How to manage unstable power supply in server rooms due to spikes and surges

At this time of year, we not only have to deal with load shedding but in some parts of SA, with thunderstorms brewing in the afternoon resulting in quick downpours and lightning strikes.

Also, taking into account the fluctuating and unstable power supply caused by load-shedding, businesses’ most critical assets in their server rooms may be damaged, not of the initial power outage, but rather due to surges or power spikes when the power comes back on.

This increases financial and operational pressure on businesses, as servers and other expensive equipment housed in data centres take a hit. For that reason, many come up with theories about whether it would be better to switch off electronic equipment before the power goes off or switch the power switches off before the power comes back on again.

According to CEO Inus Dreckmeyr, businesses must rather plan power management and monitoring in their business, consider taking a holistic approach, and deploy multiple devices. Businesses must also consider the nature of power surges or spikes, as they are never identical in nature. They can differ in terms of voltage and can last either for a long or short period of time –impacting the severity of damage caused.

 Fast reacting devices at the leading edge as well as the bulk absorption and slower reacting components will ensure that the bulk energy is consumed by the protection devices. It is important to use the appropriate monitorable device that ensures prompt alerting on failures.

Surge protection for cabinets and distribution boxes

 To address this need, Netshield provides businesses with world-class equipment and solutions which offer end-to-end power management and monitoring from the Distribution Board (DB board) to the server room, preventing damage to their most critical assets.

This includes rack-mountable products that provide surge protection in the datacentre through its NLMain devices, which can be installed in existing data cabinets.

Basic entry-level Class I & II surge protection for cabinets:

NLEDU-PROC16-1U or NLEDU-PROC32-1U Basic Entry Level Cabinet Lightning and Surge Arrestors.

· 16 Amp comes with 3-pin SA plug and 32 Amp comes with a Hubble industrial plug.

· 16 Amp has C19 connector to feed through to UPS and the 32 AMP has a direct feed to UPS.

· Both not SNMP Manageable.

· Cannot add sensors.

· No V11/X21 Protection.

· Monitored by LCD status display.

High entry-level Class I & II surge protection for cabinets:

NLMAINLITE-2U-E and NLPROCLITE-2U-E High Entry Level Cabinet Lightning and Surge Arrestors.

· The NLMAINLITE-2U-E offers protection to X21/V11 Telkom lines. There are two more slots available to expand to X21/V11 (NLPROV11R2).

· The NLPROCLITE-2U-E does not have these additional features.

· Both have an internal SNMP device that enables the user to connect to monitoring software (NLMSNMP).

· Both have a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) containing 8x kettle (IEC) Connectors. It gives out 16A max.

· Both can connect RS485 sensors such as temperature and humidity.

· Both have Class I & II Protection.

· Both have Equipment stage surge protection with Electrical VAC power measurement.

· Both are monitored by LCD status display.

· Both have 16 Amp feeding power sockets.

· Both have 4 x 1.8Meter C13 to C14 type power cord supplied with the unit.

To assist with the better management of the distribution board, Netshield also provides mountable monitored surge protection through its NLFC1S350 and NLFC3S350 devices that cater for both single- and three-phase power environments. These are integrated, ensuring fully managed and monitored environments in your server room, and are perfect for equipment stage surges and lightning protection and come complete with Electrical VAC power measurement and monitoring protection.