How to charge the iPhone 5S when planning a trip to The US Virgin Islands

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5S with a Virgin Islands power outlet with a USB Lightning cable with a double pin Type A USB charger and recharging the iPhone 5S using a Type B power charger.

Virgin Islands power outlet

Varying complicated combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to another country, especially to the first time traveller. These guidelines were specifically written to help assist travellers wanting to power the iPhone 5S when they are going to The US Virgin Islands.This page is a guide demonstrating exactly how to supply power to your iPhone 5S in The US Virgin Islands using their types B or A Virgin Islands 110 volt 60Hz power outlets. If your iPhone 5S charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting The US Virgin Islands from a different country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which originate from another country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) may take longer to charge or won't power up, check the iPhone 5S is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in The US Virgin Islands

Can the iPhone 5S be used in The US Virgin Islands?

You can use the iPhone 5S in The US Virgin Islands by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5S in The US Virgin Islands?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone 5S then the best international travel charger for The US Virgin Islands to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Virgin Islanders use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to over 100 countries around the world simply by changing the supplied plugs. If your model of iPhone 5S supports Fast Charge 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 adapters this will also allow you to power multiple devices at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers. Only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage while travelling. Due to their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones, tablets and e-readers without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel to different continents we recommend 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 foreign countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for The US Virgin Islands

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices via USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting 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, 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 adapter for travellers originating from America going to The US Virgin Islands using type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly 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 much 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 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 perfect for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting The US Virgin Islands. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 5S in The US Virgin Islands?

How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 5S with a Virgin Islands power outlet with a USB Lightning cable with a double pin Type A USB charger.

  1. To power the iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple normally supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 5S.
  2. Plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power supply. The plug supply, sometimes called the Type A power outlet [3], is recognised by two thin adjacent slots next to each other where the pins go.
  3. Connect one end of the charging cable into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. You can find the Lightning connector on your iPhone 5S situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5S.
  4. Turn on the Virgin Islands power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the mobile screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5S is charging, typically taking around 1-4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for charging your iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet

Charging the iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable and a three pin Type B USB charger to power the iPhone 5S with a Virgin Islands power outlet.

  1. To supply power to your iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], usually already included with your iPhone 5S by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can identify this power outlet by the 2 thin slots with a single hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Virgin Islands power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your phone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is powering up which takes between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5S from a Virgin Islands power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - The US Virgin Islands Wikipedia web page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 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..