Emerson Network Power has added a new power system to its portfolio aimed at telcos, data centers and commercial building applications.

The NetSure 9500 400V DC is a modular system designed to give its users the capacity for incremental growth.

By creating small units that can be aggregated together to form a large collective system, Emerson said users can work around the unique geometry of each site that employs them.

It said this will enable customers to save by economical use of floor space, power and longevity of capital expenditure.

The NetSure 9500 400V DC is based on the same architecture used in Emerson’s  30kW NetSure 4015 system, with the 120kW NetSure 9500 being Emerson’s largest 400V DC offering.

The NetSure 9500 has a power module containing sections for power conversion, controls and distribution.

A distribution module creates the capacity for extended load distribution positions and a battery cabinet contains a string of VRLA (valve-regulated lead–acid) batteries.

Emerson said the system is designed to be fault-tolerant with hot-swappable rectifiers that limit the chances of downtime.

For data centers in telecoms companies the move from -48V DC to 400V DC lowers both the current and the amount of copper needed for transport, which Emerson said can cut cabling material and installation costs by up to 80%.

All data centers will benefit from a simplification of the power chain, which cuts the number of conversions and potential points of failure.

The NetSure 9500 has been on trial with US-based colocation company Steel ORCA.

Steel ORCA’s COO Dennis Cronin said the industry is looking for ways to improve reliability while cutting cost.

“The hybrid approach delivers on the promise of DC power,” Cronin said.

To help potential clients better understand the implications, Steel ORCA is building a demonstration room, in conjunction with Emerson, so that other data center managers can see it in action.