Power Supplies – Power Supply Unit (PSU) is an internal IT hardware component. Despite the name, Power Supply Units (PSU) do not supply systems with power – instead they convert it. Specifically, a power supply converts the alternating high voltage current (AC) into direct current (DC), and they also regulate the DC output voltage to the fine tolerances required for modern computing components.

Most power supplies are switched-mode (SMPS), which has both efficiency advantages and makes designing for multiple voltage inputs easier. This means that most PSUs can operate in different countries where the power input might change. In the UK, the voltage is 240V 50Hz, whereas in the USA the voltage is 120V 60Hz, and in Australia it is 230V 50Hz.

It is a crucial part of any server. Without it, your IT infrastructure would not work. It’s no surprise, then, that most systems include a power supply upon purchase.

However, there is an alternative to the PSU that can be used in some instances. By choosing Power over Ethernet (PoE), electrical power can be carried within network cables without being tethered to an electrical outlet. This is ideal for systems that need more flexibility; PoE can provide wireless access points to wherever is most convenient, and less space is taken up by wiring.

In short, a server will always need at least two power supplies. There are different modes of operation for this, depending on how much redundancy you need in your system. One option is to have a fully redundant power supply system, which means that one PSU is always switched off and there is an emergency fall back in case of downtime. The other option is to have shared power supplies, where both are on at the same time and share the workload. At Techbuyer, we recommend that you provide double the amount of wattage than you actually need, to ensure optimum uptime.

For maximum redundancy, it is also a good idea to have an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), which enables your computer to run for a limited time if power is lost. There are three types: online, offline and line-interactive. Online Uninterrupted Power Supplies ensure the quality of power remains constant, whereas offline UPSs start running when power is lost and there will be a slight delay when it takes over. Line-interactive is a combination of the two and provides more power protection thanks to its line conditioning.

Cackle Telecommunications is proud to provide Power Supplies to NZ businesses. Choose from a selection of vendors, explore our products to find the right solution for you.