Network switch ac/dc power ......I feel i should know the answer to this

[Jaan]

Ok, maybe i'm overthinking this but here goes.

 

Our current switches have a internal non replaceable power supply. Ye olde "kettle lead".

 

I've been looking at others that have two replaceable and hot swappable PSUs. 2 x Ye olde "kettle lead". easy stuff.....

 

Another option has 2 power supplies, one AC and one DC. one of which is a Ye olde "kettle lead" and i've not got a clue what the other is....... (pic below).

 

I assumed it would just be some sort of power distribution board i'd need to use these........ however i can't find any info on them, probably because i dont know what the plug is called.

 

Anybody had any experience with this setup?

 

Cheers

 

[DavR]

I think our old telephone system had a power input like that, which connected directly to a UPS. Couldn't tell you whether that was running AC or DC, though the fact it was coming from a battery could have meant DC.

 

Ultimately though, that's only going to be any real use to you if you've got a comms room equipped with a DC supply at the correct voltage. Without that, you'd be looking at buying a AC/DC converter, by which point, you might as well have got a switch with two AC supplies.

[Jaan]

yep i thought this.

 

Cheers for the input

[Aprice]

They're usually Phoenix connectors on those. It's a lot more common for service provider kit. Usually - 48v

 

If you have a bit of look into WISP DC power supplies you'll probably find a bit more about it, typically it's a DIN rail power supply from the likes of Meanwell, and some custom cabling & fuses to wire and protect it.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Aprice

[PotNoodleTech]

The DC power supply is usually reserved for larger datacentres or small off grid type comms rooms that runn of 48v battery banks - it's more efficient to run the kit in these situations directly off 48v battery power than to convert up to 240 and back down to 48v inside the equipment (that geneerally wastes 10-20% energy).

 

It's pretty specialist kit needed and not generally something schools need to worry about.