November 2007

12 Key Points to Consider Before Buying an Electronic Enclosure:
Electronics enclosures are by nature, not particularly exciting. No flashing lights, no bells, no whistles, etc. However, the function they serve is absolutely "mission critical" when it comes to protecting valuable electronic equipment. Because enclosures have a tendency to look very similar, it is sometimes difficult to assess their quality and/or functionality.

Read more here: http://www.equipmentprotectionmagazine.com/images/emcor-may07.pdf

Elma Electronic, Inc. has released its 5U MicroTCA shelf. The unit features pluggable fans trays and an air filter. The 5U MicroTCA shelf comes equipped with a 14-slot Dual Star backplane in the single module, full size format. The backplane offers 10 AdvancedMC, 2-power module and two MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) slots.

Cooling is achieved via three pluggable fan trays with air filtering. Another feature of the Elma MicroTCA line is locking strips that securely hold the modules in place. Elma has stamped them so they can be cut at any incremental width, allowing flexibility in how many modules are plugged in and secured.

The Elma MicroTCA chassis line employs a modular design approach, allowing various sizes and configurations. This reduces the time, hassle and costs of customization. Elma now offers MicroTCA shelves in 4U, 5U, 6U, 7U, and 8U heights and a Portable Tower in a 7U height.

New Pocket Size MiniTeknet Enclosures from Teko

Teko has launched their MiniTeknet plastic enclosure line. These compact and ergonomic hand-held cases have been designed for the latest pocket size electronics. Typical applications will include RF and infra-red remote control units, medical and wellness equipment, detection devices, measurement systems and personal security equipment.
 
These enclosures feature soft-touch edge grips for secure and comfortable holding during use. The edge grips also provide protection for the case moldings. The standard case material is off-white, or black, ABS (UL 94 HB) with a modern textured finish. The edge grips are in contrasting light gray or dark gray elastomer, which can also be molded in other colors.

MiniTeknet cases consist of three parts, the top and base moldings and a clip-on battery compartment lid. The integral battery compartment will accept two 1.5 V AA cells or a 9 V cell. The cases are assembled by four self-tapping screws. Internal PCB screw pillars are provided in the top and base parts.
The external dimensions are 4.53 by 2.75 by 0.94 inches. All models feature a recessed top molding for easy location of a membrane keypad, display module or product label.

New Metric Threaded EMI Filters Available in Feed-thru and Pi Circuits

Spectrum Control, Inc. has introduced new metric threaded EMI filters with an M3 X 0.5 Feed-thru circuit and an M4 X 0.7 Pi circuit. These filters are easily mounted in a tapped hole or thru-hole and have a hex head dimension across the flats of 4.0 mm. The metric threading makes these EMI filters well suited for design solutions in European and Asian markets.

Spectrum's metric threaded EMI filters have capacitance values ranging from 100 pF to 12,000 pF, current rating of 10 Amps, voltage rating of 100 VDC and a dielectric withstanding voltage of 250 VDC. The durable resin sealed case provides excellent environmental protection and they are primarily used in filtering signal/data lines, industrial controls, telecommunications, medical equipment and test equipment. Spectrum Control’s metric threaded EMI filters have pricing ranging from $2.00 to $5.00 depending on configuration and quantity.

Pure Sine Inverter with Battery Charger and UPS Features Virtually Unlimited Parallel Capability

Schaefer, Inc. has introduced the REX series of feature packed, pure sine wave inverters with power ratings of 1,500 W or 3,000 W, which can be paralleled for up to a total of 45 kVA of clean, utility grade power suitable for worldwide use in industrial, residential, shore, generator or other backup power applications.

The REX series’ compact, ultra light, yet robust design operates as either an inverter or a four stage adaptive battery charger. The inverters also include a UPS function.  Unique, intelligent power control and power assist features address the concerns of limited power sources or boost the capacity of shore or generator power.

Additional features include a high speed AC transfer switch, three phase capability, easy to read diagnostic displays, programmable relays and comprehensive protection circuitry. REX series inverter options include a solar charger for independent battery charging when utility power is not available, remote control capability and a battery temperature sensor.

Dirak Releases its E-Line Basic Series

Dirak has introduced its E-Line Basic series, part of the electro-mechanical swing handle line, to monitor access to a server cabinet. The E-Line Basic offers a flexible interface that enables the handle to be integrated into existing security systems.

The E-Line Basic can be used with a number of user interface options to give an even higher level of security. Interface options include biometric systems and RFID readers. This allows the handle to be an integral part of a modern and secure locking and monitoring system.

The E-Line Basic transmits the current status of the handle (locked/unlocked) to the existing security system. This allows the operator to access from their main security system a status overview of the Basic swing handle in real-time. In addition, the unit has built-in safety functions to protect the swing handle’s locking solenoid from generating too much heat, even when there is a failure to the main system. Its compact and modular design allows for easy installation in a variety of cabinet types and it uses the same panel preparation as other swing handles, making upgrades simple.

New Study Examines Impact of Power Outages on Data Center Cooling Systems and Server Equipment  

According to a new study by Opengate Data Systems, a typical data center running at 5,000 watts per server cabinet will experience an automatic and thermal shutdown within three minutes and nine seconds during a power outage. Higher density data center applications experience even more rapid heat-up and shutdown times, with 10,000 watts or more of server equipment shutting down in less than one minute.

Commissioned by Active Power, the Data Center Emergency Cooling Study examines the impact of a power outage in a data center environment and the subsequent loss of cooling. According to a recent IDC report, 50 percent of businesses never recover after an outage and 90 percent go out of business within two years, a fact that prompted the need for the study. In the event of a power disruption, the ambient temperature can rapidly increase since a power outage will usually force the data center’s cooling system to shutdown. It typically takes two to three minutes before full cooling capacity is restored and all cooling systems cycle back on.

Opengate conducted studies on thermal runaways, a condition where servers overheat and shut down. Active Power’s CoolAir technology was also reviewed for its performance during power disruptions and its ability to solve these thermal overload conditions. CoolAir is the only commercially available uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to provide both emergency power and cooling for data center operators. 

During a power outage, a server cabinet with 10,000 watts of equipment will run for 60 seconds before the critical temperature threshold in the server equipment is reached followed by an automatic shutdown. Current emergency cooling solutions include expensive and infrastructure-invasive chilled water storage. Studies have shown a 73 percent savings on equipment cost using CoolAir over chilled water storage.

A typical 100 kVA IT load can operate for as long as 10 minutes 46 seconds during an outage using CoolAir before an automatic thermal shutdown is initiated, an improvement of 242 percent compared to current numbers and far exceeding the critical two to three minutes of cooling loss.  CoolAir can be modified to extend its cooling capability by lowering the unit’s discharge temperature, resulting in the ability to run the servers for an indefinite amount of time.

“A UPS is typically deployed in a data center to ensure continuous, reliable power in the instance of power failure,” said Mark Germagian, president of Opengate Data Systems. “However, a data center’s cooling system is usually dependent on generator power or utility power coming back online. Once power is restored, as much as two to three minutes may pass before cool air is delivered from the cooling system, which can have grave consequences on sensitive server equipment. Based on our studies, the time extension CoolAir provides is impressive as compared to current industry standards. 10 minutes and 46 seconds is an eternity in an IT manager’s world.”

Power-One Licenses Z-One Digital Power Management Technology to Murata

Power-One, Inc. has agreed to a license transfer from C&D Technologies, Inc. to Murata Manufacturing Company.  The transfer of the license had been requested by Murata, as part of Murata’s purchase of C&D’s Power Electronics Division (PED). 
Under the terms of the license agreement, Murata will now succeed C&D as licensee, and will join the Z-Alliance. Murata will manufacture Power-One’s product line and actively promote the sale of Z-One compliant products.

“We are delighted to have Murata join the Z-Alliance and be a licensee for the Z-One digital power management system,” said Bill Yeates, Power-One’s CEO. “The acquisition of the PED group positions Murata as one of the leading DC/DC converter companies in the world, and their strong presence within the Asia/Pacific, Japanese, North America and Europe regions makes them a very powerful Z-Alliance partner.”

“We are confident that our customers will welcome Murata as a respected and committed second-source addition to the Z-Alliance,” said Yeates. “This addition of a powerful Z-Alliance member and our recent 60-Amp ZY8160 product announcement, which provides triple the output power range of previous digital products, should continue to increase the adoption rate of our Z-One products.  Our presence within this market is becoming increasingly powerful as we extend the reach of products developed as part of the Z-Alliance.”

CyrusOne Advances as the Southwest's Largest High Density Co-location Provider

CyrusOne has completed an additional 16,000 square feet of high-density data center space, built to deliver over 250 watts per square foot of computer load, in its Houston technology campus, making it the largest, high density co-location provider in the Southwest region. The expansion brings the total size of the Houston data center to approximately 81,000 square feet of fully redundant, high density data center space.         
           
"The demand for highly available, high-powered enterprise data centers continues to drive our growth as companies rapidly migrate to dense computing systems, such as blade servers that are running mission-critical applications,” said David Ferdman, CEO, CyrusOne. "We are excited with the on-time completion of this phase, as the demand for the space has exceeded our expectations. As a result we have expedited the construction of upcoming phases.”

This opening represents one of several phases of premium data center space available at the CyrusOne Houston location. Upon completion of all phases, the CyrusOne campus in Houston will consist of 125,000 square feet and 42.5 megawatts of utility power. The Tier IV facility is complete with a 2N architecture in power and cooling, 24X7 security staff and biometric access.

APC Offers a New Data Center Planning Tool for Efficiency in Designing Data Centers on Demand

APC has announced availability of its InfraStruXure Reference Design Gallery in North America.  This new user-friendly, web-based selector houses a library of reference designs and rapidly guides users toward a pre-engineered design that is closest to their specific objectives.  Reference Designs are concepts of designs that are created based on known customer needs.  This planning tool provides customers with a quick and easy way to evaluate a variety of design related information at the click of a button.  

Innovative consulting engineers and architects will embrace this planning tool since it provides a starting point for the design consultation process.  This starting point design based on actual customer needs helps minimize the need for repeated revisions thereby reducing the cycle time for a project. The associated information in the downloadable executive summary facilitates deeper discussions between the customer and the consulting engineer regarding the design of choice.  

The Reference Design Gallery’s detailed downloadable package provides users with information in the form of an executive summary that includes a system overview, specifications, visuals, system schematics and a detailed quote report with estimated resale pricing. The tool also provides answers to commonly asked questions while helping guide customers along the decision making process.  Each APC design consists of standard InfraStruXure technology including power (UPS), racks, cooling, management software and service components all pre-engineered to work together.

Zero Downtime / Remote Monitoring and Networking / Onsite Power 2007 Conference Cd’s now Available!
Readers that were unable to attend the 2007 Zero Downtime, Remote and Onsite Power Conferences can now purchase the official conference proceedings CD. The CD contains the show presentations in PDF format, as well as some of the Remote conference sessions in audio format!

Head to: www.infowebcom.com/conferences_binders.htm to purchase yours today!