Charging your iPad Mini 2 from a power outlet in China

A page showing how to recharge the iPad Mini 2 from a Chinese power outlet by using a USB Lightning connector with a two pin Europlug Type C power adapter, charging the iPad Mini 2 using a double pinned Type A power adapter and powering the iPad Mini 2 using a 3 pin Type I USB plug

Chinese power outlet

Various combinations of voltages and region codes can often be confusing when planning to stay in a new country especially for the first time traveller. This page has been specifically written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad Mini 2 when you are going abroad.This page contains useful instructions which shows how to power your iPad Mini 2 when visiting China using their standard I, A or C type 220 volt 50Hz wall outlets, Type I wall outlets will be used by a majority of Chinese. If travelling to China from a different country please ensure your iPad Mini 2 can accept a 240 volt supply. If your iPad Mini 2 came from a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) ensure the device is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to avoid the device from overheating during charging. If you plan on taking a trip to somewhere like Shanghai or Shenzhen we recommend reading the wikipedia entry about China [1] for more information. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini 2.

Charging the iPad Mini 2 in China

Can you use the iPad Mini 2 in China?

You can connect the iPad Mini 2 to a Chinese power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 2 in China?

If you are travelling to more than one country or bringing more than your iPad Mini 2 the best international travel charger for China to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three different standards of plug sockets in China (types I, A and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by changing the heads over. If your type of iPad Mini 2 can support Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB power chargers, and compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets. This will also allow you to power more than one device at the same time without needing to pack multiple travel chargers on your Chinese trip. Because you are only bringing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage and suitable for charging your iPad Mini 2 at the airport or on the plane. Due to their space saving versatility these types of chargers can be used when you return home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can sit overnight charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers with just a single wall outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we suggest searching for a flexible power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer; the power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for China

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad Mini 2, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is necessary for visitors of regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • 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 compact power adapter for travellers originating from North America going to China.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This gives the same set of features as the BESTEK with one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 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 suitable for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting China. [10] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Mini 2 in China?

Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using the Apple USB Lightning cable and a Type A USB adapter to power the iPad Mini 2 from a Chinese power outlet.

  1. To power your iPad Mini 2 using the Chinese power outlet you'll need a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - typically already included with the iPad Mini 2.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Chinese power outlet. You can recognise this power outlet by two adjacent slots next to each other where the live and neutral plug outlet blades go.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Mini 2 lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Mini 2.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning connector with a two pin Europlug Type C power adapter to recharge your iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Mini 2 using the Chinese power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - typically already included with the iPad Mini 2.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the Chinese power outlet. You can identify the wall supply by the 2 circular adjacent holes where the live and neutral pins go.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Mini 2 lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Mini 2.
  4. Switch on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of your tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Mini 2 from a Chinese power outlet

Using a USB Lightning Apple cable with a three pinned Type I power adapter to recharge your iPad Mini 2 with a Chinese power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge the iPad Mini 2 from the Chinese power outlet you will need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - usually included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start the process by plugging the Type I USB power plug adapter in the Chinese power outlet. You can recognise this wall outlet by three slots in a triangle shape with the top two slots sloping upwards for the live, neutral and earth. Note that the neutral and live pins are configured reversed compared to Argentinian plug outlets therefore please check that your Type I travel adaptor is compatible with a Chinese power supply.
  3. Plug in one end of the Lightning power cord into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Mini 2 lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Mini 2.
  4. Turn on the Chinese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the tablet screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes around one-four hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type I power charger for recharging your iPad Mini 2 from a Chinese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia entry about China
  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 C power outlet
  7. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  8. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  9. 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.
  10. 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..