Are Data Centers Finally Ready For DC Power?

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

[Anonymous Coward]

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

[oh_my_080980980]

You've apparently never ran electrical wire in the home nor understand why that would be a completely insane idea.

Telecom's been doing this for many, many years.

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

[the linux geek]

Yeah, I've never quite figured out why telecoms have standardized on 48VDC while everyone else completely ignores its existence. Most midrange servers (HP Integrity and Nonstop, iirc most smaller SPARC Enterprise boxes, some commodity stuff) are available in 48VDC configurations, so it's not like there's a lack of hardware for it.

Re:Edison reaching out from beyond the grave

[Anonymous Coward]

Way to take a completely normal, productive conversation and shit all over it.

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

[Anne Thwacks]

The skin effect is only significant at frequencies WAY above 60Hz, so this is not relevant. AC is used because transformers can convert huge amounts of power from one voltage to another reliably, efficiently and cheaply.

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 :-)