UPS + HP PDU

York · 6 May 2009 at 10:36

Just looking at setting up a new small server room and I'm currently hunting around for some decent managed PDU's.

Initially I've been looking at the APC offerings, but it seems that HP do some decent full/half height PDU's at about 25-35% less then the APC equivalent.

Has anyone used the HP PDU's before? And if you have do you know how well they mount in HP or APC racks?

Finally we're looking at needing around 12kVA of UPS power initially (which allows a little room for expansion), but I'd like to implement a solution which can gives us both some redundancy and the ability to expand at a later date. Does anyone have any suggestions for good UPS solutions that fulfil these criteria? We don't have a massive budget for this project which is why I'm having to look at a solution that can be expanded later, rather then just getting a large solution now.

mikeh501 · 6 May 2009 at 11:28

I'd get some professionals in to give you advice. We went through a similar set of vendors last year but didnt actually end up committing at that time (was talk of an office move). Its now back on the cards.

Even with the loading your talking about (12Kva) its going to have to be a professional install as they wire these UPS's up to 3 phase electric (you even got 3 phase coming into your building?). The UPS basically goes in front of your single phase outputs to your PDU's through the commando plugs. The UPS is usually floor standing and would require air conditioning as they generate 10% of the load as heat due to efficiency losses. I think we were quoted nearly 20k for a dual redundant 30Kva solution including all the PDU's, wiring, bypass isolators for maintenance, labour, certification etc. Also, the wiring would normally come mounted at height on mezzanine and drop down into your cabs from above unless you have a raised floor.

The setup goes usually...

Mains > UPS > Commando Wall Sockets > PDU's > Servers

Anyhow, this is what we learnt from having a bunch of these guys in. I'm sure not all of its correct and theres different ways to skin a cat etc. Last year we just replaced all of our PDU's and mains wiring as the server loads were tripping out the mains distribution boxes on the wall lol. The next job is a UPS install. We also removed about 9 smaller rack mounted ups's which supplied each cabinet. We did this because they 1) completely ineffective with uptimes of around <2 mins off of SmartUPS3k 2) generating heat 3) some were getting old.

Last point.... Get some pros in, its so not worth doing this yourself given the dangers and potential fire risk its poses when it goes wrong. 12kva solutions require 3 phase input and this is nasty stuff.

worthingsaxovtr · 7 May 2009 at 12:34

Hi

My work uses APC 1500 for its single server solution.

Shoei · 7 May 2009 at 13:26

We have an APC Smart-ups VT, its a 30Kva. We currently draw 6Kva of it. supposed run time of 43 mins for all our kit.
Its 3 phase in but wired up to an APC bypass panel, so we can take the UPS off-line for any maintenance work and not have the servers loose power.
The Server racks have HP S1316 PDU's in them.

We did a lot of looking round at this when we built the new computer room, but got in an outside company in the end who gave us what we wanted.

Been used a few times as well, offices out in the sticks who'se power comes in via overhead cables. Tree's have fallen on those lines couple of times and taken out the power. UPS has worked a treat. Auto shut down configured on the windows boxes via APC software.

Will Gill · 7 May 2009 at 13:42

benefit of sticking with apc powerbars is the one stop management with InfraStruXure apart from that HP PDU's will work just fine

kefkef · 7 May 2009 at 15:55

For small low cost UPS's i used a company called AEC before, used them for kit up to 50kva before with no problems http://www.aeceuro.co.uk any bigger and we use Emerson/Liebert. An example cost from aec was £8.5k for a 40kva ups and 4hr response maintenance contract for the first year.

As Mikeh501 says, you would be best advised to shift to 3 phase, though your building electricians may be able to provide that to your room, then get the UPS installlers to take over from there. Also make sure you label all your outputs/PDUs as to which phase they take their feed from so that you can balance your power demands evenly across phases.

mikeh501 · 7 May 2009 at 17:14

kefkef said:
Also make sure you label all your outputs/PDUs as to which phase they take their feed from so that you can balance your power demands evenly across phases.

Really really good point. Id forgotten about that. The other interesting point raised by one the guys we spoke with is that if you happen to plug one of your servers (with 2 psu's) into more than a single phase (i.e. across two cabs) then it could likely melt! definate fire risk :eek:

kefkef · 7 May 2009 at 17:41

Yeah, we got warned that also, same server same phase.

York · 7 May 2009 at 19:00

Just double checked and we have three-phase supply in the building already so we're looking to work at getting a three-phase supply routed to the new server room as well.

Thanks for all the info guys - anyone have any other recommendations for other companies to get UPS quotes from?

kefkef · 7 May 2009 at 19:39

York said:
Just double checked and we have three-phase supply in the building already so we're looking to work at getting a three-phase supply routed to the new server room as well.

Thanks for all the info guys - anyone have any other recommendations for other companies to get UPS quotes from?

One thing we also have come a cropper with (from the room being quite old historically) was not having big enough distribution boards, we have got some capacity left on a UPS in one building, but cannot physically get anymore commando sockets onto the distribution board, so make sure htey have the capacity to cope with future room expansion as well as the UPS.