A floor power distribution unit (PDU) is a device mounted to a data center floor that distributes power to multiple pieces of equipment (i.e., remote power panels or busways) which then feed into the rack PDUs that power IT devices like servers.
What Are the Key Features of a Floor PDU?
The main characteristics of a floor PDU include:
- Power distribution. The primary function of a floor PDU is to distribute power from a single source to multiple devices.
- Circuit protection. Most floor PDUs are equipped with built-in circuit breakers to protect connected equipment from overloading, short circuiting, or experiencing electrical faults.
- Redundancy and failover. High-end floor PDUs often feature redundant power supplies and failover mechanisms that mitigate the risk of downtime in the event a component fails.
- Remote management. Networked floor PDUs can be managed remotely, allowing data center managers to monitor power consumption and receive alerts from anywhere.
Larger floor PDUs are generally three-phase distribution units and designed for enterprise-class data centers and colocation facilities. Three-phase power offers consistent, uninterrupted power, support for greater loads and more efficient electrical distribution than single-phase power supplies. Conversely, more compact floor PDUs are often one-or-two stage power distribution units intended to service smaller server rooms. Floor PDUs can be installed on raised and non-raised floor panels.
Simplify Floor PDU Management with DCIM Software
Using Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) to remotely monitor and manage your entire data center power chain, including your floor PDUs, can help you maintain uptime and increase efficiency.
Modern DCIM software includes:
- Single-line diagrams that are automatically generated, dynamic, and interactive
- Trend charts and reports for uptime, capacity, and failover, including real-time forecasting of remaining “days of power capacity” remaining
- Built-in intelligence to help you easily understand power capacity at every hop
- Thresholds and alerts so you can proactively resolve issues before they become problems
- Vendor-agnostic capabilities to work with the equipment you already have
Want to see how Sunbird’s leading DCIM software helps you get more value out of your floor PDUs? Get your free test drive now!