Picking the right PDU for our racks

[talksr]

Hi there,

I recently made a thread about our failing power provisions for our server racks.

I got some really good advice from other users on here and went ahead and got three commando sockets installed on a separate fused power feed.

 

I now need to go about replacing the old PDUs in the racks with ones which will connect to our new commando sockets, of which I have got three installed.

 

Can anyone give me recommendations on which I should be going for?

Are the metered ones that companies like APC do any good?

 

I have had a count and I have 24 plugs in use currently.

Of those, we have 5 servers with dual power supplies, one router, one firewall, two wireless controllers, CCTV DVR, VoIP Controller and the rest are switches. We also have three APC UPS devices.

 

Thanks in advance.

[MatthewL]

There is a selection available here.

 

Just be mindful of how much load you are putting on them in terms of amps, same rule applies as it does extension leads just because there is a socket doesn't mean you can fill them all. You have a fire caused by overloading FI will see that and insurance won't pay out.

[bald_pig]

My one piece of advice for you would be don't plug the UPS and the server you connected to it to the same commando socket, so if one fails for whatever reason you can continue running without failing over to battery power straight away.

[Davit2005]

The APC metered units are great, purchased 2 at a previous place. Some of them also have inputs for Humidity and Temp sensors although the limits will need to be set appropriately. Edited February 25, 2019 by Davit2005

[PotNoodleTech]

Using two of these here. Mind you I am sure they were cheaper than that when I bought them several years ago!

 

https://www.criticalpowersupplies.co.uk/ap7822b?utm_campaign=314346161&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=94165977521&utm_term=&adgroupid=22220928041&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIisSYu5Te4AIV6SnTCh2OGw6uEAkYBCABEgJb8PD_BwE

 

Work fantastic totally reliable.

[talksr]

Using two of these here. Mind you I am sure they were cheaper than that when I bought them several years ago!

 

https://www.criticalpowersupplies.co.uk/ap7822b?utm_campaign=314346161&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=94165977521&utm_term=&adgroupid=22220928041&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIisSYu5Te4AIV6SnTCh2OGw6uEAkYBCABEgJb8PD_BwE

 

Work fantastic totally reliable.

 

Thank you, this would actually fit in the rack really well. I don't think they do these metered, but I am tempted. Would be really easy to cable these in neatly also.

[PotNoodleTech]

Thank you, this would actually fit in the rack really well. I don't think they do these metered, but I am tempted. Would be really easy to cable these in neatly also.

 

It is metered!

[talksr]

It is metered!

 

Even better, I think I might go for two, one in each rack. Thanks for your recommendation.

It looks like it may be discontinued so the latest model is:

AP7822B

 

I would quite like to get some lockable IEC powercords, but it would seem that APC only do them up to 1.8m with the product SKU: AP8706S.

I am not sure these will stretch as we have some cable management in the rack and tend to get quite long IEC leads. Also, the racks are slightly taller than standard ones.

Does anyone know or or recommend longer lockable IEC leads?

[PotNoodleTech]

AP7822B is what I linked above!! Current model and they've got 91 in stock!

 

Did not go for locking leads here as they're just not worth the money, my cabs are kept closed in a locked server room.

[talksr]

Hi guys,

Good news.. the Two APC AP7822B units have arrived, but I have a problem...

 

The plugs don't match.

I have three of these on the wall put in by the electrician:

 

But the plugs on the APC units are much bigger.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do here?

 

The one on the left (which I think is a 2P+E) is the one the electrician put in and the one on the right is the one on the APC units. I have tried to rewire but the APC wires are so fat, they won't go in the smaller plugs.

 

Do I need something like one of these?

Edited March 13, 2019 by talksr

[bald_pig]

The electrician has installed 16A sockets, the APC unit uses a 32A socket.

[talksr]

The electrician has installed 16A sockets, the APC unit uses a 32A socket.

 

Ok, do you think it would be easy enough to get these upgraded to 32a or would I be better off getting a different APC PDU?

[bald_pig]

Ok, do you think it would be easy enough to get these upgraded to 32a or would I be better off getting a different APC PDU?

 

It depends if the wiring and rcd is rated for 16a or 32a to be honest, although I expect if it's rated at 16a you'd probably have problems running 1/3 of your equipment off of it...

 

You'll have to speak to the electrician to figure out where to go from here.

[PotNoodleTech]

The plugs on your APC units are the correct 32 amp plugs.

 

The sockets on the wall are incorrect 16 amp, need to be changed to blue 32 amp sockets, providing the wiring is capable of sustaining 32 amps, your electrician can advise.

[talksr]

Thanks both, just waiting for electrician to get back to me.

Not sure why these 16a ones were put in in that case as had explained we would be going for two of these PDUs though we didn't have the exact model available at the time, but assuming most of them would have been 32a.