How to charge your iPad Air 2 from a power outlet in America

Using an Apple Lightning cable and a Type A USB adapter to charge your iPad Air 2 from an American power outlet and powering an iPad Air 2 using a 3 pinned Type B power plug.

American power outlet

Varying different combinations of voltages and plug types can all be confusing when planning to travel to another country, especially if you've never visited before. This isn't as complex as it first appears, with only a handful of different types of plug sockets used in the world this guide shows exactly what you'll need to purchase in advance to power the iPad Air 2 . These instructions were written to help prepare people wanting to charge the iPad Air 2 abroad.If you are visiting America these useful instructions show charging your iPad Air 2 by using the standard Type B or A 120 volt 60Hz power outlets, you will discover most Americans use Type B wall outlets. If your iPad Air 2 charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to America from another region check that it is compatible with a 120 volt power supply. Devices which come from a different country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts may take longer to charge or won't power up, check your device is a dual voltage device (normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional transformer to ensure proper use. These instructions assume that you've have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on an iPad Air 2.

Charging an iPad Air 2 in America

Can you use an iPad Air 2 in America?

Yes, you can use an iPad Air 2 in America by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for an iPad Air 2 in America?

If travelling with more than just your iPad Air 2 or visiting multiple countries then the best travel charger for America is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Americans use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by changing the included plugs. If your type of iPad Air 2 can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times with one of these power adapters, along with additional support for certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other travel adapters having a four port charger means you can power more than one device at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers for your trip. Only needing to pack a single lightweight travel charger will help keep the weight and size down, making it ideal to fold up in hand baggage and suitable for recharging your iPad Air 2 at the airport or on a flight. Because of their space saving versatility these types of adapters can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to different continents we recommend searching for this type of versatile power charger at an electronics retailer; the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for America

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air 2, but for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which is crucial for travellers to regions with unreliable power supplies. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both America and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from America visiting America.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs and gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting America. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for an iPad Air 2 in America?

Powering an iPad Air 2 with an American power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning cable and a Type A USB adapter to charge your iPad Air 2 from an American power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to an iPad Air 2 using the American power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will normally include the cable when you first purchase your iPad Air 2.
  2. First plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall outlet. You can recognise the plug outlet by 2 thin slots adjacent to each other where the twin blades sit.
  3. Then connect one end of the power cable into the bottom of the USB power 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 American power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging and takes between 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering an iPad Air 2 with an American power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Charging an iPad Air 2 from an American power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning cable with a Type B USB adapter to charge an iPad Air 2 from an American power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to an iPad Air 2 using the American power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple normally include this cable with your iPad Air 2.
  2. First you'll need to plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the American power outlet. You can recognise the plug outlet by 2 slots next to each other with a semicircle shaped hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB Apple Lightning cord into the bottom of the USB power 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 American power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes between 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Charging an iPad Air 2 from an American power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Visittheusa - Visit The USA
  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..