Eaton Bussmann® series

5 mm fuses provide overcurrent

coordination in data centers

Thanks to global connectivity,

there has been exponential

growth in the volume of data

created, stored, and mined

daily across the planet. The

internet allows people to work

virtually, exchange information

in real-time, and communicate

using electronic devices.

Moreover, businesses and large

corporations store and mine

large volumes of data (big data)

to generate actionable business

intelligence based on customers’

online behavior. According to

Cisco’s Annual Internet Report,

nearly 70% of the global

population will be connected by

2023. Similarly, the number of IP

connected devices will increase

three-fold within the same

period.

The need for power efciency

in data centers

Data centers are critical parts

of global communication

infrastructures. They provide

dedicated, centralized hubs or

stations with computing and

networking hardware used to

collect, store, process, and

distribute data. The number

of data centers in the world

is increasing rapidly, with

sustained growth in the modular

data centers industry projected

up to 2026.

Design engineers and operators

face several technical challenges

during the development and

management of data centers,

including designing reliable

electrical distribution systems.

Data centers require complex

distribution systems to

support 24/7 operations while

eliminating the risk of outages.

Moreover, due to advancements

in computing technology, data

centers units are now reducing

in size but mandate the same

or higher power requirements.

To ensure maximum uptime

of computing and networking

hardware, power distribution

units (PDUs)/power supplies

require circuit protection

consolidated with selective

coordination.

Why overcurrent coordination

is critical

The concept of overcurrent

coordination, is the localization

of an overcurrent condition

to restrict power outages to

affected circuits or equipment

only. Using this technique,

overload or shorts in a data

center unit’s electrical system

is localized to the nearest

upstream protective device,

isolating the affected section

and keeping the rest of the

system functioning without

interruption.

Overcurrent coordination

depends on several factors

including the choice of

protective devices and their

settings or ratings. Without

coordination, a fault current

could trip an entire server rack

due to the “cascading” nature

of failures. It is critical in today’s

data centers for preventing

power blackouts resulting in

highly undesirable and costly

downtime.

Reliable protection with Eaton

products

Eaton Bussmann

series

S520 fast-acting ceramic tube

fuses provide overcurrent

protection up to 20 A and 420

Vac, meeting the high-power,

high voltage requirements

of data centers. By choosing

the appropriate fuse opening

characteristics (maintaining

different interruption settings

between line-side and load-

side), Eaton S520 fuses are

ideal for designing coordinated

systems. Here, the closest fuse

opens under overload or short

circuit conditions to isolate a

faulty section of a unit, leaving

the rest of the system fully

functional. Eaton’s S520 fuses

are available in small-footprint

5 x 20 mm cartridge or axial

leaded packages, providing

excellent space savings.

As an additional option, the

HTC-15M & HTC-78M PCB fuse

holders are now available with

higher voltage levels in order

www.eaton.com/fuses

Eaton is a registered trademark.

All other trademarks are property

of their respective owners.

Eaton

Electronics Division

1000 Eaton Boulevard

Cleveland, OH 44122

United States

Eaton.com/electronics

Printed in USA

Publication No. 11186 BU-MC20163

October 2020