electrobuzz
Member
- Location
- Portland, OR
Is there anything in the code that will not allow transformers to be inside a conditioned I.T. room?
Thanks
Thanks
Transformers in IT room
- Thread starter electrobuzz
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
It is not in the NEC. But I am told that the BICSI rules forbid it. It would interfere with the operation of the IT equipment. If you have an electrical room immediately adjacent to an IT room, you should not put transformers on the wall that separates the two rooms.
ASG
Senior Member
- Location
- Work in NYC
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer, PE
How is that possible? Transformers are often built into PDU/UPS's in IT rooms.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
What are we discussing here? I thought the question was related to something along the lines of a 480-120/208 volt transformer that would be used to power the panel in the IT room serving IT loads. My RCDD cubicle neighbor is the one who told me that BISCI standards would not allow it. He was on his way out the door, so I didn't ask him to show me the chapter and verse. The transformer inside a PDU would be much smaller and less likely to cause interference with IT loads.
electrobuzz
Member
- Location
- Portland, OR
This is for a 150kva 480v-120/208V transformer.
texie
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Occupation
- Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
If given the choice, why would you want to add all those BTU's to the cooling load of the room?
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
PDU's come in many different sizes, for example from 15-750 kVA (standard product from PDI). We often put them close to the IT equipment to establish a SDS close to the load.
It isn't as important now as it was in the past, but deriving the neutral close to the load is the reason you'll find them next to IT equipment in many data centers.
It isn't as important now as it was in the past, but deriving the neutral close to the load is the reason you'll find them next to IT equipment in many data centers.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Me thinks something was lost in your discussion.
Standard 'run of the mill' 480-208Y/120 transformers up to 225kVA are installed in PDU's in the IT room by the thousands.
Radiated 'noise' distortion is not an issue.
There is an issue with heat generation, so we are starting to see some rooms designed for 400Y/240 fed from an 'external' transformer.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
That is my first response as well.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Voltage drop and circuit routing.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Conductors can be sized larger for voltage drop. Additional heat is additional load on cooling system either way.
Sometimes we have strategically placed a transformer to take advantage of the heat it produces.
Have located an air compressor in a small room with a transformer more than once in an otherwise unheated building to help keep the oil in the compressor warm so it performs well when outside temp is cold. No additional heater needed the transformer keeps it warm enough.
ASG
Senior Member
- Location
- Work in NYC
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer, PE
Because it is typically the one room in a space that has space for a transformer. It is also usually a transformer dedicated for the IT space so it is somewhat logical to be there.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Most PDU's have at least 42 circuits, 84 is not uncommon and I have worked on some pushing 100+. One medium size IT room can have more than 10 PDU's in it. Upsizing the 208Y/120 circuits could easily be more prohibitive (in cost and space) than the additional cooling.
Getting rid of the heat, expense, and space required by PDU's is one reason for the interest in the 400Y/240 systems.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
That does not answer the question of why add to the cooling load.
Why is this any different from a hazardous location or a corrosive environment and maybe placing some equipment in a room or area that is outside the environment for other logical reasons cost, performance, operating cost ...
- Location
- Massachusetts
In the IT room or not it adds cooling load to the building, either way the cooling load must be accounted for.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Why do you think an IT room is special?
We install transformers, panelboards, UPS units, switchgear, ATS etc in IT rooms.
As with everything it is a trade off, take up space in the IT room or keep the runs short.
Add heat to the IT room or have to walk down the hall to flip breakers.
It is all just a design decision.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
It also adds heat to an area that maybe could use heat during non cooling season. The IT room likely doesn't need much if any heat.
It is only special as far as IT equipment is concerned. Otherwise it is just a room.
It is a design decision and there are trade offs just like any other rooms.
It also does not necessarily need to be in the room to keep runs short. Just outside the room is still shorter than at the source that may be 20, 50, or several hundred feet away.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
Because when you have a room 200'x400' 480 distribution is more practical, especially when you have dual fed Static Switch PDU's
- Location
- Massachusetts
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