How to charge the iPhone 5 when staying in Australia

How to connect an Australian power outlet to the iPhone 5

Australian power outlet

If packing for a vacation it can be useful to know in advance if you can power your indispensable gadgets that you'll be bringing with you. By not knowing which plug socket is used in Australia you may bring the wrong charger, meaning needing to buy a suitable charger when you arrive. Varying complicated combinations of region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country if you've never visited before. If you are going to travel to Australia these useful instructions show powering your iPhone 5 using their 230 volt 50Hz I Type power outlet. Most power supplies will vary regionally so please read the Wiki Connections travel power sockets guide where you'll find a complete list of powering devices in different countries. If travelling to Australia from another country please make sure the iPhone 5 can accept a 240v supply. If it was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) check your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional transformer to stop the device from overloading when powering up. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Australia

Can the iPhone 5 be used in Australia?

You can connect the iPhone 5 to an Australian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best power charger for the iPhone 5 in Australia?

If travelling with more than your iPhone 5 and visiting more than one country then the best international travel power adapter for Australia to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the included heads over. If your model of iPhone 5 can support Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB power chargers plus support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other chargers having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters on your trip to Australia. Because you are only bringing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage while travelling and suitable for recharging your iPhone 5 at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and speakers with only a single wall outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we recommend searching for this type of versatile travel adapter at your preferred electronics retailer. The power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Australia

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 iPhone 5, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable power supplies. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Australia and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from North America going to Australia using 3 pinned type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This is a more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with one 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Australia. [6] [AD]
What is the best power charger for the iPhone 5 in Australia?

Powering the iPhone 5 with an Australian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type I USB adapter

Using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type I power charger to power your iPhone 5 from an Australian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge your iPhone 5 from the Australian power outlet you will need to buy a Type I USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will typically include the USB cable with your iPhone 5.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type I USB power plug adapter in the Australian power outlet. The power supply (called a Type I power outlet [3]) can be identified by three thin slots forming a triangular pattern with a single vertical pin at the bottom and the top pair of slots sloping upwards for the live, neutral and earth blades. Be aware that the neutral and live blades are reversed compared to Argentinian plug outlets, check that your Type I travel adaptor is compatible in Australia.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Australian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 5 will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5 is recharging and takes between one-four hours to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with an Australian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type I USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia entry about Australia
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type I power outlet
  4. Type I USB power plug adapter - Type I USB chargers use three short flat blades in a V format with the top blade acting as a grounding pin.
  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. 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..