How to charge the iPad Air when planning a trip to Ecuador

A guide showing you how to charge your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet using the Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Type A power charger and how to recharge the iPad Air using a three pinned Type B power plug.

Ecuadorian power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can often cause confusion when planning to visit a different country, especially if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards being used throughout the world this article shows exactly what to pick up in advance to power the iPad Air in Ecuador. These instructions were written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPad Air when you are going to Ecuador.When you're visiting Ecuador these instructions show how to power the iPad Air using the standard Type B or A 120 volt 60Hz power outlets. When travelling anywhere you'll find power sockets will change depending on which area you're taking a trip to so we recommend that you read the WikiConnections travel power connections page where you'll find a complete list of regions. If the iPad Air slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when visiting Ecuador from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. 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 iPad Air is dual-voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. If you plan on visiting an Ecuadorian destination like Guayaquil or Quito we also suggest referring to the wikipedia.org entry about Ecuador [1] for more information prior to the location. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Ecuador

Can the iPad Air be used in Ecuador?

You can use the iPad Air in Ecuador by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best travel charger for the iPad Air in Ecuador?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPad Air and visiting more than one country the best travel adapter for Ecuador to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Ecuadorians use two different standards of power outlets (B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa simply by switching the included heads over. If your iPad Air supports Fast Charge (not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB travel chargers along with additional compatibility with certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Unlike other chargers this means you can power multiple devices at the same time without needing to bring individual power chargers. Because you are only needing to bring a single travel charger will keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPad Air at the airport or on a plane. Because of their flexibility these types of travel chargers can be used back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

For those travelling to different continents we recommend buying this type of flexible power adapter at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Ecuador

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, but for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which can be necessary for visitors of regions with unstable power supplies. These travel adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North 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 Ecuador.
  • 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 America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to 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 flexible 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 Ecuador. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPad Air in Ecuador?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet

A step by step guide showing how to recharge your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger.

  1. If you want to charge the iPad Air using an Ecuadorian power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (typically already supplied with your device).
  2. Start by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power outlet. You can identify this plug outlet by two thin slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Apple Lightning power cord into the bottom of the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Ecuadorian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging taking around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet

Using a Lightning connector and a three pinned Type B power charger to recharge the iPad Air with an Ecuadorian power outlet.

  1. To power the iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple should usually supply the USB cable with your iPad Air).
  2. Start by taking the Type B USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the power supply. This power outlet (sometimes known as the Type B power outlet [6]) can be recognised by the 2 slots for live and neutral blades with a semicircular shaped hole below for the earthed pin.
  3. Connect the USB end of the USB Lightning power cord into the bottom of the mains power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector can be found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Ecuadorian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad Air is recharging which should take around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPad Air from an Ecuadorian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org entry about Ecuador
  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..