Charging your iPad 3 from a power outlet in Colombia

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad 3 with a Colombian power outlet with the USB 30-pin Apple cable and a Type A USB adapter and charging the iPad 3 using a three pinned Type B power adapter.

Colombian power outlet

Complicated combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning on staying in another country especially if you've never been there before. These guidelines have been specifically written to stop travellers having to worry if they can charge the iPad 3 when they're travelling abroad.This page is a step by step guide demonstrating exactly what you'll need to charge the iPad 3 when you're travelling to Colombia using the B or A type Colombian 110 volt 60Hz power outlets. Most power supplies change depending on which region you are travelling to so please read the power supplies and South America page for a full list of regions and countries. If the iPad 3 slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when travelling to Colombia from a different country please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically 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, check the device is a dual voltage device (you'll find these are normally indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise 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 3.

Charging the iPad 3 in Colombia

Can the iPad 3 be used in Colombia?

Yes, you can connect the iPad 3 to a Colombian power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power charger for recharging the iPad 3 in Colombia?

If you are travelling to more than one country or bringing more than just your iPad 3 then the best travel adapter for Colombia is a multiple USB port adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Colombians use two different standards of power outlets (types B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A. As these chargers come with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries around the world just by switching the included heads. If your model of iPad 3 is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times by using one of these travel chargers, along with compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets. Having a four port adapter means you can recharge more than one device at once without needing to bring seperate power adapters or occupying additional wall sockets. Because you are only bringing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to store in hand luggage. Because of their versatility these types of power adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers using just a single power outlet.

We recommend searching for this type of flexible travel charger online. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Colombia

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 3, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be crucial for visitors of counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting Colombia using 3 pin type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from America using type B plugs and is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half the 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Colombia. [8] [AD]
What is the best power charger for recharging the iPad 3 in Colombia?

Charging the iPad 3 from a Colombian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing how to charge your iPad 3 with a Colombian power outlet with the USB 30-pin Apple cable and a Type A USB adapter.

  1. To charge your iPad 3 using the Colombian power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple should typically include this USB cable with the iPad 3.
  2. Start by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Colombian power outlet. You can identify the power supply by the 2 thin adjacent slots next to each other where the twin plug outlet blades go.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the mains power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad 3.
  4. Turn on the Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is charging and takes around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad 3 from a Colombian power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad 3 with a Colombian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a 30 pin connector with a three pin Type B power adapter to recharge your iPad 3 with a Colombian power outlet.

  1. To power your iPad 3 using the Colombian power outlet you will need a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], the cable is normally already included with your iPad 3.
  2. Firstly insert the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Colombian power outlet. The wall outlet (called the Type B power outlet [6]) is recognised by two slots for live and neutral blades with a single semicircle hole below for the long grounded pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad 3. The iPad 3 dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad 3.
  4. Turn on the Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the tablet screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging which typically takes around 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad 3 with a Colombian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia entry about Colombia
  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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  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..