AC/AC power conversion for datacenters

Tue Jun 3 19:38:33 UTC 2003

Matthew Zito wrote:
> This is marginally related to the power discussions earlier, but does
> anyone know of a product that steps up 120V AC to 220V AC and is
> reasonably datacenter-friendly?  We're looking at an environment where
> there's no 220V available - but we only need ~7 amps so conversion
> could be possible to my high-school-physics mind.  I've found some
> products that seem to be appropriate, but they're geared towards a
> more industrial purpose.  Is there a rackmount 120->220V converter
> that people out there have used and would recommend?

My suggestion, which I have never tried, is to get a UPS with the right
wattage and that support 240V out but variable (90V-300V) input. Just a
thought.

PS Please don't make the mistake that a certain US supplier made with kit
shipped to UK and specify 16A connectors which required special wiring (over
standard 13A in the UK) as at 240V the current is lower by 240/110 :)
Measure watts, not amps. Unless you have a weird PSU of course.

Peter