Looking for power metering equipment...
Preamble: We run a colocation center. We sell power to customers. Question: We are looking for something that sits in the PDUs or branch circuit-breaker distribution load centers, that, on a branch-circuit by branch-circuit basis, can monitor amperage, and be queried by SNMP. Considering there are several hundreds of circuits to be monitored, cheap and featureless (all we need is amperage via SNMP) is fine. Looked at things like Square-D PowerLogin stuff, but thats very pricey, and does about 30x what we need. Pointers? URLs? Experiences? Thanks.
Speaking on Deep Background, the Press Secretary whispered:
Question: We are looking for something that sits in the PDUs or branch circuit-breaker distribution load centers, that, on a branch-circuit by branch-circuit basis, can monitor amperage, and be queried by SNMP.
Considering there are several hundreds of circuits to be monitored, cheap and featureless (all we need is amperage via SNMP) is fine.
You really want wattage. The power factor of switched supplies is far from unity. Take a look at <http://www.quadlogic.com/transmeter1.html> Also, recall you sell each watt twice -- once to heat up a chassis, and a 2nd time for the HVAC to cool it. -- A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Concur with you need wattage not amperage. There is a 'relatively' cheap method of doing this however local electrical codes may put a damper on this type of project. You put a current transformer on each branch circuit. A 'typical' current transformer will generate 1Millivolt per Milliampere. You then install a A/D board in a PC and write a simple application to query each channel of the A/D. or purchase a commercially available SMNP datalogger. Scott C. McGrath On Thu, 15 Jan 2004, David Lesher wrote:
Speaking on Deep Background, the Press Secretary whispered:
Question: We are looking for something that sits in the PDUs or branch circuit-breaker distribution load centers, that, on a branch-circuit by branch-circuit basis, can monitor amperage, and be queried by SNMP.
Considering there are several hundreds of circuits to be monitored, cheap and featureless (all we need is amperage via SNMP) is fine.
You really want wattage. The power factor of switched supplies is far from unity.
Take a look at <http://www.quadlogic.com/transmeter1.html>
Also, recall you sell each watt twice -- once to heat up a chassis, and a 2nd time for the HVAC to cool it.
-- A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Speaking on Deep Background, the Press Secretary whispered:
Concur with you need wattage not amperage. There is a 'relatively' cheap method of doing this however local electrical codes may put a damper on this type of project.
You put a current transformer on each branch circuit. A 'typical' current transformer will generate 1Millivolt per Milliampere. You then install a A/D board in a PC and write a simple application to query each channel of the A/D. or purchase a commercially available SMNP datalogger.
I assume Alex is looking for a boxed solution. If not concur it's Not Rocket Science [TM-Click&Clack] to build a system. You can do the voltage sensing safely. {My too-early AM thinking is that there will be too little phase shift in an unloaded Voltage Transformer to worry about.} You'd need a VT per panel leg, but a CT per branch circuit. -- A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Hi Alex, We monitor almost 400 20amp and 30amp 110V and 208V circuit breakers in our data center in San Deigo. We utilize a system called Data Trax which is tied into our Remote Power Panels and monitoring gear made by a company called Invensys. Our power comes from our UPSs, ties into redundant PDUs and then hits the RPPs where we pick up load with inductive donuts. In our case, the Data Trax system alerts us is the usage goes over a certain amperage that we set. As we sell 1/3 cabinets and only allow customers 5.33 amps, we set those to alert (via e-mail, trap and visual warning in my NOC) when those customers go over 5 amps. On standard 20 amp circuits, we alert at 15 amps. The customer is also notified at the same time via e-mail so they can take corrective action. We utilize the same system to monitor our DC plants as well. The system works very well for us. Hope this helps a bit. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. http://www.invensys.com/ On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 01:33:52 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) Alex Rubenstein <alex@nac.net> wrote:
Preamble: We run a colocation center. We sell power to customers.
Question: We are looking for something that sits in the PDUs or branch circuit-breaker distribution load centers, that, on a branch-circuit by branch-circuit basis, can monitor amperage, and be queried by SNMP.
Considering there are several hundreds of circuits to be monitored, cheap and featureless (all we need is amperage via SNMP) is fine.
Looked at things like Square-D PowerLogin stuff, but thats very pricey, and does about 30x what we need.
Pointers? URLs? Experiences?
Thanks.
****************************************** Richard J. Sears Vice President American Digital Network ---------------------------------------------------- rsears@adnc.com http://www.adnc.com ---------------------------------------------------- 858.576.4272 - Phone 858.427.2401 - Fax ---------------------------------------------------- I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
I'd like to find some small, cheap ammeters. I only need a readable analog dial for current, no SNMP or anything fancy. I'd like to be able to hardwire one to each individual circuit going into the racks. Anyone know a candidate? Thanks, Doug
On Thu, Jan 15, 2004 at 11:17:56AM -0500, doug@nanog.con.com wrote:
I'd like to find some small, cheap ammeters. I only need a readable analog dial for current, no SNMP or anything fancy. I'd like to be able to hardwire one to each individual circuit going into the racks.
Anyone know a candidate?
As odd as it sounds: Radio Shack makes some little wattmeters that can show current, wattage, voltage on its single outlet, for something like $20-$30 (I forget, I bought one a year or so ago to play around with). Digital readout though, not analog. One annoying thing: no reset button for the cumulative stats, only powercycle will clear it. mm
participants (6)
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Alex Rubenstein -
David Lesher -
doug＠nanog.con.com -
Mark E. Mallett -
Richard J. Sears -
Scott McGrath