How to tame 30 devices before the bell rings

How to charge all the devices in a classroom

Picture this: the bell rings, students shuffle in, and half the Chromebooks sitting in the cart blink their low‑battery warning. The teacher scrambles, trying to locate spare chargers while losing valuable teaching minutes. Multiply that by five classes a day, and suddenly the technology meant to enhance learning becomes a daily headache.

Schools have invested heavily in 1:1 device programs, but keeping those devices powered and ready is a challenge. Teachers don’t want to be IT support, and IT managers don’t want to field frantic calls between periods. What’s needed is a simple, reliable way to charge dozens of laptops and tablets quickly and safely without replacing every charging cart in the building.

That’s where USB‑C charging, and Plugable’s PS‑6CC and PS‑10CC, step in.

The real classroom pain points

  • Limited outlets mean extension cords and trip hazards
  • Lost or mixed‑up chargers eat time and budgets
  • Mixed device fleets need different wattages and cables
  • Rolling carts get cluttered with bricks and spaghetti cables
  • Mid‑day top‑ups are slow, so devices miss the next activity

Why USB‑C is the new baseline

  • Most new education devices charge by USB‑C with USB Power Delivery, so one cable type fits nearly everything
  • USB‑C chargers can safely negotiate higher voltages and wattages for faster charging on laptops and tablets
  • Mandates and OEM trends are pushing the industry to USB‑C, which means fewer proprietary bricks over time

Bottom line: moving your charging carts and stations to USB‑C makes fleets easier to support and faster to turn around

Plugable Priority Charging

Meet the helpers: Plugable PS‑6CC and PS‑10CC

Smarter multi‑port chargers that use the power adapter you already own

  • PS‑6CC: six USB‑C ports, up to 100W total shared
  • PS‑10CC: ten USB‑C ports, up to 100W total shared
  • PriorityShare smart charging moves power from left to right so the devices that need it most finish first
  • Works with the USB‑C power supply you already have. For best results in carts, pair each unit with a 100W USB‑C PD adapter
  • Compact metal + recycled‑material build with status LEDs so teachers can see progress at a glance

When to use which

  • Choose PS‑10CC when you want to maximize ports in a cart or cabinet
  • Choose PS‑6CC for teacher desks, small groups, and mid‑day top‑ups
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Buy the Plugable 10 Port USB-C Charging Station, 100W Priority Charging
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Example layouts

30‑device Chromebook cart

Elementary iPad cabinet (20 iPads + a few teacher laptops)

  • Two PS‑10CC units
  • Two 100W USB‑C PD adapters
  • 20 USB‑C to Lightning cables for iPads, a few USB‑C to USB‑C cords for laptops
  • Label shelves by homeroom for faster check‑in
How Priority Charging works

Where PS‑6CC and PS‑10CC shine for schools

  • Overnight readiness. Plug in at dismissal and arrive to a full cart in the morning
  • Mid‑day triage. Top up just the devices you need first without micromanaging cables
  • Less e‑waste. Reuse the powerful USB‑C bricks you already own instead of buying ten more
  • Teacher friendly. LEDs show which rows are charging, so no guessing

Quick checklist for IT

  • Inventory device types, ports, and wattage classes
  • Choose PS‑10CC for carts, PS‑6CC for desks and small stations
  • Budget 100W adapter per unit and short, labeled cables per bay
  • Map priority order left to right per class schedule
  • Verify airflow, cable strain relief, and district safety requirements
Plugable values sustainability

FAQ

Will 100W be enough for a whole cart
Yes for overnight charging. PriorityShare moves power to the next device as each one tops off. For faster between‑period turnarounds, add a second PS‑10CC per shelf or split the cart by class

Can I mix laptops and tablets on the same unit
Yes. Put the laptops on the left so they get first dibs on power and finish before the next block starts

Do I need new carts
Usually not. If your cart has an internal AC strip and cable channels, you can swap old USB‑A hubs or remove bricks and replace them with PS‑10CC units powered by USB‑C PD adapters

Does this work with older Lightning iPads
Yes with USB‑C to Lightning cables. For micro‑USB accessories, expect slower charging and place them lower in the priority order

Ready to lighten the charging load

Outfit your carts with PS‑10CC where the devices live, add a PS‑6CC at the teacher desk for quick top‑ups, and start every period with charged, ready‑to‑learn devices.

View Other Articles in Category

Education, Power Devices, USB Power Delivery

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