How to charge an iPad Air 2 when planning a trip to Switzerland

Instructions showing how to power an iPad Air 2 with a Swiss power outlet with a USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Europlug Type C power charger and charging an iPad Air 2 using a Type J USB charger.

Swiss power outlet

Various combinations of standards and voltages can often cause confusion when planning to stay in a different country, especially if you've never visited before. This page was specifically written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge your iPad Air 2 abroad.This page contains a step by step guide which shows what you'll need to power the iPad Air 2 when you're visiting Switzerland by using their Type J or C Swiss 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, please note that Type J power outlets are typically used by a majority of Swiss. When you are visiting Switzerland from another country please check that your iPad Air 2 can accept a 240 volt supply. If it was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts ensure your device 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 up. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on an iPad Air 2.

Charging an iPad Air 2 in Switzerland

Can the iPad Air 2 be used in Switzerland?

Yes, you can use an iPad Air 2 in Switzerland by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging an iPad Air 2 in Switzerland?

When travelling with more than your iPad Air 2 then the best international travel charger for Switzerland to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Swiss use two different standards of wall outlets (J and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa just by changing the plugs over. If your iPad Air 2 is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB power chargers, along with support for more power hungry devices like tablets. Having a 4 port adapter will allow you to charge multiple devices at once without needing to bring multiple power chargers. Because you are only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage while travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without needing an additional plug socket.

We suggest searching for a multipurpose travel adapter similar to this online. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Switzerland

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 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • 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 North America going to Switzerland using type B American 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 offers almost the same functionality as 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 flexible 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Switzerland. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging an iPad Air 2 in Switzerland?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Swiss power outlet

Instructions showing how to power an iPad Air 2 with a Swiss power outlet with a USB Lightning cable and a double pinned Europlug Type C power charger.

  1. If you want to charge your iPad Air 2 using a Swiss power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], typically already supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type C USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 circular holes adjacent to each other where the two plug outlet pins go.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Turn on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Swiss power outlet

How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Swiss power outlet

Using a Lightning connector and a 3 pinned Type J power charger to charge an iPad Air 2 from a Swiss power outlet.

  1. To charge the iPad Air 2 using a Swiss power outlet you'll need to use a Type J USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will normally supply this cable when you buy the iPad Air 2).
  2. Firstly you'll need to insert the Type J USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise the hexagon shaped plug outlet by three large circular holes in a triangular pattern for live, neutral and ground.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Lightning power cord into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on an iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad Air 2.
  4. Turn on the Swiss 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 tablet is charging and takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type J power charger for recharging your iPad Air 2 from a Swiss power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia web page about Switzerland
  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 J power outlet
  7. Type J USB power plug adapter - Type J USB chargers have three rounded pins placed in a flattened triangular pattern with the top pin acting as an earth.
  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..