Vendors Demo Power Supplies with PMBus Interface

Apr 18, 2007 1:43 PM

Emerson Network Power and Intel are demonstrating a rack of servers configured with PMBus-compliant ac-dc power supplies from Emerson Network Power at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing. The demonstration, which is being conducted this week, incorporates the first working power supplies with the PMBus interface, according to Emerson.

The Astec DSR850-2 comprises a mini-rack assembly containing up to two 850 W ac-dc power supplies, together with up to six channels of multi-output dc sources. The PMBus interface complies with the latest Rev 1.1 protocol standard.

"Power Management at a server level is a critical step in optimizing power consumption of Data Centers and Data-com facilities, and I am delighted with our collaboration with Intel on this demonstration", said Bharat Shah, Vice President of Strategic Technology for Emerson Network Power.

"Standards-based digital control communications play a key role in the optimization of power and thermal performance in the data center", said Tom Macdonald, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Platform Components Group. "Emerson Network Power's support of the live demo at IDF with PMBus-compliant power supplies is an important milestone in the industry's transition to digital control of power conversion devices."

The supplies provide N+1 or N+N hot-plug redundant bulk power. This latest version of the PMBus protocol extends the feature set to include real-time value reporting of ac input voltage, current and power to within 5% accuracy at very light loads. Versions of the supplies equipped for Intel PSMI Rev 2.12 standard communications are also available.

Each 850-W power supply in the Astec DSR850-2 produces a main 70-A, +12-V output, and a 2.5-A, 5.0-V standby output. The six multi-output power modules each deliver 16 A at +12 V (with 240-VA protected rails), 44 A at 5.0 V and 24 A at 3.3 V, together with standby outputs of 0.5 A at 12 V and 2.5 A at 5.0 V.

Other Astec DS Series products to be released shortly include the DS1200-3, which is a 1U x 2U, 1200-W unit, and the DS1800-3, which has a 1U x 3U form factor and an 1800-W output rating. Both these models will feature all-digital control, incorporate efficiency optimization at a given load, and are PMBus-compliant.