling to a place like Vaiaku please read the Tuvaluan page on wikipedia.org [1] for more information on visiting the area. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in Tuvalu

Can the iPhone 3G be used in Tuvalu?

You can connect the iPhone 3G to a Tuvaluan power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in Tuvalu?

When you are travelling to multiple countries the best travel charger for Tuvalu is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 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 iPhone 3G can support Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times with one of these power chargers plus support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers this will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters on your trip to Tuvalu. Only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage as well as being convenient for charging your iPhone 3G 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 tablets, phones and speakers with only a single plug socket.

We suggest buying this type of flexible power charger online, the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Tuvalu

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices via USB, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact option for travellers originating from North America going to Tuvalu.
  • 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 only one less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 suitable for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Tuvalu. [6] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in Tuvalu?

How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Tuvaluan power outlet

Using a USB 30-pin cable with a Type I power charger to power your iPhone 3G from a Tuvaluan power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone 3G using a Tuvaluan power outlet you will need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 3G.
  2. Begin by taking the Type I USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Tuvaluan power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 3 thin slots forming a triangular pattern with a single vertical pin at the bottom and the top pair of slots sloping upwards for the live, neutral and earth blades.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB power 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 Tuvaluan power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 3G will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 3G is recharging taking roughly one-four hours to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Tuvaluan power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Tuvaluan page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  4. Type I USB power plug adapter - Type I USB chargers use three short flat blades in a V format with the top blade acting as a grounding pin.
  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. 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..