Data Centers are constantly looking to decrease costs and become more efficient. Since a significant portion of the overall cost is a result of power, this continues to be an area for improvement. A close look at the workings of a data center reveals a series of power conversions that result in power loss and wasted energy. This is because a conventional data center’s power is supplied from the grid as alternating-current (AC) and must go through several conversions before it can supply the direct-current (DC) power that the equipment requires.
This is where 380V DC enters the picture. Data Centers can now consider DC power distribution — specifically, 380 volt DC as an option with fewer components, reduced cooling needs, and fewer heat-related outages. Upon examination, 380V DC provides four major benefits over traditional AC power.
- Reliability - 380V DC nearly doubles reliability by cutting the number of conversions in half. This vastly decreases the opportunity for failure, across the board.
- Space - Because it uses far less equipment, 380V DC requires one-third less floor space.
- Efficiency - By eliminating power efficiency loss at each AC to DC conversion, 380V DC saves up to twenty-five percent of overall power.
- Cost - Since the equipment is less costly to buy and maintain, the savings on capital and operating costs are significant, reaching nearly twenty-five percent.
It is clear that 380V DC has potential, and many industry leaders are leading the charge to implement DC power servers. However, because there are questions regarding standards, and issues like power supply connectors and connectors for rack interconnect, many companies are not sure how to proceed. If you are looking at 380V DC power as a strategy to lower costs, and are not sure how to proceed, it will benefit your business to partner with a leader in the industry. With almost fifteen years of experience in storage, security, enterprise, and carrier communications, NEI has the technical expertise to help you succeed. To stay abreast of the latest technological advances, follow NEI on Twitter, or visit our website to learn more about how NEI can help your business stay ahead of the curve.