How to charge the iPhone 4 when staying in Tuvalu

How to connect a Tuvaluan power outlet to the iPhone 4

Tuvaluan power outlet

Different combinations of voltages and plugs can all cause confusion when planning on staying in another country, especially for the first time traveller. If you are staying in Tuvalu the following instructions show charging your iPhone 4 using their 220 volt 50Hz I Type power outlet. If travelling to Tuvalu from another country please ensure that the iPhone 4 can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPhone 4 originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120 volts ensure the iPhone 4 is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional converter to avoid the device from overheating when powering up. If you plan on visiting a city such as Vaiaku or Asau refer to the wikipedia.org page about Tuvalu [1] for more information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Tuvalu

Can the iPhone 4 be used in Tuvalu?

You can connect the iPhone 4 to a Tuvaluan power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 in Tuvalu?

How to use a Type J power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Tuvaluan power outlet

Using the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type I power charger to power your iPhone 4 from a Tuvaluan power outlet.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 4 from the Tuvaluan power outlet you'll need to use a Type I USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should typically supply this USB cable with your iPhone 4).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type I USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This wall supply (called a Type I power outlet [3]) can be recognised by the three thin slots for the live, neutral and ground.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB cord into the USB power charger 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 Tuvaluan power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the cell screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type J power charger for charging your iPhone 4 from a Tuvaluan power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org page about Tuvalu
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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..