Do you use laptops in your school? Personal devices are becoming more and more crucial in the classroom. Students learn digital skills throughout the school day, not just in a computer lab. Laptops are an excellent option, especially for independent study periods, but they require somewhere to store and recharge them.
Laptop charging carts let educators keep devices in one place and ensure they’re fully charged whenever students need them. With lots of options to consider, schools must choose the right one for their needs.
If you’re looking for a laptop cart for your school, PowerGistics is a designer and manufacturer of some of the leading solutions on the market. Today on the blog, we’ll take a look at why a charging cart might be the best solution for your school and how PowerGistics can help with their range of charging solutions.
Why Do Schools Need Laptop Charging Carts?
If you’ve stopped by the blog in the past, you know that I love sharing strategies for making the most of digital tools.Laptops can provide students with experience using hardware and digital tools they’ll find in lots of different professional settings, while fostering research and collaborative skills that are essential for classroom learning. Access to aptops combined with thoughtful use of educational technology can lead to academic benefits for students over time.
As helpful as laptops can be, though, they present a few challenges. Teachers need a secure place to keep them when they’re not part of a lesson. And of course laptops must remain charged to minimize disruptions. These electronics can be a significant investment for schools with lower budgets so you also want to make sure they are properly taken care of over the course of the school year.
A reliable laptop cart addresses all of these needs. It will secure devices, keep them ready for use and help schools use them for as long as possible before needing replacements.
Types of Laptop Charging Carts for Schools
Once you decide on the need for a laptop charging cart, you must determine the right type for your classroom. Laptop carts come in several forms, each with unique features and benefits.
The first choice is between mobile and stationary solutions. Stationary options either sit on a desk or rest on the floor. Mobile carts may store less than a large floor-mounted rack but make it easier to change classroom layouts and distribute devices.
Charging carts also vary by size and features. Some store devices vertically to accommodate varying screen sizes, while others use smaller slots to hold more laptops at a standard size. The kinds of charging cables, door-locking mechanisms, organizational features and lights also differ among different laptop charging carts, so you’ll want to take that into consideration, too..
Things to Consider When Buying Laptop Charging Carts
What kind of laptop charging cart is best? The best choice depends on your specific needs, since every classroom is different. Here are some things to keep in mind to find the right option for your classroom.
1. Device Compatibility
The first thing to consider when buying a laptop charging cart is ensuring it supports your classroom’s devices. Many laptops have proprietary charging ports that are made specifically for the device. Carts typically get around this by providing AC plugins to accommodate first-party charges. But you’ll want to be mindful that some tablets or hybrids require USB ports.
Some carts offer both USB and USB-C ports in addition to conventional AC power strips. Other times, you can customize your order to have one or the other. In any case, making the right choice starts with recognizing which plugins you need.
Similarly, you should consider syncing support. Some carts include wireless or USB cable syncing, which keeps devices updated and returns them to their standard settings while in storage. Such functionality is particularly important in larger classrooms managing more laptops.
2. Capacity
How many laptops and tablets a cart can store is another critical factor to consider. It should be fairly easy to determine how much capacity you need by simply counting how many students you have in class or how many laptops your school has given you.
You might want to look for a charging cart that can hold more devices than you currently have right now. Bottom line: , you should leave room to grow as IT spending expands.
A desk-mounted charging station may be enough for small classrooms, but it won’t have the capacity for more than a few laptops. Most educators likely need either a mobile cart or a floor-standing vertical station, which often fits up to 20 devices.
3. Security
Because laptops and tablets are such an investment, charging and storage solutions should also come with security measures. A cart with locking doors is usually standard, but there are additional security features to look for, too.
Asymmetric doors or windows are a good addition, as they let you see if all devices are in the rack and charging. Indicator lights can serve a similar purpose — any lights not turned on let you immediately recognize a missing laptop. Syncing features can provide additional security by resetting features students may have changed.
Some charging stations come with color-coded racks, which make it easier to scan the shelves and ensure everything is there. Cable loops can also serve as anchoring points for laptop security cables, which you can get separately.
4. Longevity
You’ll also want to ensure your charging cart keeps laptops in good condition for as long as possible. Improper storage and recharging conditions can impact battery life and computer performance. A well-designed system will let you use your devices for longer.
Cooling is one of the most important longevity-related factors to consider. There should be sufficient space between racks and enough vents in the cart to enable adequate airflow. Surge protectors and charging regulators are also ideal, as these will protect against electrical issues that could arise with so many things plugged into one hub.
Some options offer a lifetime warranty and may even include electrical warranties to cover unexpected malfunctions. Protections like these go a long way when it comes to large tech investments.
5. Footprint
You should also consider the amount of floor space your cart will take up. Mobile solutions can be helpful in this area, as you can move them to another location when you want to use one spot on the floor. Vertical storage solutions are a great way to make the most of limited available space. While a charging tower may not move, it may not need to, as it will occupy less floor space to begin with.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure to measure your classroom before making purchasing decisions.Providing more space than you need makes it easier to get laptops in and out of the charging cart.
6. Cable Management
Another feature to look for is sufficient cable management. Plugging six to 20 laptops into a single power strip involves a lot of wires. Charging carts approach cable management in a few ways. One of the most common is to include a compartment in the back where you can place each laptop’s cordage. Others also feature structures like harnesses and wraps to keep wires separate and avoid bunching, which provides additional airflow and storage space.Opt for a cable management system that would be the easiest for you to manage..
7. Thermal Management
Your laptop charging station should also have a way to keep everything cool. Devices often grow warmer as they recharge, so keeping multiple plugged-in laptops in one space can quickly lead to high temperatures. You’ll want a structure to dissipate that heat effectively to avoid malfunctions.
Holes and vents on the side of a storage solution are a must. Materials and structural design matter, too, as aluminum shelving can draw heat away from devices, improving their battery life. Some solutions may even include fans, though these may not be necessary, as today’s laptops don’t get hot enough to warrant such a level of protection.
One quick tip: Look for shelving that holds devices in the same orientation. It’s easier to manage temperature-friendly airflows when all the laptops’ vents and charging ports face the same way.
8. Cost
You should review your budget to determine what kind of solution is feasible for your classroom. Spending more upfront can sometimes reduce costs in the long run. For example, a cabinet or cart with better security and thermal management can reduce the need to replace laptops in the future. Similarly, buying one with room to grow means not needing another when the school buys additional laptops.
Meet Your Charging Needs With PowerGistics Laptop and iPad Carts
Across all these categories, the PowerGistics brand of charging towers for laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets is specifically designed to meet your classroom charging needs. As a vertical collusion, the Core series takes up minimal floor space while providing additional device capacity. They’re also made in the U.S. using aircraft-grade aluminum, offering greater assurance of their longevity and ability to protect laptops or tablets.
Antimicrobial coatings and wireless updating features further protect devices from hazards or misuse. You can also choose between standard AC power strips and USB and USB C functionality to charge whatever devices you need.
If you’re choosing laptop charging carts this year, you’ll want to check out everything PowerGistics has to offer! Explore the range of laptop charging solutions to find one that fits your needs.
