When exploring data storage options, enterprises’ IT departments and those constructing today’s modern data centers main concerns, of course, include efficiency and power. And tools like power distribution units and power strips are essential to distributing power to equipment across these facilities.
Download the full report
In fact, pointed out in a new white paper from Chatsworth Products (CPI), almost every Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) equipment rack used to store compute, storage or network equipment requires a rack-mount Power Distribution Unit (PDU) or power strip to distribute power to the equipment.
That said, industry jargon can be hard to follow in this market. And for those unfamiliar with electrical power distribution systems, choosing the right PDUs for your data center facility can often be difficult.
The new white paper by CPI aims to serve as a guide on the basics of selecting PDUs and power strips.
There are many critical decisions one must make when choosing PDUs or powerstrips. According to the report, these include:
- Form factor, or whether to use vertical PDUs (for full-height, free-standing racks) or horizontal PDUs (for smaller wall-mount racks).
- Input Plug, which must match the branch power circuit receptacle at the rack and determines the total amount of power available to equipment in the rack.
- Outlets, which must match the plug(s) on equipment in the rack. According to the report, there is an outlet (receptacle) to match each type of input plug, so you can choose a regional outlet or the international outlets. The report outlines two approaches: “either select the model with the highest number of outlets used in region, or select the model with the highest number of mixed C13 and C19 outlets.”
- Functionality, which must match the level of monitoring required. Levels of monitoring include: no power monitoring, local power monitoring, remote power monitoring, remote outlet monitoring, remote outlet control or remote outlet monitoring and control.
Of course, once you work through these four areas, all outlined thoroughly in the new report, the next step, of course, is to find the right product!
At the most basic level, you need to know whether the rack is large enough for a vertical PDU; what type and how many branch power connections are in each rack; how much equipment will be in the rack; and if monitoring is required.
The white paper covers the following topics in detail:
- The key questions to ask about the site, rack and equipment to help simplify the selection process and quickly identify the right PDU or power strip.
- Additional resources that will help you select the right PDU or power strip for your application.
Download the full report, “The Basics of Selecting Rack-Mount Power Distribution Units and Power Strips,” courtesy of Chatsworth Products, to learn more about which PDUs are right for your enterprise.