3 ms·

Ethernet-powered LED lighting :D

by lrcg 15y ago

oasisbob 15y ago
I found that interesting too, thought it was a joke at first. The only details I was able to dig up are in the Data Center specs [1], and they're pretty brief: > Energy-efficient LED lighting is used throughout the data center interior. / Innovative power over Ethernet LED lighting system. / Each fixture has an occupancy sensor with manual override. / Programmable alerts via flashing LEDs. I wondered what the justification for PoE lighting could possibly be, sounds like all the lighting is also functional as instrumentation. Anyone know more? [1] http://opencompute.org/specs/Open_Compute_Project_Data_Center_v1.0.pdf http://opencompute.org/specs/Open_Compute_Project_Data_Cente...
- chopsueyar 15y ago
  A couple of guesses. They probably have a lot more cat5/cat6 around than 3-conductor 12 gauge copper wire (not sure if it is cheaper by the foot). Also, the network switches can output the PoE, so maybe it is easier to wire into/from the racks or overhead than a seperate AC line with conduit. Labor installation and material costs may be less. Also, since it is DC, and not an AC lighting source, interference may be less (just a guess). And as you mentioned, the lighting as instrumentation.
  - bhousel 15y ago
    All true. Right now 14/3 Romex costs about 3x more than Cat5. Copper is expensive! LED lamps use DC power. The LED lamps that you can buy that screw into a standard Edison socket contain electronics to convert the AC line voltage into DC. This is inefficient -- generates heat and wastes power (though still not nearly as much as a traditional incandescent bulb). By using power over Ethernet for their lighting, the datacenter can use cheaper, cooler, more efficient bulbs, and save a lot of money on the wiring too. I can definitely foresee a future where new construction includes wiring for both line voltage AC and also low voltage DC. It could eliminate all the bulky transformers scattered around a typical house and save energy and money.
LoneCoder 15y ago
Looking at the specs for the lighting, it seems like they can pull about 2kw over two ethernet lines. I had no idea you could run that much wattage over cat6! Must take a special router to support that.

Ethernet-powered LED lighting :D

by lrcg 15y ago

Ethernet-powered LED lighting :D

I found that interesting too, thought it was a joke at first. The only details I was able to dig up are in the Data Center specs [1], and they're pretty brief: > Energy-efficient LED lighting is used throughout the data center interior. / Innovative power over Ethernet LED lighting system. / Each fixture has an occupancy sensor with manual override. / Programmable alerts via flashing LEDs. I wondered what the justification for PoE lighting could possibly be, sounds like all the lighting is also functional as instrumentation. Anyone know more? [1] http://opencompute.org/specs/Open_Compute_Project_Data_Center_v1.0.pdf http://opencompute.org/specs/Open_Compute_Project_Data_Cente...

chopsueyar 15y ago
A couple of guesses. They probably have a lot more cat5/cat6 around than 3-conductor 12 gauge copper wire (not sure if it is cheaper by the foot). Also, the network switches can output the PoE, so maybe it is easier to wire into/from the racks or overhead than a seperate AC line with conduit. Labor installation and material costs may be less. Also, since it is DC, and not an AC lighting source, interference may be less (just a guess). And as you mentioned, the lighting as instrumentation.
- bhousel 15y ago
  All true. Right now 14/3 Romex costs about 3x more than Cat5. Copper is expensive! LED lamps use DC power. The LED lamps that you can buy that screw into a standard Edison socket contain electronics to convert the AC line voltage into DC. This is inefficient -- generates heat and wastes power (though still not nearly as much as a traditional incandescent bulb). By using power over Ethernet for their lighting, the datacenter can use cheaper, cooler, more efficient bulbs, and save a lot of money on the wiring too. I can definitely foresee a future where new construction includes wiring for both line voltage AC and also low voltage DC. It could eliminate all the bulky transformers scattered around a typical house and save energy and money.

LoneCoder 15y ago

Looking at the specs for the lighting, it seems like they can pull about 2kw over two ethernet lines. I had no idea you could run that much wattage over cat6! Must take a special router to support that.