In classrooms, charging cables tend to wear out quickly. They get tangled or misplaced frequently. Many teachers have had lessons stalled or interrupted by dead laptop batteries. It’s frustrating for both instructors and students. Instead of learning effectively, students have to dig through backpacks searching for a cord or sit on the floor next to an outlet.
With a cart, locker or rack system, teachers can keep the laptops neat, clean and organized, ensuring they are charged and ready for class. However, not every solution is made equal. What are the best charging stations with cable management features, and what other features should teachers look for?
Features to Look for in a Laptop Charging Station for Schools
Every laptop charging station should have some sort of storage shelf or rack system. Horizontal shelves can help minimize device damage because students use both hands to put away their laptops. Vertical shelves help maximize a charge cart’s device capacity, but devices may get damaged when slid into the slots.
School administrators should also look for a station that aligns with their class sizes. Having more room than is necessary provides room to scale. Schools can opt for a single large station or multiple smaller stations. The latter is an excellent option if they want students to form multiple smaller lines instead of one large line when retrieving and returning laptops.
Models with doors and locking mechanisms are essential for security. They prevent theft and help establish a credible audit trail. Some charge carts have rear doors that are keyed separately, ensuring IT can access the cords without interrupting lessons to ask for the teacher’s key.
Power delivery type, prewired model availability and warranty length are features administrators and IT directors should consider because they impact compatibility and convenience. The right combination can speed up setup and maintenance, maximizing instructional time and lightening the team’s workload.
5 Best Providers of Charging Stations With Cable Management Features
To maximize instructional time and simplify cable management, consider products from the following five companies.
1. PowerGistics
PowerGistics is a fifth-generation family-owned company with roots dating back to 1870. Today, it produces the best charging stations, featuring cable management capabilities. The company proudly makes all of its products in Wisconsin and distributes its desktop and tower charging stations to schools worldwide. Each one is color-coded and has built-in cable management systems, so students can easily retrieve, return and plug in devices without adult assistance.
Charging Stations
With the Core series, you can charge 12 to 20 laptops simultaneously. It has an open-concept door, so you can see if every device is stored and charging. The front door lock is keyed separately from the secondary charging station door to maximize security. Once you have finished the lesson, you can lock up the laptops to keep them safe when not in use.
Columbia Middle School in Aurora, Colorado, saw a 90% drop in device damage after placing two PowerGistics charging towers in each of the core classes. It went from having one of the worst device repair rates in the district to one of the best.
You can easily transition between wall-mounted and free-standing styles as your needs change. Either way, the tower takes up less than half the square footage of a conventional cart. Its powder-coated aircraft-grade aluminum shelves act as heat sinks, drawing heat away from the devices to increase battery life.
2. Datamation Systems Inc.
Datamation Systems Inc. is one of the first companies to market with the computer charging cart, demonstrating its history of innovation. Its solutions help secure over 5 million laptops, phones and tablets every day.
Charging Stations
Its Univault charging cart has a three-point locking mechanism. The rear-locking door provides access to the power strip and cabling, simplifying setup. The prewired units have built-in adapters, which saves over 100 feet of cabling. With the Quick Set feature, you can install dozens of power supply units in less than seven minutes.
Since the industrial-grade wheels have brakes, the cart can be mobile or stationary. The cart itself is solid steel, but you can personalize it with your school’s colors and logo.
The unique Gather’Round Cart is a mobile charging station with wheels and a handle. The computers are stored in removable trays inside. When it’s time to teach, you can slide the cart’s top-load door open to distribute the devices — no stooping or bending required. It can hold 24 to 40 laptops, depending on the models used and the tray height.
3. Bretford
All Bretford products are designed and built in the United States. Its charging stations are UL 60950-1 certified, guaranteeing compliance with the highest security standards in the industry. Its product lines comprise charging carts, lockers and towers. It also sells mobile workstations, smart hubs and audiovisual stands. These products help power and secure over 500 million devices across America.
Charging Stations
With the TechGuard Connect charging lockers, each student can be assigned a specific bay or share all available bays, depending on whether the school prioritizes accountability or ease of access. Either way, radiofrequency identification and PIN authentication technologies ensure only authorized individuals can access the stored devices.
The mobile charging tower is also unique. You park it in between desks, so it can charge up to eight laptops while students use them. With a 20-foot power cord, you can place it virtually anywhere in the room.
The cart series consists of miniature, top-load and open-concept solutions, each with unique features. For instance, the CUBE Toploader has a soft-close lid and foam device caddies. The Link Cart has built-in network connectivity so that it can facilitate device updates during charging. It also has dual cooling fans to prevent overheating.
4. Eaton
Eaton is a power management company, offering a wide range of products, from server racks to surge protectors. It has served industrial, government, retail, health care and educational institutions in over 160 countries since 1911.
Charging Stations
There are tower, rack-mount, desktop and cart solutions to choose from. The Tripp Lite series is a floor or wall-mounted steel cabinet that can store and charge 16 to 48 devices. The split front doors have metal mesh screens to improve airflow and three-point locking systems to strengthen security.
The company also offers an open-concept charging tower that can store up to 20 Chromebooks. It takes up less than two square feet and has a 10-foot cord for flexible placement — ideal for small or cluttered classrooms. The base model is not as secure as Eaton’s other options, but there are versions with locking doors.
You can also mount the towers on walls to discourage theft. They are heavy-duty steel, so they will be stable once they’re anchored to the wall. If you’d prefer them to be mobile, you can install the caster kit and handles to create a mobile laptop charging station.
5. V7
Ingram Micro, a global IT products and services distributor, is behind V7, a private label brand launched to complement its offerings. Today, it serves customers in over 120 countries, providing high-quality products.
Charging Stations
All of its products come with a five-year mechanical warranty and a three-year electrical warranty. Both of its charging carts hold up to 36 devices. Its prewired model has a USB-C power delivery system to prevent messy and tangled cables. Since the carts have recessed handles and high-grade rubber wheels, they are easy to maneuver around desks.
The prewired charge cart comes with fixed vertical shelves, while the other has numbered slide-out shelves and an intelligent power-sensing system. The former is designed for fast setup, while the latter streamlines retrieval and return.
This company has one charging station — the CHGSTA12AC-1N. You can use it to store up to 12 devices. Its front door features a metal mesh screen to maximize ventilation, thereby extending the devices’ lifespans. You can mount it on the wall or place it on a table. You can even stack two together and add casters to make it a mobile charging system for up to 24 laptops.
Comparing the Top Options
To simplify your decision-making process, here is a quick comparison of the key specifications for each of the top five solution providers.
| PowerGistics | Datamation Systems Inc. | Bretford | Eaton | V7 | |
| Capacity Range | Six to 20 laptops | 15 to 40 laptops | Five to 40 laptops | Five to 48 laptops | 12 to 36 laptops |
| Shelf Orientation | Horizontal | Vertical | Vertical and horizontal | Vertical and diagonal | Vertical |
| Warranty Length | 10 years | Three years | Seven years | Two years | Five and three years |
| Prewired Options | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Power Delivery | USB-A or USB-C | N/A | USB-A or USB-C | N/A | USB-C |
Choosing Between the Best Laptop Charging Cart Providers
The best charging stations have cable management features that simplify charging, maintenance and distribution, maximizing the time available for learning. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What a school considers the “best” option depends on their size, security needs and lessons.
Professionals should contact the solution providers directly to learn more about the technical specifications or pricing information of specific models. Some offer quick web demonstrations to walk through schools’ current setups and explore more convenient, cost-effective alternatives.
