How Can I Safely Charge 40+ Laptops for an Upcoming Event?

Honestly, your best bet might be to talk to the building manager. Ask if there are multiple circuits available for the outlets. If not, you might need to look at extension cords or even a generator—just make sure not to exceed the rating on any cords or strips you’re using! Also, allow some leeway in terms of wattage. Aim for around 100W per user to account for any extra devices or spikes when people plug in their laptops.

A well-organized setup with extension cords and power strips might be necessary, especially if you're using basic outlets. If you can, create a charging station with a good layout that allows for efficient use of power. You may even upgrade to a more permanent solution for future events, as it seems like charging laptops will be a recurring need!

For something calm and collected, use a UPS to monitor the wattage as everyone connects their devices. You should be fine with one circuit if everyone doesn’t plug in at once—generally speaking, keep it to a maximum of 20 laptops per circuit to be safe, plus watch out for anyone bringing their own appliances that could hog the power!

First off, make sure to check if the outlets are all on one circuit or spread across multiple circuits. Ideally, you want them on separate circuits to avoid overloading. If it’s just one circuit, you might be tight on power, especially since regular laptop chargers pull about 65W each. Try using efficient USB-C chargers; they can be a lifesaver. If you can get 4-port USB-C chargers and manage your device connections, you could charge them efficiently without exceeding limits. Just keep an eye on the total wattage used!

Take this into account: when charging, the average laptop draws around 65W, which would total up to 2.6kW for 40 laptops. If you have a typical 15A circuit, you're looking at a running max load of 12A (or about 1440W). This means you could only safely charge about 15 laptops at once on that single circuit. Make sure to have supports like large battery packs ready in case it gets too tight! Also, don’t underestimate user behavior, they may all try to plug in at once during the event!