Emerson Offers PDUs for 415 Volt Distribution

emerson-switchgear

Staff from Emerson Network Power staff check out the power switchgear at its new data center in St. Louis.

Emerson Network Power has introduced 415-volt input configurations for its Liebert MPX and Liebert MPH rack Power Distribution Units (rack PDUs), to enable the distribution of higher voltage power to IT equipment, which can improve the efficiency of a power distribution system.

In North America, 480V is the most common distribution voltage found in data centers, but must be converted to a lower voltage (208V/120V)  to be distributed to the IT equipment. The step-down from 480V to 208V introduces efficiency losses, which can be reduced with a 15V input/240V output distribution model.

Emerson implemented a 415/240 power distribution system when it built its corporate data center in St. Louis in 2009, saying it expected to reduce its power bill by 1 percent.

"As data center managers face increasing pressure to reduce operating expenses and be more accountable for energy usage, many are considering increasing the voltage of power distributed to IT equipment as a way to increase the efficiency of the server power supplies to reduce transformer efficiency losses,' said Peter Panfil, vice president, Liebert AC Power, Emerson Network Power. "By introducing 415V input capability for our Liebert MPX and Liebert MPH rack PDUs, we are providing data center managers with a safe and effective means of distributing high-power output and gaining higher system efficiency."

With the delivery of higher voltage comes the risk of increased current overload and fault conditions. All Liebert MPX and Liebert MPH rack PDU systems carry a 65k AIC withstand rating from UL (Underwriters Laboratories), ensuring a resilient, high-availability design supporting the high voltage currents in 415V applications. The products are currently shipping to customers in North America, with availability in Central and South America.

Both Liebert MPX and Liebert MPH operate with the industry’s leading standard operating temperature—up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit—ensuring proper operation of the rack PDU despite elevated temperatures found at the back of the IT equipment rack, especially in higher density environments.