The Evolution of Monitoring Power Services for Data Centers
While many business owners may believe that every aspect of their business “mission critical,” the truth is that some business aspects are more important than others. While power is considered a basic necessity and easily forgotten, many business ownerThis is especially true when it comes to monitoring power services for data centers. s do not give it the attention it deserves. After all, it is power that allows employees to turn on their computers, access data from servers, and even simply turn on the lights.
Power Services for Data Centers and Power Monitoring
Originally, the monitoring of power services for data centers included three specific groups of equipment:
- Digital fault recorders
- Transient recorders
- Power monitors
These three specific groups were rigidly segmented and rarely overlapped in function. Today, thanks to the evolution of the microprocessor, those three distinct groups are slowly merging together to provide more complete, and safer, monitoring options. Now, thanks to the microprocessor, the power monitor is now taking on more and more of a key role when monitoring power services for data centers.
circuit breakers and Power Services for Data Centers
Today, Circuit Breakers have also taken advantage of the microprocessor revolution and now not only utilize microprocessors, but communication technologies as well. The main difference between circuit breaker trip units and power monitors is in the type of sensing currents used in the process.
When circuit breaker trip units are used as part of power services for data centers, the protection and monitoring functions are separated, however, the current sensors are kept together. It is important to remember that trip units are optimized for protection; the sensors have been created to provide a basic level of accuracy for currents that can be several times the level of normal current.
Deploying Power Monitors for Power Services for Data Centers
Utilization of a power monitor is the best solution when high accuracy meters, disturbance recording, and transient detection for power services for data centers are needed. As a result, there are several considerations to remember when deploying power monitors for today’s high-powered data centers:
- Use full-function power monitors in all medium voltage mains and feeders
- The full-function power monitors should include disturbance recording and detection capabilities
- A full-function power monitor should be placed on the main device of each low voltage switchboard
- Low voltage feeder circuit breakers should have metering functions
- Circuit breaker trip units at the feeder level should provide enough accuracy for the situation
It is also important to deploy power monitors at low voltage feeder levels when a need for high accuracy, transient detection, disturbance recording, and a high level of data analysis.
Ultimately, monitoring power services for data centers is an incredibly complex job. It requires planning and coordination on multiple fronts and support from business management and ownership. Only then can IT management feel comfortable with the level of power monitoring set in place.
