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What Is Eco Safe Charge? A Safer Way to Power Devices

June 22, 2024

Charging dozens of devices at once can strain power circuits, cause outages, and shorten device life. That’s where Eco Safe Charge™ comes in — a built-in eco charging station that helps you charge devices safely, efficiently, and without interruption. 

Whether you're running a charging cart in a classroom, powering up tablets in a school IT lab, or managing shared devices in a corporate environment, Eco Safe Charge ensures safe, efficient, and intelligent charging — without the risk of overloading circuits or wasting energy.

What is Eco Safe Charge?

Eco Safe Charge is a power management system developed by LocknCharge to safely and efficiently charge multiple devices simultaneously. It's particularly beneficial in environments like schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities where charging numerous devices at once is a common scenario.

Why safe charging matters

Charging a large number of devices simultaneously can put a serious strain on a facility’s electrical system. Without proper charging infrastructure, it’s easy to accidentally trip circuit breakers or cause devices to charge inefficiently — especially in older buildings or mobile classroom setups. 

Over time, this can lead to: 

  • Disrupted lessons or workdays due to outages 
  • Higher maintenance costs 
  • Safety concerns if cables or power bricks overheat 

Eco Safe Charge helps solve these challenges with controlled charging behavior that limits stress on electrical circuits and improves overall power efficiency.

Let’s find your smart charging fit.

Our team can help you choose the right system based on your needs, budget, and future plans. 

How Eco Safe Charge works

To be clear, Eco Safe Charge does not charge devices directly. Instead, it functions as a power distribution system — delivering AC power to each device's charger. The devices and their charging adapters determine how much power to draw.  

Think of it as a multi-option switchboard: it supplies power, but it’s the devices that regulate how fast and how much they charge. 

ECO Safe Charge offers several modes to manage power distribution:

  • SAFE-ON. Sequentially stages power to each group of outlets, reducing the possibility of a momentary electrical overload when multiple laptops are first powered on. This mode will work up to 1500 Watts.

  • ECO TIMER-ALL. Sequentially stages power to each group of outlets but automatically turns the power off after a selected time has elapsed. Use this mode to quickly charge all laptops if it is permissible to charge them together without causing a general electrical overload.

  • ECO-TIMER-CYCLE. Individually powers each group of outlets at a time for the duration selected then automatically turns the power off before applying power to the next group of outlets until it has cycled through all groups of outlets. Use this mode to prevent a general electrical overload if all the laptops require more power than is permitted to be supplied to all laptops together. If your devices require more than 1500 Watts, use ECO-TIMER-CYCLE to stage the availability of power to avoid overload.

  • SAFE-OFF. This function turns off all outlets.

These modes help in managing power consumption, reducing energy costs, and extending the life of device batteries 

Pro tip: If you're using newer 65W+ devices or charging a fully dead fleet, use the ECO-TIMER-CYCLE mode to avoid tripping circuit breakers. 

However, use the SAFE-ON setting if you prefer minimum setup and IT intervention. This setting is the most popular among LocknCharge users, selected by 90% environments no matter the circumstances or specific charging needs.

Understanding AMPS

A typical home circuit is 15 amps, which equates to 1875 watts. A commercial circuit can carry 20 amps, which equates to 2400 watts.

By using a LocknCharge product featuring ECO Safe Charge, it's possible to charge up to 1500 watts in SAFE-ON mode. You may experience challenges if all of your devices are fully-depleted, if you're charging 40 devices that are supplied with more than 45-watt power supplies, or if the same circuit is pulling power to charge other electronics in addition to the Cart.

The reason for these challenges is that the devices will pull too much current for the ECO Safe Charge, and the circuit breaker will open. To fix this issue, simply change the charging mode to 3-hour ECO-TIMER-CYCLE to get the devices up and charging. Once the devices have some charge in them, the Cart should be able to continue in the ECO-TIMER-ALL mode to keep them charged during the day.

Benefits of ECO Safe Charge for schools and IT teams

Managing dozens of devices every day can strain not only your power infrastructure but also your IT team’s time and attention.  

Eco Safe Charge turns any charging cart into a more energy-efficient charging station, helping IT teams charge safely and reduce the risk of circuit overloads in high-use environments: 

  • Staggered charging: Divides devices into groups and charges them in a rotation, ensuring a balanced power draw. 
  • Energy efficient: Reduces unnecessary power usage by avoiding simultaneous full-power charging. 
  • Maintenance friendly: Minimizes wear on power supplies and batteries by smoothing charging demand. 
  • Ideal for education & enterprise: Perfect for shared carts, charging stations, and multi-device workflows. 

Important reminder: Eco Safe Charge does not accelerate charging time. It simply ensures power is distributed in a safe, controlled, and efficient way.

Which LocknCharge products use Eco Safe Charge?

Eco Safe Charge is currently available in our Carrier Charging Carts (20, 30, and 40 models). These carts include Eco Safe Charge as a standard feature, combining smart power management with removable baskets and durable, all-terrain mobility. 

You’ll also find Eco Safe Charge in some older models of the Joey carts and CarryOn charging stations. However, newer versions now ship with Eco Smart Charge instead. To confirm which version your unit uses, check the serial number or product generation. 

Eco Safe Charge is not available in any of our wall-mounted cabinets or smart locker systems. 

Pro tip: If you're unsure whether your cart includes Eco Safe Charge, check the power management label inside the unit or contact LocknCharge support with your model number. 

For a broader look at charging and storage options, explore our list of the 5 Best iPad Charging and Storage Solutions for Schools — including charging carts that feature Eco Safe Charge.

Setting up ECO Safe Charge

Any LocknCharge products featuring ECO Safe Charge or ECO Smart Charge that were manufactured on or before August 13, 2021 have max current of 15A. Products manufactured after this date have a max current of 12A. This change is in compliance with UL 62368-1 standard. 

FAQ

What is Eco Safe Charge?

Eco Safe Charge is a power management system that prevents circuit overloads by distributing AC power to device chargers in controlled, timed groups. It helps reduce circuit stress and supports more efficient power use in high-demand charging environments. 

Is it safe to charge multiple devices at once?

Yes. Eco Safe Charge is built for high-volume charging environments. It distributes power to groups of device chargers in a staggered way, helping prevent circuit overload when charging multiple devices at once. 

Can I leave devices charging overnight?

Yes. Eco Safe Charge helps ensure safe overnight charging by balancing the power load, reducing risks of overheating or tripping breakers. 

Which LocknCharge products include this feature?

Eco Safe Charge is available in select LocknCharge products, including Carrier Charging Carts (20, 30, and 40 models). It’s also included in some legacy versions of the Joey and CarryOn carts. Check your model’s serial number to confirm compatibility. 

Does Eco Safe Charge reduce energy use?

Yes. Its ECO-TIMER functions help cut down on unnecessary power draw, reducing energy waste and supporting sustainability efforts. 

Get in touch with us today.