[31394] in North American Network Operators' Group

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Re: Is there an electrician in the house?

daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Roland Dobbins)
Thu Sep 21 21:06:52 2000

Message-ID: <39CAAFCD.9172312A@netmore.net>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 18:03:09 -0700
From: Roland Dobbins <rdobbins@netmore.net>
Reply-To: rdobbins@netmore.net
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To: Phil Reese <preese@www.tv>
Cc: nanog@merit.edu
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From the URL you sent:

	Note: The CCPDUs plug directly
        into the back of Matrix-UPS and
        should not be used with wall
        outlets.

A grounding issue, maybe?

You could just buy the Matrix battery back-ups to use with the CCPDUs,
then plug the single cord from the Matrix into the provided socket. 
Redundant, but it should solve the problem - and shouldn't cost
$5K/month, either.


Phil Reese wrote:
> 
> My company is finishing up the build out of a number of ccTLD DNS and
> web server data centers in collocation space.  We've run into the
> following issue that I'd be interested in this group's opinion.
> 
> Our data centers will have a number of Linux servers running on 110v
> power, no problem there, just plug into the power strips provided.  Then
> we'll have a couple IBM S80 servers and two trays of disks that both
> require 208v 30amp and an L6 plug.  Now the max rated power of all the
> devices is well within the two 208/30 circuits we've ordered.
> 
> The difficulty is that the collocation company provides a single L6
> receptacle per circuit deployed.  We'd planned on putting one S80 server
> and one tray of disks on each of the two circuits.  HOWEVER, each box
> has its own cord and plug, i.e., two plugs.  APC, and I'm sure others,
> make essentially a 208/30amp outlet strip
> (http://www.apc.com/products/accessories/wiring_ccpdu.cfm , cost between
> $185-$200) that we'd planned to use.
> 
> As we finish up the build out, the collocation company has informed us
> that the device, such as the APC, are not allowed.  Their only suggested
> solution is to purchase as many circuits as we have plugs to connect.
> Of course each additional 30 amp circuit will cost us just over
> $1k/month!  All totaled, we'd need an additional 5 circuits between our
> east and west coast locations, or just over $5k/mo, $60k/yr, versus
> $1000 one time fee to APC!
> 
> By definition, collocation companies need to be paranoid about
> everything.  However, when I asked them what is the issue with the APC
> device they just invoked 'this could cause an overload and potential
> fire hazard' as their technical position on why this passive, UL listed,
> device isn't allowed.
> 
> Can anyone explain their side of the story, citing a bit more
> technologically based explanation?
> 
> Phil Reese

-- 
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 Roland Dobbins <rdobbins@netmore.net> // 818.535.5024 voice


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