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Max load on a standard outlet.

3K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  mpoulton 
#1 ·
I am trying to figure out the best way to charge 20 tablets daily. I use them for a class I teach and will need to charge them every night after class. A transit case will hold 20 tablets and I would like to develop a system so I can charge them while they are stored in the case. I am trying to figure out what is the maximum number of tablets I can plug into a single wall outlet. Each tablet charger has an output of 12V/1.5A. Does anyone have any guidance. Thanks in advance for your help.
 
#2 ·
1.5 amps at 12 volts is approx. 0.15 amps at 120 volts. Call it 0.2 amps to account for transfomer losses. 20 tablets at 0.2 amps is 4.0 amps. One 15 amp circuit is plenty.
 
#3 ·
So I should be able to daisy chain power strips, then plug them all into one outlet? I know that isn't quite OSHA standard, but would it work? If you're around Charleston, hope you're enjoying the warm weather. That's where I am from. Thanks for the help.
 
#4 ·
12 volts at 1.5 amps is a power output of 18 watts. I have no idea what the efficiency of the chargers might be, but even if it was as low as 50%, each one would only draw about 0.3 amps at 120 VAC. So plugging in all 20 would only draw around 6 amps. Since wall receptacles are at least on a 15-amp circuit, you could certainly charge all 20 tablets at the same time (assuming there's not a lot of other loads on the circuit).
 
#6 ·
School safety inspectors HATE plug strips, even thought they are mostly all self protected.
Circuit wise you can do pretty much whatever you want.
 
#7 ·
You don't want to plug plug strips into plug strips. Each plug strip should plug directly into a wall receptacle. There is resistance in each plug connection. Plugging strips into strips increases the resistance, which causes heating of the connections.

But as long as each plug strip is plugged directly into a wall receptacle, you could hang 30 tablets off one 15A circuit no problem.
 
#8 ·
As long as the total current draw is less than the power strip rating, there's no conceivable way that daisy chaining power strips could cause a problem. The total current draw for all the tablets is so low that it's a non-issue.
 
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