How to charge the iPad Air when planning a trip to Laos

A guide showing you how to charge your iPad Air from a Lao power outlet using the Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Type E power charger, how to charge the iPad Air using a two pinned Type C power charger and powering the iPad Air using a Type F USB adapter

Lao power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. This guide was written to prevent people needing to worry if they can power their iPad Air abroad.The following simple guide shows exactly how to charge your iPad Air when you are travelling to Laos by using the F, C or E type Lao 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets. If travelling to Laos from a different region check that the iPad Air can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120 volts double check your iPad Air is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional transformer to avoid the device from being damaged whilst powering it. If you plan on visiting a Lao destination like Vientiane or Pakxe we also suggest referring to the wikipedia.org entry about Laos [1] for more information prior to the location. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Laos

Can you use the iPad Air in Laos?

Yes, you can connect the iPad Air to a Lao power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Laos?

When travelling to more than one country the best international travel charger for Laos is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three types of power outlets that Laotians use (F, C and E) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by switching the included heads over. If your iPad Air supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB travel chargers and additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other travel chargers this means you can power multiple devices at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers. Because you are only packing a single travel charger will keep the overall weight and size down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage as well as being suitable for recharging your iPad Air at an airport or on a plane. Due to their flexibility these types of power chargers can be used when back at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling frequently we suggest buying this type of flexible travel adapter at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose power charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Laos

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies. These power adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Laos and over 150 countries around the world:

  • 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 portable option for travellers originating from North America going to Laos using type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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 and is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just 1 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 Laos. [9] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Laos?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Lao power outlet

A guide showing how to power the iPad Air with a Lao power outlet with a Lightning Apple cable with a Type C Europlug USB charger.

  1. If you want to charge your iPad Air using a Lao power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is usually already included with your iPad Air by Apple.
  2. Begin by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the Lao power outlet. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 round adjacent holes next to each other where the plug outlet pins go.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Lao power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad is powering up which should take between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Lao power outlet

How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Lao power outlet

Using the Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Type E power charger to recharge the iPad Air with a Lao power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air from a Lao power outlet you will need to buy a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually supply the USB cable with your iPad Air).
  2. Start by taking the Type E USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power outlet. You can identify this wall outlet by the two round adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral with a single long metal earth pin protruding from the top in a triangle pattern.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cord into the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Lao power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPad Air screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Lao power outlet

Charging the iPad Air from a Lao power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

A guide on how to charge the iPad Air from a Lao power outlet with a Lightning cable and a double pin Type F Schuko power charger.

  1. To supply power to your iPad Air from the Lao power outlet you will need a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will usually supply the USB cable when you purchase your iPad Air).
  2. Start by taking the Type F USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power supply. This sunken circular power supply can be identified by the two holes 19 mm next to each other where the twin pins sit and two thin grounding clips on the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect one end of the charging cable into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Lao power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad Air will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPad Air from a Lao power outlet by using a two pinned Schuko Type F USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Laos
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. 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..
  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 E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  8. iec.ch - Type F power outlet
  9. 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..