Power is the lifeblood of every data center, to ensure uninterrupted mission critical service 24/7. With all the elements of the electrical infrastructure, including power distribution units (PDU), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and generators, it may be easy to overlook a workhorse of the data center: the power cords that make the final connection between the power supply and the valuable IT equipment.
As server density increases and data centers are pressured to provide more compute power in the same, or smaller, space due to the always-on nature of our digital lives, power needs for each rack are growing. According to AFCOM, 62% of data centers report their rack density has increased over the past three years, with 25% reporting an average rack density of 7-10kW (up from an average density of about 5kW per rack in 2018). A with a single rack of equipment requiring 50 or more power cords and each additional cord taking up more space in the available cable pathways, facilities are running out of room.