Power Protection and UPS Blog

Blade Servers are one of the most fascinating new technologies to be deployed within data centres. A Blade Server is a PCB based server typically housed in a rack mounting 1U high chassis. They are installed en masse and their combined effect in a rack cabinet is to provide a very cost effective square foot of computing power with one downside - the power they demand and the heat they generate - upto 15kW. This article from ZDNET describes some of the issues facing London data centres along these lines.

One of the most important things you need to do when running a UPS and generator set is to have regular dry runs to check for problems and issues - will the generator start, will the UPS synchronise to the generator supply and will automatic shutdown software activate for example. Unfortunately things can go wrong and such tests always need a risk assessment. This article on ZDNet shows that the unexpected can happen - in this case a switchgear fault disrupted a generator and UPS test at Redbus leading to a building evacuation and system downtime.

Power problems are a world wide problem. Here is a report on power problems hitting the rail infrastructure in Newark New Jersey.

The Riello PowerRak Dialog Plus UPS has recently been accepted for use on Network Rail infrastructure. The UPS system has been specifically developed for long runtime applications such as this and can provide up to 12hours runtime from a very compact cabinet foot print.

Imagine the effects of an entire banking system going off-line due to a power failure. Well it appears to have happened to the Abbey National on June 2nd as this article reports on thisismoney.co.uk, bringing disruption to online banking and cash machines across the UK.