Why PDUs Matter for Managing Data Center Power Usage
All the equipment in your high-tech facility needs a steady stream of electricity to operate smoothly. However, when multiple high-power devices are forced to use the same circuit, you risk overloading your system and facing disastrous downtime. And with these facilities only continuing to grow in size and complexity, managing data center power usage effectively has become a top priority. One of the most overlooked yet essential tools in this process is the power distribution unit (PDU). Intelligent PDUs do more than deliver power to connected devices, they help you monitor and understand your power consumption so you can adjust and optimize your systems for efficiency. Continue reading to learn more about how PDUs help manage data center power usage.
How PDUs Manage Power Usage
Intelligent PDUs Vs. Power Strips
Data center power usage largely depends on how necessary energy is delivered to equipment. Due to the power demands of high-tech facilities, this means you need more than a standard power strip. While these simple strips may provide basic power distribution to your devices, they can’t monitor your data center power usage. Without this feature, you don’t know which devices are receiving too much or too little power, leaving your equipment unbalanced and susceptible to overloading.
Intelligent PDUs on the other hand provide monitoring, remote control, and advanced data center power management. This reveals how much power you’re using on each piece of equipment and lets you remotely power cycle any connected devices that are contributing to inefficiency. PDUs also provide real-time alerts that notify you if precursors to overloads are detected so you can act quickly and distribute power to avoid downtime. Standard power strips offer no such protection and require manual examinations if something isn’t running as it should, taking up your valuable time.
Improves Power Distribution
Every facility is different and will require different PDUs to effectively manage their data center power usage. For example, a Metered PDU measures data center power usage at the unit or outlet level, allowing you to track energy consumption accurately and avoid overloads. Switched PDUs do the same but also offer remote control over individual outlets. This lets operators turn devices on or off as needed to optimize workflow. While you might not need 24/7 monitoring and remote access in smaller server rooms, these features can help ensure facilities like those in banking or government are always running efficiently.
Ensures Flexibility for Equipment Upgrades
New IT equipment often comes with different power requirements and plug types, which can delay upgrades and hinder facility optimization if you are not prepared to make those adjustments. Universal PDUs (UPDUs) solve this problem with their Facility Side Cables (FSCs) which can be changed out to connect to any plug configuration in the world. As a result, UPDUs can easily adapt to new server designs and let you continue to use your existing power infrastructure instead of having to create something new. This quick adaptability ensures that new equipment can be powered without delays in deployment so your facility can continue operating without any interruptions.
Enhances Monitoring for Precise Billing
Data center power usage doesn’t just affect colocation or multi-tenant facilities, it affects their customers as well. Intelligent PDUs precisely measure power consumption at the outlet level to accurately bill customers for their energy use. This eliminates the need for another piece of equipment to monitor power usage, saving you time, space, and money. PDU monitoring also provides transparency for your customers so they can see exactly what they are being charged for. This builds customer trust in your services, which is crucial for any business.
How to Pick the Right PDU for Your Facility
Choosing the right PDU is crucial if you want to ensure efficient data center power usage and management. Not all PDUs are the same though, so you must carefully consider your data center power requirements to ensure the PDU you pick can handle the load without risking overloading. Check every piece of equipment’s manual to find how much power is consumed and add them all together. This should make up 80% of your PDU’s load capacity to prevent overloading.
Now that you know how much power your PDU needs to provide, it’s time to make sure you have enough space for it. Measure the selected area for height, width, and depth to make sure your chosen PDU can fit. Don’t forget to measure any doorways your new power distribution unit would need to travel through. The last thing you want is for your PDU to arrive and be unable to fit through the front door.
Ready to Manage Your Data Center Power Usage?
PDUs play a vital role in data center power usage and management, ensuring reliable power distribution, preventing overloads, and enabling real-time monitoring. There are so many PDUs available, it can be difficult to know which one will work best for your facility. Weber & Associates is here to help with all your data center equipment needs. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts and learn which PDU is the best fit for your facility’s needs.