Which Power Strips does my rack enclosure require?
There are 4 main considerations in determining which power strip to use:
AMP requirements, Number of Outlets required, Plug / Receptacle requirements,
and redundancy requirements.
Number of Outlets required: The power strips we offer have
power outlets ranging from 10 to 42. It may seem obvious that you need
to have as many outlets as you have power cords, but it's key to take
into account the power strips total AMP capability, and your redundancy
needs.
AMP Requirements: Most of the power strips we offer are either
15, 20 or 30 amp models. It is important to calculate the total amperage
your equipment will draw so as not to exceed the amperage capability
of the power strip. Project managers for large data centers often work
on an 80%-85% of capacity rule - that is they try not to plug in more
in then 80%-85% of the power strips capacity. Even though there
are 11 or 12 plug outlets available on these power strips, if you are
using equipment with heavy amperage draws, it would be prudent to leave
some of the open receptacles unused.
Plug / Receptacle Requirements: You naturally would require
a power strip that matches your sever / network equipment and power
drop standards. Most server and network equipment in the U.S. have either
NEMA 5-15P standard plugs, or NEMA 5-20P standard plugs. As you
might expect these have to be plugged into NEMA 5-15R standard receptacles,
or NEMA 5-20R standard receptacles. Please be sure that the power strip
you order has both the correct receptacle standard for you to plug your
equipment into, and that the plug coming form the power strip has the
correct plug to match the power source receptacle you will be plugging
it into.
Redundancy Requirements: Some higher-end mission critical
servers and network equipment offer a redundant power supply option.
The idea being if the main power supply in your equipment were to fail,
that you would have a backup or fail safe to fall back on, so as to
eliminate down time. The power supply failure could be a result of the
power unit itself failing, or it could be an interruption in the power
source. Many data center managers plan for both contingencies
and have more then one power drop feeding power to mission critical
equipment in each rack enclosure. In other words, rather than plugging
both power plugs from mission critical redundant equipment into the
same power strip, they plug them into 2 (or more) power strips being
fed by 2 (or more) power sources.
Do power strips take up useable rack space / units? Horizontal
powers strips usually do take up mountable rack units. Vertical rack
power strips mount to the rear of the cabinet and take up zero "U" of usable
rack mounting space.
NEMA, created in the fall of 1926 by the merger of
the Electric Power Club and the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies,
provides a forum for the standardization of electrical equipment, enabling
consumers to select from a range of safe, effective, and compatible electrical
products.
