Charging the iPhone when staying in Canada

Using the Apple USB 30-pin connector with a Type A USB charger to power the iPhone with a Canadian power outlet.

Canadian power outlet

When packing for a trip it's useful to know in advance if you'll be able to power any essential devices like mobile phones and laptops that you'll be bringing along. Without knowing which power supply is being used in Canada you are more likely to bring the wrong adaptor, meaning needing to buy or borrow a potentially overpriced charger on arrival which might not be compatible and cause problems with the device. Varying complicated standards and voltages can all be confusing when planning to stay in a new country if you've never been there before. This page has been written to stop travellers having to worry if they'll be able to power their iPhone when they are staying in Canada.The following instructions shows you exactly what you'll need to charge the iPhone when you are travelling to Canada by using their 120 volt 60Hz Type A power outlet, with the Canadians using a NEMA 1-15 P ungrounded plug for wall outlets. If your iPhone charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Canada from a different region then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage such as 240 volts sometimes take longer to charge or won't power up, so check your iPhone is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use. If you are planning on staying in a city such as Toronto refer to the Canadian Wikipedia web page [1] for further details.

This page details the iPhone 1st generation, the original iPhone is missing some features which have since been introduced to more recent iPhones. Visit the Apple category page for the full range of Apple iPhones. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 3 or greater on the iPhone.

Charging the iPhone in Canada

Can you use the iPhone in Canada?

You can connect the iPhone to a Canadian power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone in Canada?

When travelling to multiple countries or bringing more than your iPhone the best international travel charger for Canada to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by changing the supplied plugs. If your iPhone is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times with one of these USB travel chargers, along with support for more power hungry devices.

This will also allow you to power multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy seperate travel adapters. By only packing a single international travel charger will keep the overall size down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage whilst travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used when you return home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple phones and tablets using only a single power outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we suggest buying this type of versatile power charger at an electronics retailer. The travel adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Canada

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be necessary for travellers to regions with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected devices from voltage spikes. These travel adapters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Canada and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Canada.
  • 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 from North America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Canada. [6] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone in Canada?

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

Using the USB 30-pin Apple connector with a two pin Type A USB charger to recharge the iPhone from a Canadian power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to your iPhone from a Canadian power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple should typically include this cable when you purchase your iPhone).
  2. Firstly plug the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can recognise this wall outlet by the two thin adjacent slots where the live and neutral blades go.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple cord into the bottom of the power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Turn on the Canadian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the iPhone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging, typically taking between 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone with a Canadian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Canadian Wikipedia web page
  2. Apple - the original iPhone product manual
  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. 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..