Breaker Space for your Data Center - Data Center Power

Breaker Space

Because of today’s high density and electrical power intensive IT equipment, power distribution in the Data Center remains a challenge and in some instances has become a nightmare. Distribution of power to the IT equipment in an orderly, clean and flexible manner is always desirable, yet, if you follow the equipment manufacturers advice you can end up with numerous electrical whips to each cabinet; a rat’s nest of cabling under the floor results. The multiplicity of electrical feeds, also, loads the circuits and places the available breaker space at a premium. A solution, though not necessarily the most cost-effective, is ordering and installing PDUs. Other solutions to supply electrical power and alleviate the cabling rats nest include:

installation of remote power distribution unit cabinets
providing power and distribution overhead; though many dislike the look of the visible overhead electrical whips. Overhead track busways are becoming more popular.

They offer a clean and flexible way of distributing power. With such an installation, changing a power receptacle at a specific cabinet address no longer requires disconnecting and removing an old whip to then install and reconnect a new whip. This change-out process can be risky especially when disconnection is from under the floor. Instead, overhead track busways simply require adding a new connection to an existing track. There are pros and cons for the various types of electrical power distribution products and methods available; contact CS/TMI to review the best solutions for your requirements.