How to charge the iPad Mini when visiting Panama

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A USB charger to power the iPad Mini with a Panamanian power outlet and charging the iPad Mini using a three pin Type B USB charger.

Panamanian power outlet

Complicated combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country especially to the first time traveller. However this isn't as complex as it appears, with only a handful of different types of sockets used in the world this article tells you exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPad Mini in Panama. These instructions were specifically written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad Mini abroad.This page contains a useful guide which shows how to power your iPad Mini when you're travelling to Panama using their standard types B or A 120 volt 60Hz power outlets. If your iPad Mini doesn't power up or recharges slowly when you are visiting Panama from another region then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which come from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts either take longer to charge or won't turn on, check that the device is dual voltage (normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Mini.

Charging the iPad Mini in Panama

Can the iPad Mini be used in Panama?

Yes, you can use the iPad Mini in Panama by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPad Mini in Panama?

When you are travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for Panama is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Panamanians use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by switching the included heads over. If your iPad Mini can support Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these travel adapters, plus compatibility with more power demanding devices.

Unlike other travel chargers this means you can charge more than one device simultaneously without needing to pack individual travel adapters for your trip or using up additional wall outlets. Because you are only needing to bring a single travel charger will also keep the overall size 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 be used overnight charging multiple tablets and smartphones using just a single wall outlet.

We recommend searching for this type of flexible power adapter at an electronics retailer - the multipurpose power charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Panama

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Mini, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to regions with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, 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 Panama 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 one less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting Panama. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPad Mini in Panama?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Panamanian power outlet

Using a Lightning Apple cable with a double pin Type A USB charger to power the iPad Mini with a Panamanian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Mini using the Panamanian power outlet you'll need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (the cable is typically supplied with the iPad Mini).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Panamanian power outlet. This plug outlet, sometimes called the Type A power outlet [3], is identified by 2 slots next to each other where the twin blades go.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Apple USB cable into the USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Switch on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Mini is charging, typically taking roughly one-four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Panamanian power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Panamanian power outlet

Using a USB Lightning cable and a three pinned Type B power charger to charge the iPad Mini from a Panamanian power outlet.

  1. If you want to charge your iPad Mini using a Panamanian power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (the USB cable is typically included with the iPad Mini).
  2. First plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter into the Panamanian power outlet. You can identify this plug outlet by two thin slots parallel to each other for live and neutral blades with a semicircular shaped hole below for the long earth pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Mini.
  4. Turn on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your tablet will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is powering up taking between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Mini from a Panamanian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Panamanian Wikipedia web page
  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 B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  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..