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5 Tips on Finding the Best Charging Stations

You’re looking for a laptop cart or charging station to securely store and charge your laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, or other mobile devices. With so many options to choose from, how can you find the best solution for your schools?

The right charging station depends on your needs, such as what kind of devices you have and how you plan to deploy them. For instance, if the devices will stay in one classroom, a stationary cabinet that is floor- or wall-mounted might be your best option—but if the devices will be transported from classroom to classroom, you’ll want to get a cart.

As you’re thinking about your charging station needs, here are five important things to consider.

1. Consider Size and Device Capacity

How many devices are you looking to store and charge at once? How much space do you have to store them in your classrooms? The charging station you choose should be able to accommodate as many devices as you need, while also taking up as little space as possible. Consider solutions with a compact design, so they don’t clutter your learning spaces.

At LocknCharge, we make charging stations of all sizes, from ultra-mobile carriers for only five devices at a time to carts that store and charge up to 40 devices at once—and everything in between.

2. Quality Charging Carts and Stations are Key

Laptop carts and charging stations can take a beating in schools. They need to be durable and well-built to withstand this abuse. Make sure the solution you choose has heavy-duty welded steel construction. Look for products that have been tested and certified for quality and safety by a Nationally Recognized Testing Lab (NRTL), such as UL or Intertek. All LocknCharge carts and charging stations come with a lifetime warranty, so you know they’re built to last.

3. Device Security is Important

Charging stations must be theft-proof, especially those used in schools. Besides having a theft-proof locking system, there should be no edges to pry away from the frame—and carts should come with optional anchor kits to secure them to a wall or floor for an added layer of security.

4. Flexibility Saves Time and Money

Make sure the solution you choose can accommodate devices with a wide range of screen sizes, with or without protective cases. You don’t want to be locked into purchasing mobile devices with a certain screen size, just because you invested in charging stations that only fit devices of that size.

Also, look for charging stations that with a universal design that can accommodate Chromebooks, iPads, or other tablets. You might only have iPads today, but your device needs might change and you may want to purchase Chromebooks in the future. You don’t want to have to replace your charging stations if your device needs change.

5. Ease of Charging Cart or Station Use

This might be the most important factor of all for schools. Teachers already have many things to worry about in their classrooms, and their instructional time is limited. They can’t afford to waste valuable class time distributing devices to students, or plugging devices in to recharge them at the end of a lesson. These processes need to be simple, seamless, and efficient, so the technology doesn’t get in the way of instruction.

The easy setup and wiring of our laptop carts and charging stations streamline the charging process—and their unique basket design eliminates the hassle involved in getting the devices to students.

With a traditional cabinet-style cart or charging station, students often have to wait in line as they take out a device one by one. With our solutions, the devices are stored in baskets of five. Teachers or students simply take out these baskets, place them on students’ desks or tables, and the students can grab a device from there. The whole process takes less than half the time of other solutions from start to finish.

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