CUI Announces Power Monitoring and Switching System to Unlock Unutilised Power in Data Centers

CUI Inc has announced the production release of its second solution for unlocking power capacity in data center and networking infrastructure. The ICE switch is a power monitoring and switching system that connects to Virtual Power Systems’ ICE (Intelligent Control of Energy)Software to deliver dynamic redundancy inside a data center. 

 

The switch contains two identical modules with up to 50A current per module. It also features  hot-swap functionality and a configurable single-phase or three-phase input. The system is housed in a standard 19” 1U package and carries UL/cUL and TUV 60950-1 safety certifications. 

 

In a traditional data center, power is typically provisioned to be 2N redundant i.e. 50% of power infrastructure is untapped to render redundancy in case of a failure. The switch unlocks additional power as it allows data centers to utilize the stranded power for 1N non-critical servers. In event of a failure, the switch shifts critical 2N applications to the redundant power while provisioning remaining power capacity to non-critical 1N applications. 

 

The ICE software utilises a combination of fine-grained telemetry and machine-learning predictions to distribute redundant power for optimal use and high availability. This functionality facilitates data center operators to safely and reliably add servers without investing in costly power infrastructure to support those additional applications. 

 

“The ICE Switch is the next step in unlocking underutilized power capacity in data centers,” stated Matt McKenzie, President of CUI. “In addition to the peak shaving capabilities of the ICE Block hardware, the ICE Switch is a continuation of our efforts with Virtual Power Systems to set new standards for efficient power infrastructure.”

CUI is a technology company focused on the development and distribution of electronic components. At the leading edge of power supply design, the organization supports customers as they strive to improve the energy efficiency and environmental credentials of their application.