February 2007

Lightning protection has come a long way since Ben Franklin first invented the lightning rod in 1752. While the principles behind the science of lightning protection remain the same, today's structures and their amenities have presented several challenges. Electricity, gas, indoor plumbing, telecommunication systems and irrigation systems have created induction problems for modern structures, allowing lightning's access into a structure through energized lines or system grounds.

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Enclosures in Action: APC's InfraStruXure Architecture Helps Cyber Continuity Center Create New High Density Co-location Data Center

American Power Conversion recently released that the Cyber Continuity Center (one of North America's first high density co-location data centers, will use APC's InfraStruXure architecture for high density blade server deployments at the new facility.

InfraStruXure's on-demand architecture integrates power, cooling, management, security, physical threat monitoring and services in a rack-optimized design. By using InfraStruXure to build an integrated, agile data center with high system availability, the 62,000 square-foot Cyber Continuity Center will exceed the Uptime Institute's Tier III Data Center designation making it one of the top high density data centers in the country. APC and Aerico, a IT consulting company, worked with the Cyber Continuity Center's CTO, Jack Pressman, on the data center's design.

Located 39 miles west of Chicago in the 800-acre DuPage National Technology Park, the Cyber Continuity Center will deliver high-density co-location, build-to-suit data center, and disaster and workplace recovery facilities to a broad range of Chicago-area clients.

With the astounding growth of digital information and Internet use driving the need for data storage and co-location services, Chicago-area companies now can house their primary data center or disaster recovery site at the new Cyber Continuity Center. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2007, the West Chicago, Ill.-based facility is the first of many new buildings slated for construction in the Technology Park.

"The Cyber Continuity Center is the first high density data center facility offering clients a complete range of mirrored data center, hosting, storage and recovery solutions as well as unsurpassed security, scalability and engineering," said Jack Pressman, chief technology officer, Cyber Continuity Center USA. "This facility will give our clients the capability to virtualize their physical infrastructure on site. Unlike most North American data centers, the Cyber Continuity Center will have the ability to support high density applications ranging from 5 kw to 25 kw per rack."

The new center will contain two separate areas managed and operated by a technical support team of between 30 and 45 high technology professionals. One space will house high density scalable co-location facilities for lease, and the second space will offer 'micro-suites' or entirely private data centers that benefit from the Tier III infrastructure in the building.

Construction is already underway on the first building, a 62,000 square foot structure with more than 40,000 square feet devoted to the data center. This facility will house six APC Symmetra 1.6 MegaWatt UPS systems and 1,000 APC NetShelter SX server racks in individual InfraStruXure Hot-Aisle Containment System configurations.

"APC is excited to partner with the Cyber Continuity Center on one of the largest and most technologically advanced co-location projects in the US," said Peter Poulin, APC's vice president, North America. "The facility will deploy InfraStruXure from end to end, supporting a complete range of hosting, storage and recovery solutions. Because InfraStruXure offers a standardized, modular approach to building data centers, the Cyber Continuity Center can deliver high-density data centers with scalability to customers quickly. The center is one of the first facility services providers in the industry to adopt a standardized approach to building large scale data centers."

The long-range goal of the Cyber Continuity Center is to create a chain of micro-rings around the country. The organization is currently evaluating sites on the East and West Coast as well as in the Midwest for additional sites. The Cyber Continuity Center expects to complete each facility within six months of contract initiation; an impressive time line for which Pressman credits the ability of the engineering team and APC.

"APC's solutions, as well as its dedicated service and implementation teams make it possible to expect that each facility will be completed within six months," said Pressman. "More importantly, because APC strives to introduce new InfraStruXure technology refreshes, the Cyber Continuity Center will continue to offer its customers the latest and finest data center technology now and in the future."

For more information contact: www.apc.com

Bud NEMA-Rated Boxes Offer Spray-Down Protection for Less Than the Price of Drip

Bud Industries, Inc. has introduced its SN series NEMA-rated sheet-metal boxes - the newest addition to Bud's line of environmentally sealed enclosures. Because of economies in manufacturing, now engineers can get an SN series box rated for spray-down protection for less cost than a box rated for drip protection from other suppliers.

The SN series boxes have continuous welded seams and a hinged cover that clamps to the base with stainless steel screws and brackets for a water-tight seal. They are well suited for use in a broad range of applications, including power supplies and industrial controls in wash-down, marine, outdoor or dirty environments.

Made from 14 gauge (0.078-inches thick) steel and finished with a gray powder coating, the boxes are rugged and mar resistant. All SN series boxes also come with a 14-guage steel, powder-coated removable inner panel. In addition, Bud is willing to customize its NEMA-rated enclosures, including custom colors, custom hole cuts and gasketing in reasonable quantities.

The SN series NEMA-rated enclosures may be used as free standing boxes, or they can be mounted to a wall or panel. External mounting brackets allow technicians to install the box without the need to open the cover and expose internal components. SN series boxes meet NEMA 1, 2, 4, 4x, 12, 13 and IP65 ratings. They are available in ten sizes ranging from 6 by 4 by 3-inches to 16 by 14 by 10-inches. The manufacturer's suggested retail pricing is as low as $24.95.

For more information contact: www.budind.com

Optima EPS, an Elma Company, has introduced a cabinet enclosure specifically designed for MicroTCA applications. The modular cabinet features a stacked arrangement of open card cages, fan trays and heat exchangers. Without top or bottom covers, the open card cages allow air to flow through multiple stacks of MicroTCA shelves. The fan trays and heat- exhangers cool the cabinet in this modular configuration.

The MicroTCA 19 inch cabinet is designed according to ETSI 300-119-3 with a 44U height, 750 mm width, and 300 mm depth. The unit accepts 10 MicroTCA single-width subracks, accepting 120 full size modules or 240 compact modules plus power modules dissipating a total of approximately 6 KW in a closed loop heat exchanger concept.

MicroTCA shelves are strategically interleaved with heat exchangers and fan trays. The heat exchangers require an external chiller unit. The typical shelf temperature rise is 15°C, while the heat exchangers are able to provide a temperature drop of approximately 15°C. This solution allows for high-density cabinet packaging and provides low noise, EMI containment (at closed cabinet level) and maximum possible cable routing space/management.

 For more information contact: www.optimaeps.com

WiebeTech Release SilverSATA 4-Bay FireWire and 5-Bay SCSI Enclosures

WiebeTech has introduced two more models in its SilverSATA series, making eight models now available that hold SATA 1 or 2 drives in interchangeable trays. Models are available in single, dual, four or five bay units and with various options of eSATA, FireWire, USB or SCSI interfaces.

The SilverSATA IV FH features dual independent hardware RAIDS with two pairs of dual FireWire 800 (400 compatible) ports. Each pair of drives can be independently configured as JBOD or hardware RAID 0. This 4-tray version holds up to 3 TB capacity.

The SilverSATA V UR 5-bay enclosure has a fast SCSI Ultra320 connection. It includes a state-of-the-art RAID controller, allowing for huge (3.75 TB+) volumes and RAID level 0, 1+0, 3 and RAID 5 or 6. RAID 0 speeds can exceed a blazing 250 MB/s. Prices for the SilverSATA IV FH run from $549.95 to 3,209.95, depending on size, while the Silver SATA V UR runs 2,199.95 to 5,524.95.

For more information contact: www.wiebetech.com

New ATS Heat Sink Cools Freescale PowerQUICC II Processors

Advanced Thermal Solutions has introduced the ATS-552 heat sink for cooling Freescale Semiconductor's widely used MPC8349E PowerQUICC II Pro integrated communications processors. Attaching an ATS-552 sink helps ensure that junction temperatures in a PowerQUICC II Pro component do not exceed the maximum specified value.

The ATS-552 heat sink is designed to maximize heat dissipation in low airflow conditions. The sink's thermal resistance is 2.7°C/W at its base in air velocity of 200 ft/min. The ATS-552 is made from black anodized aluminum and features 14 integral linear fins, 0.5 mm thick, to maximize cooling surfaces in local airflow. The heat sink is only 14 mm high, allowing its use in restricted spaces. Length and width are 72 by 50 mm, respectively.

The ATS-552 heat sink is provided pre-assembled with an ATS maxiGrip mounting system. This system features a plastic frame clip that snaps securely around the processor. A stainless steel spring clip runs through the fin field and fastens to the frame. The result is firm heat sink attachment with steady, even pressure. A thermally conductive, phase-changing interface pad maximizes the heat transfer from component to the cooling solution.

ATS' maxiGRIP heat sink mounting assemblies have been certified by National Technical Systems to meet Telcordia GR-63-Core Office Vibration, ETSI 300 019 Transportation Vibration and MIL-STD-810 Shock Testing and Unpackaged Drop Testing standards. They comply with RoHS standards. The ATS-552 heat sink, with mounting hardware, weighs just 30 grams.

For more information contact: www.qats.com

Jaro Thermal has released a tiny series of high-flowing, micro-sized fans. Spinning at a strong 15,000 rpm, the Super-Flow Micro measures in at a tiny 15 by 15 by 0.06 mm. Producing 0.22CFM of cooling air, this new model is well suited for PDA, cell phone and other 'small-spaced' applications.

The Super-Flow Micro is designed to provide a minimum 50,000 hours of product-life ouput. These fans are suited for companies that manufacture high-reliability, long-life, low profile equipment in almost every industry. Pricing for the new Super-Flow Micro is $5.25 each at 1,000 pieces.

For more information contact: www.jarothermal.com

Cherokee International Introduces 1U, 2500 Watt Front End/Rectifier

Cherokee International has released its CAR2500 series of front end / rectifiers for network routers and switches, enterprise servers, telecommunications equipment and industrial ATE applications. The CAR2500 is the only 1U, 2500 W power supply on the market with twice the power of most 1U units.

The CAR2500 is designed as a customizable power platform and a flexible building block to satisfy specific OEM power applications. With a power density of 27 W per cubic inch and an efficiency of 92 percent, the new CAR2500 series is a well designed distributed-power-architecture solution.

This new platform is feature rich with more built-in intelligence and flexibility. An onboard microcontroller, equipped with a 10 bit analog-to-digital converter, allows for more accurate temperature, current and voltage sensing capability. An automatic fan speed control regulates the internal supply temperature for increased reliability and audible noise control. The CAR2500 also offers greater flexibility by supporting many interfaces such as I2C, PMBus and Ethernet protocols.

Measuring 1.61 by 4 by 14.25 inches, the CAR2500 front end / rectifier series delivers -54 volt direct current at 46.3 amps for high-line operations of 230 volt alternate current with standby voltage of either 3.3 V or 5 V at 1 A to power external housekeeping and monitoring circuitry. Narrow enough to fit up to four units side-by-side in a 1U power shelf, the CAR2500 series can supply up to 10,000 W or 7,500 W N+1 redundant power.

A thermally controlled fan enables -10°C to +70°C operation and also a -40°C startup capability, making the CAR2500 well suited for uncontrolled environmental conditions such as outdoor telecom equipment, radio frequency (RF) amplifiers and wireless applications. Additional features include hot-swap and fault redundancy, active single-wire load sharing, output voltage programming, current readout, remote on/off and front plate LEDs. Protection features on the rectifier include input over and under voltage, output over voltage, over temperature and over current.

For more information contact: www.cherokeellc.com

Phoenix Contact has added a new family of Electronic Monitoring Relays for single and three-phase applications to its line of signal conditioners and converters. The 22.5 mm wide, DIN-rail mountable modules can be used for monitoring currents and voltages in numerous applications. The current monitoring relays are designed for monitoring AC and DC currents ranging from 0 to 100 mA, 0 to 1 A and 0 to10 A. The voltage monitoring relays are available for monitoring single phase AC and DC voltages ranging from 0 to 30 V, 0 to 60 V and 0 to 500 V.

The current and voltage monitoring relays are available in two versions. The SL version has one function, either undercurrent or under voltage, with a PDT (single pole double throw) for signal output. The multifunctional FL version provides the user the flexibility of monitoring undercurrent, over current, and window function, or under voltage, over voltage and window function featuring PDT relays (single pole double throw) for signal output.

The monitoring relays are easily configured via potentiometers and rotary switches on the front face of the modules. Operational conditions of the monitoring relays are displayed via LEDs for supply power transformer voltage, relay status, fault type and delay times.

As 1U format continues to dominate electronic packaging, the need for compatible power systems becomes increasingly important. Not only do today's power modules need to be 1U in height, they also need to be less than 300 mm in depth. Accordingly, Transistor Devices, Inc. (TDI) released its newest Signature 1,000 W, 1U Power Module providing -54 VDC for rectifier applications and +48 VDC for front esnd architectures.

The modules are designed for use in 300 mm or mid-plane cabinets by featuring a chassis depth of just 10.63-inches. They fit three-across in the matching 19-inch, 1RU power shelf and share up to 3,000 watts per shelf. The state-of-the-art 91 percent efficient, Signature 1,000 W modules, conserve resources including energy and space. The modules are also RoHS and WEEE compliant and will be stocked globally.

The modules deliver full load current through an extended temperature range of -20°C to 55°C. Future versions will have an output voltage that is remotely programmable via a variety of protocol options, including I2C or CANbus Open.

The rectifier version is well suited for telecom applications such as wireless base stations and WiMax systems. As a +48 V front end, the specifications are targeted for enterprise equipment such as VoIP, routers, SANs and blade servers. Its short length will be particularly beneficial for EMEA applications.

For more information contact: www.transdev.com

Elma Bustronic Releases Dual Star MicroTCA Backplane

Elma Bustronic Corp. has developed a new 14-slot Dual Star MicroTCA backplane. The unit features 10 AMC slots, a dual redundant power module and MicroTCA Controller Hub (MCH) slots in a 14-slot backplane.

The 14-slot Dual Star complies to the latest MicroTCA.0 specifications. The connectors are compression mount, which can be removed from the backplane individually if damaged. Elma Bustronic is also developing MicroTCA backplane configurations in press fit and SMT styles.

The Elma Bustronic MicroTCA backplane features an 18-layer controlled-impedance stripline design. There are also eight right angle 10-pin SMD headers for fans. The company also offers a 6-slot Dual Star for a portable tower chassis and a 14-slot Star design with one power module and MCH slot.

 For more information contact: www.elma.com

Design engineers may not know they need a non-conductive air filter in their cooling system until it's too late. That's why Universal Air Filter (UAF) has introduced its non-conductive filters. These filters are designed for use when space is limited and the filter frame may contact electrically charged surfaces or backplanes. This can occur in a variety of applications such as ATCA and MicroTCA chassis, 19-inch rack mount units and 1U high enclosures.

Universal's non-conductive Flex-Frame filters feature flame retardant, polypropylene plastic designed to meet stringent filtration and flammability requirements of Telcordia NEBS, CE and UL. In addition, the non-conductive, flexing design fits ever-shrinking equipment footprints and is suited for applications that demand that filters "snake" around components, conform to a radius-type bezel or a curved track.

Flex-Frame filters are available with Quadrafoam filter media in various pore sizes (20 through 45 PPI green), and (10 through 60 PPI gray or black). A solvent-resistant, two-part bonding material unites frame and filter media making them inseparable. Universal Air Filter products meet the following standards and classifications: UL 94HF-1; UL 900 Class 2, CE; Telcordia NEBS GR-78-CORE and GR-63-CORE and, RoHS Compliance. When used as part of a fire enclosure, they also may be configured to comply with flame-drip requirements described in UL 60950 and EN 60950.

For more information contact: www.uaf.com

CyberResearch's new WR series of slim-line mounting panels for solid-state relays save up to 30 percent of space, compared to panels for conventional full-size relays. WR series panels accommodate 4, 8, 16 or 24 relays and mount on standoffs or DIN rails. Most feature edge connectors or headers in addition to screw terminals.

Mounting panels provide the final electrical link between a PC and the solid-state relays (SSRs) that control real-world devices. They can help make a system neat and compact, or sprawling and ungainly. Users can get the tightest, most economical result if they choose a model that accommodates all the relays presently needed, plus a few extra slots for system expansion.

The key advantage of the WR series of mounting panels is that it saves 30 to 60 percent of the space required by a standard-size (CY series) of panels. The limitation of the WR series is that it accommodates slim-line SSRs only.

WR series mounting panels come with standard screw terminals or spade-lug (barrier-strip) terminals. Most also have 50-pin headers and/or edge connectors. Both standoff and DIN-rail mounting styles are available.

For more information contact: www.cyberresearch.com