How to charge the iPhone 4 when planning a trip to Colombia

Using a 30 pin Apple cable with a Type A USB adapter to recharge your iPhone 4 from a Colombian power outlet and recharging the iPhone 4 using a three pin Type B USB charger.

Colombian power outlet

Varying complicated region codes and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to a different country, especially if you've never visited before. If you're going to Colombia this page has instructions showing powering your iPhone 4 by using the B or A type 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets. If the iPhone 4 charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Colombia from another region check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which originate from a country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't turn on, check that the device is dual-voltage (you'll find these are usually marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Colombia

Can you use the iPhone 4 in Colombia?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 4 in Colombia.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 4 in Colombia?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPhone 4 then the best international travel charger for Colombia is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of power outlets in Colombia (types B and A) and using a power charger like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world simply by switching the included heads over. If your iPhone 4 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times with one of these USB travel adapters plus compatibility with more power hungry devices. This means you can charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack seperate travel adapters. Because you are only needing to pack a single travel charger will keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling on a regular basis we recommend buying this type of flexible power adapter online. The multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Colombia

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices via USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be crucial for travellers to counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China 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 most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from America going to Colombia.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This offers practically the same functionality as the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for 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 perfect for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Colombia. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 4 in Colombia?

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

Using a 30 pin Apple cable with a Type A USB adapter to charge your iPhone 4 from a Colombian power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 4 using the Colombian power outlet you'll need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple will usually supply the USB cable when you purchase your iPhone 4.
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 adjacent slots next to each other where the plug outlet pins go.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple cable into the USB mains 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 Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPhone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Colombian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Colombian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions on how to charge the iPhone 4 from a Colombian power outlet with a USB 30 pin connector and a three pinned Type B USB charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 4 from the Colombian power outlet you'll need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple should usually include the USB cable when you first purchase your iPhone 4.
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Colombian power outlet. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 slots adjacent to each other where the short twin blades sit with a semicircular hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the cord into the mains USB 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 Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the phone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is recharging which should take around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Colombian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Colombian 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. 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..