Are Data Centers Finally Ready For DC Power? 462
1sockchuck writes "It's been five years since a landmark study outlined the potential benefits of DC power distribution in data centers. But adoption of DC in data centers remains limited, even as the industry aggressively pursues a wide array of other energy savings strategies. Advocates of DC distribution are hoping a new study will jump start the conversation about DC distribution, which can save energy by eliminating several wasteful AC-to-DC conversions within a data center. Meanwhile, an industry association for DC power adoption, the EMerge Alliance, has formed a new technical standards committee for data centers, and is advancing a 380-volt DC power standard. Will DC distribution ever gain momentum in data centers?"
also needed for houses (Score:3, Insightful)
How many little wall-warts does the average house have? Tens? We need low voltage DC in our houses, and standardize all the little widgets on one of (say) two voltages. Each outlet could supply them in a dedicated connector alongside the current AC.
Re:also needed for houses (Score:2, Insightful)
Telecom's been doing this for many, many years. (Score:4, Insightful)
DC power is the standard in the telecom industry.
I design systems based around HP's BladeSystem, and the DC power modules just drop in and go. It's very easy, works great, and most of all, my telecom customers love them.
Re:Telecom's been doing this for many, many years. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Edison reaching out from beyond the grave (Score:5, Insightful)
Try being less of an asshole for a day or two. You might find that people hate you less.
Re:Edison reaching out from beyond the grave (Score:5, Insightful)
Its true you can convert voltages DC to DC using electronics, but reliably at 132kV? It aint easy, cheap and certainly neither if you want efficiency.
(Blow up a 132kV IGBT, then come back and tell me about the damage :-)