I'm running a small internet service provider (ISP) that uses a microwave backbone, and I'm looking for creative ideas to manage power effectively. Our setup is often challenged by dirty power and outages, so I want to move away from using commercial UPS units that come with their own network management cards. Ideally, I want to design a system that supports dual power supply telecom radios, routers, and switches that typically take DC inputs, while minimizing the AC to DC conversions since AC input is usually all we have available. My plan is to have one power supply on battery backup and another that conditions the power line because batteries can fail, and I want to ensure reliability. It would be great to have options for AC output from both systems, although I'm aiming to avoid it if possible. I also want everything monitored and consolidate reporting back to a central Network Management System (NMS) that operates independently of any specific UPS vendors. I'm looking at typical wattage requirements between 100 to 300W and input voltages of 12V, 24V, and 48V. Any suggestions would be awesome!
3 Answers
I’ve dealt with similar systems before. If you're looking for a smaller setup for routers and microwave radios, one solution I've used is a Duracom power supply with a battery charger linked to four deep cycle 12V batteries in series. For larger sites, we utilize Eltek rectifier systems paired with Northstar Red batteries. Most of our gear runs on -48V DC, which keeps our setup stable. For the few items needing 120V AC, we use an inverter from ICT. For monitoring, check out Sensaphone for critical alarms, and SiteBoss units can give you SNMP access and web monitoring. Just make sure to manage your outputs properly to avoid accidents—trust me on that! Also, ICT has redundant DC power supplies available if you want an extra layer of reliability.
If you’re stuck with commercial AC, I suggest using a rectifier to convert it to 48V DC, which you can store in batteries. This way, you’ll have a reliable storage system. Using a quality inverter will help you generate clean sine wave AC from the batteries whenever you need it. You could set up a fuse panel to get your 48V supply running, and with a smart fuse panel, you could remotely control devices too. This setup really helps in keeping everything stable, especially through those dirty power issues you mentioned.
Yep, we’re dealing with commercial power—lots of under and over voltage problems due to motors nearby. We also regularly face issues with lightning strikes at our sites.
Consider reaching out to George KJ6VU from the Ham Radio Workbench podcast. He’s got a lot of experience managing power for remote repeater systems, which deal with similar challenges like outages and high reliability requirements. His company might have some insights that could really help you out!
Exactly! This approach of converting grid AC to 48V DC is what the telecom industry has been doing for ages.