The JAR Systems Open6 USB-C Charging Station (and Active Charge Ecosystem)
Reviewed by Timothy Gard
Why Charging Devices in Schools is a Hassle
Imagine a school where every student has a laptop or tablet. That’s great for learning, but it creates a big problem for the tech team. Students often forget to charge their devices, there aren’t enough wall outlets in classrooms, and keeping track of all those different device chargers is a huge headache. It takes up a lot of time and effort for the IT staff.
Introducing the JAR Systems Open6 Charging Station
This charging station is designed to solve those problems. It’s not a huge cart for an entire class, but a smaller, central hub that sits on a desk. It can charge up to six USB-C devices, or even better, its special Active Charge Power Banks.
This review will look at how well the Open6 works, how easy it is to use in different school settings, and if it’s worth the money for school tech managers.
How It Works: Smart Charging and No More Messy Adapters
The coolest feature of the Open6 is its charging system, which uses JAR Systems’ own Quick-Sense USB-C Power Delivery (PD) technology. It has six USB-C ports and plugs into a single wall outlet. It can deliver a total of 350 Watts, with up to 65W per port on most supporting devices, and 45W per port simultaneously without power cycling .
Here’s a quick look at its features:
| Feature | What It Means for Schools |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Charges 6 devices or 6 Power Banks |
| Charging Output | USB-C PD, up to 65W per port, 45W per port simultaneously (350W total) |
| Quick-Sense Technology | Automatically gives each connected device the perfect amount of power (5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V). |
| No More Adapters | Only needs one power cord; no need for individual device chargers, which means less clutter and less chance of theft. |
| Cable Management | Comes with built-in coiled USB-C cables (which you can remove). |
For the tech team, getting rid of individual power adapters is a huge win. No more unboxing, labeling, and managing a bunch of bulky laptop chargers. The Open6 uses standard USB-C cables (which can be locked into the station), making everything much tidier, easier to set up, and reducing the time devices are out of action because of lost or broken chargers. The Quick-Sense tech ensures that even if you have different types of devices (like Chromebooks needing 45W and stronger laptops needing 60W), they all get the right amount of power without any issues.
Easy to Use in Classrooms
The Open6 is great because it’s a flexible charging solution that big charging carts can’t always provide.
1. Fitting into the Classroom and Helping Teachers
Its small size (about 5.5”H x 7.7”W x 13.6”D) means you can easily put the Open6 on a teacher’s desk, a bookshelf, or a counter in the classroom. This easy access helps keep learning going smoothly.
When a student’s device is running low on battery, it’s simple: they just plug it into one of the coiled charging cables. This avoids students scrambling for wall outlets, creating tripping hazards with extension cords, or getting distracted because their battery is low. The built-in lights immediately show if a device is charging, so teachers and students can easily check.
2. The Active Charge Ecosystem: Power on the Go
The Open6 is most effective when used with the optional Active Charge Power Banks (usually 20,000 mAh). This turns the charging station into a system for distributing power throughout the school.
- Solving the Mid-Day Power Problem: Instead of plugging a low-battery device into a wall, students can simply grab a fully charged power bank from the Open6 and plug it in at their desk. This means students can keep moving around and avoids the danger of tripping over cords.
- Quick Recharges: The 65W PD feature recharges the power banks in less than 2.5 hours, so they’re quickly ready for busy places like libraries or testing centers.
- Flexible Use: For schools where students take devices home, Open6 units can be placed in key spots like the library helpdesk or main office as a place for students to borrow power if they forgot to charge their devices at home.
Built to Last and Secure
For tech managers who care about how long equipment lasts and keeping assets safe, the Open6 is built to withstand the wear and tear of a school environment.
Durability and Warranty
The station is made from strong, cold-rolled steel, making it much more robust than typical home charging hubs. JAR Systems stands by this with a Lifetime Limited Warranty on the Station Body – a big deal for equipment that needs to last for many years. The Quick-Sense charging hub itself has a 2-year warranty, which is standard for electronic parts.
Security Features
While the Open6 isn’t a locked cabinet, it has important physical security features for supervised or semi-supervised use:
- Kensington® Security Slot™: You can physically attach the station to a desk or counter using a standard cable lock, preventing someone from easily walking off with the whole unit.
- Cable Lock System: The built-in cables are locked in place, which helps prevent the common problem of charging cables being removed, lost, or stolen.
Calculating the Value (ROI and TCO)
The main benefit of the Open6 is how much efficiency it creates and how much labor it saves.
- Less Work for IT: By making charging standard without individual adapters, IT staff spend less time managing cables, fixing charging problems, and replacing lost or broken proprietary power supplies.
- More Learning Time: The ability to provide instant, at-the-desk charging with power banks or the station itself significantly reduces disruptions in the classroom, which is something teachers and administrators really appreciate.
- Smarter Buying: Instead of buying many expensive, brand-specific AC adapters, the school district can put its budget into durable, central Open6 stations and USB-C cables, making the purchasing process simpler.
Conclusion and Recommendation for School Tech Managers
The JAR Systems Open6 USB-C Charging Station is more than just a charging hub; it’s a smart tool for making device management more efficient. It tackles common tech issues in schools – messy cables, unreliable charging, and classroom disruptions – with a simple, strong solution.
We highly recommend the Open6 unit for school districts that:
- Use mostly USB-C devices (like Chromebooks and USB-C laptops).
- Have a program where students take devices home or share them and often arrive with uncharged batteries.
- Need a flexible, spread-out charging plan to support their larger, central charging carts.
For tech managers looking to simplify cable management, reduce device downtime, and get rid of the headache of managing AC adapter inventory, the Open6 unit, especially with the Active Charge power banks, is a valuable and essential investment for modern classroom support. This unit successfully turns charging from a logistical bottleneck into a smooth, easily accessible utility, allowing educators to focus on teaching instead of troubleshooting power problems. The lifetime warranty on the enclosure highlights its long-term value for institutions, making it a low-risk, high-impact addition to any school district’s technology collection.
