3 ms·
It is not the voltage it is the high number of amps that DC systems have. While you could get fried from a single rack server's failing power supply, it is lik
by patrickg_zill 11y ago
It is not the voltage it is the high number of amps that DC systems have.
While you could get fried from a single rack server's failing power supply, it is likely that it will die of some other cause before zapping you if you take simple precautions.
DC on the other hand, puts "the forces of nature" up close and personal to the back of the rack.
A wrong move will vaporize the thickest of metal screwdrivers and can easily do irreparable damage to a human.
Something as simple as not removing your wedding ring can result in an inadvertent bridge between + and - ; after which, bad things happen.
- DiabloD3 11y agoCorrect, 48VDC exchanges volts for amps. Basic electrical theory states volts * amps = watts. We measure computer power usage in watts for a reason. 48VDC isn't sufficient to vaporize a metal screwdriver at the amperages used in most 48V datacenters, however, I know people who work with higher voltages than that, and they own expensive ceramic tools just for safety reasons. If I personally ran 48VDC, and my workers requested ceramic tools, I would not hesitate to expense those. And yes, if you're working around DC >12v, you should be seriously using every method available to make sure you don't become a conductor, including only using one hand at a time to touch power relays (to avoid having your heart stopped).