Charging Tablets without a Trolley

[rjf2019]

We have purchased a bulk lot of tablets for students to use for home learning. Because they will primarily be used at home, I can't justify the cost of a trolley or powered cabinet to charge them in... but do need an easy way to charge them.

 

I'm thinking something pretty basic, like an extension plug with multiple sockets. I have managed to find one with 10 sockets on it for plugs. (This seems to be the most I can find anywhere reputable.)

 

I was wondering though if it's possible to get one with say 10 or even 15 USB sockets instead. That would mean the USB cables could just go directly into the extension lead.

 

Basically something like this, but at way less cost. https://www.lockncharge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/LNC-US-Website-Product_Page-iQ_16_Charge_Box.png

[mbedford]

In my experience charging trolleys are more hassle than they are worth. More often than not, the devices don't last long enough on battery so you end up removing the charging cable from the cabinet and then it never gets put back properly in the cabinet.

 

There isnt really an ideal solution that I have found, however, I have used these before

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-Interchangeable-Adapter-White/dp/B01MXXOQTE/ref=sr_1_5?crid=H5WT0WXE1ULY&dchild=1&keywords=4+port+usb+charger&qid=1602072677&sprefix=4+port+USB+%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-5

 

Plugged into a 4 gang extension block you have 16 charging points. Cabling is going to be a mess, but, you cant win every battle.

 

Just be aware of the following info in one of the reviews...

 

It can charge at maximum of 2.4A per port. However since the total output power is 27W and it charges at 5V, the total A power to split is 5.4A. So if you plug 2 devices that charge at 2.4A, for another 2 ports there will be just 0.6A left to split (half needed to charge smartphone, but enough to charge things like apple watch, TV remote or to supply power to other appliance which requires just 0.5A in

 

Actually, given that you are not realistically going to get 4 ports charging at the same time, how about this 2 port version, a bit cheaper

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerPort-Charger-Compact-Samsung/dp/B07X1RW3RL/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=2+port+usb+charger&qid=1602073036&sr=8-5

 

I have no particular attachment to Anker as a brand, but when it comes to USB chargers, there are some absolutely awful and downright dangerous products on the market (as per usual, cheap Chinese knockoffs) Anker have a decent reputation for quality so its less likely to burn the place down!!

Edited October 7, 2020 by mbedford

[mikeprice]

If they are to be used mostly at home then presumably this is just a temporary thing that you need for now

 

Hence something messy but functional would be OK

 

Then have the bits available for other uses afterwards

 

On that basis I would go for several small things - then redistribute them for other uses afterwards (phone charging for the IT team comes to mind!!!)

 

BTW - how many devices do you need to charge at the moment?

[DaveTheTech]

I have used a 5 port version similar to this in the past:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZSPXZZ-product-Multi-device-charging-station/dp/B07X1XN3ZW/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=charging+station+15+port&qid=1602073295&sr=8-13

 

Seems that you could make your own similar to lockncharges offering:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garsentx-Multiple-Intelligent-Charging-100-240V-UK/dp/B08FCDSX3S/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=charging%2Bstation%2B15%2Bport&qid=1602073295&sr=8-14&th=1

[synaesthesia]

You should avoid using any form of extension socketry - any safety inspection will have you dragged over hot coals for that. You need something designed for that purpose so you're not at risk of overloading your circuits which can come round quite easily - for example 16 tablets, each normally charges at 2amps each - if you have 2 x 4 port USB hubs charging thats already 16amps on a 13amp MAX socket.

Either get a dedicated charging system like those fitted to trolleys or cheaper still something like https://www.ballicom.co.uk/i-tec-accessories-u3chargehub16uk-.p1445947.html?ref=PLA&of_tid=MFRWG5B5GQTGMZLFMREWIPJZEZYHE33EJFSD2MZRGI2DOMA&adGroupId=15716980753&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjN39x8ai7AIVGODtCh1_dQonEAkYAyABEgJVefD_BwE - i can't vouch for that but personally I'd spend a couple of hundred or something that can properly manage & balance the load with safety cutouts over and beyond the basic overcurrent & surge.

[mikeprice]

You should avoid using any form of extension socketry - any safety inspection will have you dragged over hot coals for that. You need something designed for that purpose so you're not at risk of overloading your circuits which can come round quite easily - for example 16 tablets, each normally charges at 2amps each - if you have 2 x 4 port USB hubs charging thats already 16amps on a 13amp MAX socket.

Either get a dedicated charging system like those fitted to trolleys or cheaper still something like https://www.ballicom.co.uk/i-tec-accessories-u3chargehub16uk-.p1445947.html?ref=PLA&of_tid=MFRWG5B5GQTGMZLFMREWIPJZEZYHE33EJFSD2MZRGI2DOMA&adGroupId=15716980753&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjN39x8ai7AIVGODtCh1_dQonEAkYAyABEgJVefD_BwE - i can't vouch for that but personally I'd spend a couple of hundred or something that can properly manage & balance the load with safety cutouts over and beyond the basic overcurrent & surge.

 

Last time I spoke to someone who did electrical safety inspection they said that temporary setups were fine as long as they were safe in all manners - including trip hazards etc

 

there could be a problem if a temporary setup was really a permanent setup with no attention to overall loading and the use of correct fuses

 

so extensions and such are fine as long as it is electrically safe

 

and it does look like this requirement is basically temporary

 

but some or all of it may be needed again at some unknown point in the future

 

As far as I know this would be OK to use proper extensions - with fuses and surge protection etc

 

 

I am pretty sure I saw someone on here saying the same sort of thing

 

 

 

clearly the use of one 4 way socket plugged into another 4 way socket - leading to a 10 way extension - with all plugs in use - is seriously dodgy and would rightly lead to problems with any inspection

as would (and this is not commonly known amongst the general population) a long cable coiled up and running several devices

 

 

Anyone on here that is qualified to give proper facts and links - I am just going off what I have been told?????

 

 

(as an extra - last time 'my room' at my last school was inspected it was declared a major H&S risk due to several long extension cables being coiled up together creating a major fire risk

 

it had been inspected through the window - the site manager said he couldn't find the key and no-one had thought to do it when I was available

 

which was a bit dumb as they were not in use and that was simply the shelf where they were stored

he had no complaints about the 10 way tower which was mostly in use!)

[jmak]

You should avoid using any form of extension socketry - any safety inspection will have you dragged over hot coals for that. You need something designed for that purpose so you're not at risk of overloading your circuits which can come round quite easily - for example 16 tablets, each normally charges at 2amps each - if you have 2 x 4 port USB hubs charging thats already 16amps on a 13amp MAX socket.

Either get a dedicated charging system like those fitted to trolleys or cheaper still something like https://www.ballicom.co.uk/i-tec-accessories-u3chargehub16uk-.p1445947.html?ref=PLA&of_tid=MFRWG5B5GQTGMZLFMREWIPJZEZYHE33EJFSD2MZRGI2DOMA&adGroupId=15716980753&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjN39x8ai7AIVGODtCh1_dQonEAkYAyABEgJVefD_BwE - i can't vouch for that but personally I'd spend a couple of hundred or something that can properly manage & balance the load with safety cutouts over and beyond the basic overcurrent & surge.

No contention with the principle of being cautious with use of multi way extension leads. However, the 2 amps being used for charging is at 5V. The 13 amp limit of the extension lead or socket is at 230V.

 

Even 30 devices charging at 2 amps would draw a load of 300W. The extension lead is rated to cope with almost 10 times that.

 

Last time we bought a charging trolley (which cost over £300) for 16 iPads I found 4 bog standard 4 way extension cables screwed to the inside of the cabinet and wired via a junction box to the single cable coming out of the back. I wasn't impressed - it wasn't my choice of product.

 

Edit: that device you linked to looks like a much better solution that several chargers plugged into a socket and seems really good value.

Edited October 7, 2020 by jmak

[synaesthesia]

Eek, rookie error on my maths!

Some of the random chargers I see around are awful out of the box and even worse by the time they've been plugged in and out a few dozen times - you *need* something with protection over and above the basics unless you're personally overseeing it all. I wouldn't trust any staff to check over the cables after every use

[Andrew_C]

You should avoid using any form of extension socketry - any safety inspection will have you dragged over hot coals for that. You need something designed for that purpose so you're not at risk of overloading your circuits which can come round quite easily - for example 16 tablets, each normally charges at 2amps each - if you have 2 x 4 port USB hubs charging thats already 16amps on a 13amp MAX socket.

Nope and nope.

 

If you control the use of extension leads, and install them sensibly, tell officious "safety inspectors" to do one.

 

2A at 5V is 10W. A 13A socket can provide 3kW.

 

Edit - late to party, I see that one has been sorted.

 

I've got an Orangeck thing here that does 8 usb ports (one USB C) seems OK, and has a display to tell you what's going on.

Edited October 7, 2020 by Andrew_C

[dobbyit]

I have ordered these, great for 8 ipads at a time

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01K7F51VU/ref=emc_b_5_t?th=1

[synaesthesia]

Nope and nope.

 

If you control the use of extension leads, and install them sensibly, tell officious "safety inspectors" to do one.

 

Exactly my point - with most of these being temporary setups, nearly none of them will be done in a controlled, safe manner. Or they'll start out that way and after a single use will look like someone's dragged a rake through a server farm.