Nowadays, a USB port is one of the most common and convenient means of charging wireless devices. USB, short for Universal Serial Bus, is a standard type of connection found on a wide range of devices. Not only does USB allow users to connect many forms of hardware (keyboards, external hard drives) to a host device, but it also provides a charging mechanism for other forms of wireless devices. In fact, many tablet, Chromebook, and notebook devices are increasingly relying on USB connections for the purpose of charging.

To support an increased demand for USB connections, USB hubs were created. These solutions are similar to everyday extension cords but instead of providing the typical three- or two-prong plugs, they provide a number of USB ports. This means that hubs are especially useful for users who wish to charge a large volume of devices simultaneously.

Read on to learn about the different types of USB hubs and to find out which is most suitable for your devices…

Non-Powered USB Hubs
These types of USB hubs, also known as passive USB hubs, rely exclusively on the power of a host system to function. For example, a non-powered hub that’s plugged into a computer will draw its power from the computer’s current to power peripheral devices. It should be noted that these hubs can only provide a limited amount of power to peripherals, since they are drawing their power from another system.

Powered USB Hubs
While non-powered hubs need to be plugged into a host system to charge your devices, powered hubs will charge your devices even without access to those systems.Powered USB HubThese types of USB hubs require access to an electrical outlet or power strip because they come with their own AC adapter. When the hub is plugged in to the mains, its AC adapter converts the energy from AC to DC to provide power for the devices connected to its USB ports. This means that with a powered USB hub, so long as there are electrical outlets available in the classroom, the USB hub will be able to provide power to peripheral devices.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a USB Hub...

1. How many devices do you need to charge? A non-powered hub may be suitable for a limited number of low voltage USB devices, like flash drives or smartphones. However, these types of hubs can experience compatibility issues when they are required to distribute power between too many devices. Therefore, a powered hub may be best for an increased number of devices.

2. What types of devices do you need to charge? As mentioned above, passive hub may be suitable for devices that require lower voltages to charge.Devices For example, a passive hub may provide enough energy to charge a smartphone or game controller. However, it will not be able to charge devices that require higher voltages, such as Chromebooks or notebooks because they would exhaust the energy supply. This scenario would not only cause the host system to under perform, but would also result in a plethora of uncharged devices. Therefore, a powered hub would be the best solution for devices that require higher voltages because it can use energy from the mains to deliver the maximum voltage possible to each USB port.

3. Is there any chance you will need to relocate the hub in the future? Although both forms of hubs are primarily designed to be stationary, either may be relocated between classrooms depending on usage needs. However, I must caution you that each hub is accompanied by a number of advantages and disadvantages. For example, non-powered hubs are designed to be compact and portable, but they still need access to a host system to function. Powered hubs, on the other hand, charge higher voltage devices but are more substantial in size and require access to a mains outlet in order to function. Taking these factors into account, it is therefore necessary to consider the nature of the environment before establishing a location for or relocating your USB hub. Click here to discover additional factors to consider when choosing a classroom charging station.

4. How do you plan to store your devices? There are a number of solutions available on the market that already integrate powered USB hubs with device storage, and some teachers have even come up with their own DIY solutions. For example, this innovative DIY charging dock uses a cardboard rack to create dividers where devices can be docked for charging. This type storage method is beneficial because it not only provides a way to organize devices, but depending on the design, can also provide a way to manage cables or use shorter pigtails.

Saying that, most docking stations are designed to remain stationary and are best set up in a central location where all of the devices can be returned to charge at the end of the day. This means that they may not be appropriate for schools that share devices between classes. Fortunately, USB hubs can also be integrated with mobile carts. These allow mobile devices to be charged, secured, and transported around schools with ease.

What’s On the Horizon…USB-A
For the time being, the USB-A port that we are all familiar with is still relevant. However, industry-leading companies are increasingly releasing devices with an up and coming USB port. Referred to as USB-C, or Type C, this type of USB port is steadily becoming the emerging standard for charging devices due to its unparalleled speed. And although it may take some time for universal integration, there is no question that it is becoming the new standard in digital technology. This means that over time, current USB-A hubs will be phased out. Currently, however, there are few high capacity USB-C hubs on the market.

Smartphones, smart watches, tablets, fitness trackers, and all our other gadgets leave us burdened with multiple chargers and so much clutter. Liberate your outlets and charge all your devices with a single plug.

We all have multiple devices to charge every day, and that number is only going up. If you use the individual charger that comes with each device, you’ll quickly gobble up multiple outlets in your quest to charge your personal phone, work phone, tablet, and other devices.

You could just get a power strip and plug all the individual chargers into that strip, but that solution is ugly, bulky, and inefficient, as each individual charger is running a separate AC to DC transformer.

A far more elegant solution that cuts down on the clutter, reduces your outlet needs to a single outlet, and is more energy efficient, is to use a USB charging station. With a charging station, you use one power outlet for one transformer which in turn provides power to four or more USB ports.

Many people are missing out on the benefits of using a charging station because when they think “charging station”, they think of a big bulky rack-like device that looks more at home in a school computer lab than on their nightstand. While you could certainly get one of those for your home if you wanted to prop up, say, all the family’s tablets in one organized place, the majority of people will be best served by purchasing a simple multi-port USB charging station.

Not all USB charging stations are created equal, though. So let’s take a look at features to consider when purchasing a USB charging station.

How to Select the Right USB Charging Station

Searching for the right charging station can get overwhelming pretty quickly, as there are hundreds of them on the market in every possible configuration and at a wide range of price points. To help you decide between particular models, we’ve outlined key features to look for when shopping.

UL Certification
Over the last few years, there have been a rash of extremely low quality and uncertified chargers on the market. Not only are these chargers not particularly energy efficient, but they can potentially damage your devices and even create fire hazards.

Safety certification by the Underwriters Laboratory isn’t exactly glamorous, but considering that many people use their chargers in their bedrooms, safety is of paramount importance. The last thing you want is for the charger under your nightstand to burst into flames and set your bed ablaze.

Form Factor
USB charging stations come in three forms factors: wall chargers, corded hubs, and organizers. Which form factor you select is generally a matter of personal preference, combined with consideration for where you will be using it.

Wall chargers are all-in-one models that plug directly into the wall like a giant transformer and have no extension cord of any sort. The box, if you will, goes right against the outlet and all the USB cords for your devices are inserted directly into the outlet-attached box.

Corded chargers are essentially identical to the wall chargers, with the distinction that they have a power cord tether to the outlet. This has a distinct advantage in that you gain a few extra feet of movement and the plug can be used in small spaces where a larger wall-mounted charger would be impractical or impossible. For example, we use a corded USB charger in our bedroom where it is plugged in behind the bed with the USB cables routed to both night stands. Because of the spacing and alignment of the bed frame, it would be impossible to use a wall-mounted charger but a corded charger can be plugged in just like a lamp with plenty of room to spare.

Organizer style charging stations are bulkier, but offer racks, slots, or caddies for your equipment. We generally shy away from these products, simply because the markup is generally anywhere from 50-100% over the cost of a similar charger, just for a few plastic organizers attached. If we were really bent on having some sort of rack-based organization for our charging station, we’d probably just buy a desk organizer to use along side the regular charger. You can find desk organizers/sorters and letter trays for less than $10 in a wide array of materials.

Number of Ports
You may think this step is simple: you need enough ports to charge all your devices. But don’t think “Alright, I have one smartphone, one tablet, and one ebook reader, therefore I need three ports.” The cost difference between models is trivial when priced on per-port basis; give yourself room to expand. If the goal is to cut down on clutter and only use one outlet, then you need to buy with an eye on future use. So buy a charger with a few more ports than you currently need.

Port Amperage
Just like external battery packs, the USB ports on your charging station will have different amperage outputs, which can make a significant difference in how fast your devices charge.

RELATED: The Complete Guide to Buying an External Battery Pack

Standard USB amperage outputs are 1A, 2.1A, and 2.4A. All USB devices will charge on the lower amperage ports, but devices with large batteries–like newer tablets and smartphones–will take a long time to fully recharge on lower amperage ports. So for those devices, it’s better to have some higher amperage ports to charge them.

You don’t necessarily need to buy a USB charging station that has all high-amperage ports, but you definitely shouldn’t buy a charger with only 1A ports. When comparing two chargers, if all other features are equal and the prices are more or less comparable, always go with the charger with the higher number of 2.1A and/or 2.4A ports. Devices are getting more power hungry over time, and there is little sense in not spending a few bucks to extend the lifespan of your charger.

Specialty Charging Features
The above features are far more important than any specialty features a charger may come with. But, in some cases, extra features are still worth noting. Some chargers, for example, have ports with specialty circuits to take advantage of various “fast charge” technology, like Qualcomm’s “Quick Charge” system for Android devices. Others may include wireless charging alongside its regular bank of USB ports, so you can set your wireless-charging enabled device right on top.

For more users there is no point in picking up a charging station with device-specific features like propriety fast charging, but if you have a device that supports it you may consider the premium worth it.