Rack power budgeting and breaker math

Skills you'll practise

• Calculate planning limits and failover load for A/B-fed racks from measured readings
• Convert between amps, VA, watts and BTU/h for single- and three-phase circuits
• Read UPS kVA and kW ratings and three-phase PDU phase currents and spot overloads
• Write a capacity recommendation that states the numbers, the rule applied and the alternatives

Course outline

1. 1.Rack power budgeting and breaker mathVideo · 2 min
2. 2.From amps to a power budgetLesson · 15 min
3. 3.VA, watts, three-phase and heatLesson · 15 min
4. 4.Stranded capacity and growth reportsLesson · 14 min
5. 5.Rack power budgeting and breaker math: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 34 questions
6. 6.Rack power budgeting and breaker math: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
7. 7.Two GPU servers for a rack that's nearly fullScenario
8. 8.Final exam8 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• NFPA 70 (US National Electrical Code): continuous loads on branch circuits (80% planning practice)
• IEC 60320-1: Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes
• Your equipment vendors' installation and service guides (rail kits, PSU and BMC documentation)
• General data-center operations practice