Project Ideas, Hmm... #5: Charging Station

I’m actually useless on this, and don’t have any good input. In our place, we tend to have a place for each item. That place is either selected, or has evolved, because it makes that device most convenient. A central station would be counter to the individual device usage and convenience approach. I am going to be interested to see what ideas this topic generates.

-- Jim, Houston, TX

I m actually useless on this, and don t have any good input. In our place, we tend to have a place for each item. That place is either selected, or has evolved, because it makes that device most convenient. A central station would be counter to the individual device usage and convenience approach. I am going to be interested to see what ideas this topic generates.

- jimintx

When life was simple we had just a desktop computer and three flip phones. We charged our phones from a charger in the kitchen taking turns. Now things are complicated and the electronics more or less live in a basket on an end table in the living room.

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

A few thoughts for your project:

Make it a raised station, with drawers or doors for the lower portion. The laptops/phones/ipads, etc go on top, and the drawers/doors hide all the wires and connectors.

Include in the lower portion a power strip with lots of USB connectors for charging everything.

Have slots in the back for all the wires, to keep them out of view.

Include vent holes in the top, where the laptops will sit. I understand that, when the laptops get hot, the heat can cause glue joints to fail.

Make it bigger, and include more USB and electrical outlets, than you think you need. That way, when you add future devices, you don’t have to build another station.

That’s all I can think of for now. I’ll definitely follow along, to see how it turns out!

-- Dean -- "Don't give up the ship -- fight her 'till she sinks!" Capt James Lawrence USN

Not sure if this crude drawing will help, but here’s where the design is at. I’m planning on using 1/2 inch thick wood except for the top which will be 3/4. It should end up measuring 16×16x6 inches, maybe a bit less to allow for grabbing out the laptops. The laptop bays are open on two sides, so it shouldn’t look too claustrophobic or closed it.

Our laptops don’t produce heat while charging, only while in use, so I’m not concerned about ventilation here. I’m more concerned whether it will stay put while putting the laptops in to charge. Hmm. Rubber feet…

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

Final change. The slots on top are gone. The top surface is to be a shallow tray for the iphones and ipod. I may actually start this project today.

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

Looking forward to seeing what you’ve come up with, Dave!

-- Dean -- "Don't give up the ship -- fight her 'till she sinks!" Capt James Lawrence USN

Here’s a peak at where I’m at as of today. This is not even glued yet. It’s being held together for the picture by shallow dadoes.

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

The finished project is posted here. [link]

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!