May 13, 2013—Green data centers can become even more energy efficient through the use of Echola Systems’ new 380V direct current (DC) smart-switched power distribution unit (PDU), the company announced earlier this month.
Echola Systems’ DC series SPDU-D3xx, PDU leverages its patent-pending shared hybrid relay switching technology to switch high voltage DC power safely. According to the company, a designer and manufacturer of custom Layer1 optical switches since 2006, it also facilitates the safe installation of equipment by switching outlets to off at the time of installation, thus preventing contact-arcing issues. Like other Echola Systems’ alternating current (AC) PDUs, DC PDUs also support energy monitoring through Web, SNMP and Telnet/SSH interfaces.
The DC power distribution makes a comeback, thanks to major advances in power electronics since Edison and Tesla made power distribution practical in late nineteenth century, the company notes. Today, 380V DC power distribution has a lower total cost of ownership compared to a three-phase AC power distribution because DC distribution is more efficient, more reliable, and requires less space, less cooling, less copper, no load balancing, and lower equipment cost.
According to Echola Systems, the SPDU-D3xx series PDU production will start in the fourth quarter of this year, but SPDU-D308, the eight-outlet 1U model, is available now for demo. The DC PDU will be available in vertical (Zero U) as well as horizontal (1U) rackmount form factors, with ratings ranging from 7.6 to 22.8 kilowatt.
This article is adapted from BOMI International’s course Real Estate Investment and Finance. More information regarding this course is available by calling 1-800-235-2664. Visit BOMI International’s website, www.bomi.org.