Charging your iPhone 5 from a power outlet in Spain

Using the Apple Lightning connector and a 2 pin Europlug Type C power adapter to power the iPhone 5 from a Spanish power outlet and charging the iPhone 5 using a Schuko Type F USB plug.

Spanish power outlet

When organizing a trip it's useful to know in advance if you'll be able to charge all your indispensable electrical devices such as mobiles and laptops when you get there. Without knowing which power socket is used you may pack the wrong power charger, therefore needing to buy or borrow a potentially expensive charger when you need to recharge that could be incompatible and damage the device. Various combinations of standards and voltages can all be daunting when planning on travelling to another country if you've never been there before. The following instructions tells you exactly what you'll need to power your iPhone 5 in Spain by using their standard F or C type Spanish 230 volt 50Hz wall outlets, Type F plug outlets will be used by a majority of Spaniards. Most power supplies will change depending on which country you are visiting so please read the power supplies and Europe page for a full list of countries. When travelling to Spain from a different region ensure your iPhone 5 can be charged using a 240v supply. If your iPhone 5 was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check that your iPhone 5 is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional converter to prevent the device from overheating during charging. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Spain

Can the iPhone 5 be used in Spain?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 5 to a Spanish power outlet by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Spain?

When travelling to more than one country or bringing more than your iPhone 5 then the best travel adapter for Spain is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of wall outlets that Spaniards use (F and C) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for type C. Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world just by switching the included heads. If your iPhone 5 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these USB power adapters plus additional support for more power demanding devices.

Having a four port adapter means you can recharge more than one device at once without needing to bring seperate travel adapters for your Spanish trip. By only needing a single USB travel charger will keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage. Because of their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones without needing an additional plug socket.

If you travel on a regular basis we suggest searching for this type of flexible travel adapter online; the multipurpose power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Spain

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact option for travellers originating from America going to Spain.
  • 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 America using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the 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 Spain. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Spain?

How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPhone 5 from a Spanish power outlet

Using the Apple Lightning connector and a 2 pin Europlug Type C power adapter to power the iPhone 5 from a Spanish power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 5 using a Spanish power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - usually supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Start by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Spanish power outlet. The wall outlet is recognised by 2 round holes adjacent to each other where the live and neutral pins slide into.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple Lightning cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of your iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Spanish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 5 screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is powering up and takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPhone 5 from a Spanish power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Spanish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

Using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type F Schuko power charger to charge your iPhone 5 with a Spanish power outlet.

  1. To charge your iPhone 5 using the Spanish power outlet you will need to use a Type F USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should typically include this USB cable with the iPhone 5).
  2. Insert the Type F USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. The circular power supply can be recognised by two 4.8mm holes 19 mm adjacent to each other for live and neutral along with two metal grounding clips at the top and bottom.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Apple USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Turn on the Spanish power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging, typically taking between 1 - 4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Spanish power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type F Schuko USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about Spain
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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 F power outlet
  7. Type F USB power plug adapter - Compliant with Europlugs and CEE 7/17 specifications, the Type F or Schuko adapter is engineered to adapt German electrical power outlets into USB-compatible ports..
  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..