Apr 25, 2008 01:19 pm
Help designing system for internet servers
Good afternoon,
I'm looking for a little help sizing a system. We've just moved our Internet servers into a new location, where we have full control. I would like to make this a green site.
Everything runs at 110VAC. For the servers themselves, they are run through a device, where we can see the amp load of each device.
Last night, with 9 devices up, we were pulling 7A.
With our large network switch and my laptop on, we were pulling 10A.
Immediately, we're looking to run approximately 10A of servers, and 10A of air conditioning. As we grow, this will obviously grow also. It will peak a bit higher than that momentary when the A/C unit kicks on. The servers don't have a substantial peak unless they're all restarted at the same time.
I have an RV project that I'm working on too, and it requires two 8D truck batteries. Those are about 250Ah at 12vdc. They're rated at somewhere between 1100A and 1400A at 12V for starting the vehicle. I have a local vendor who sells these "used" batteries fairly cheap. They're reconditioned, and work fine. I would be happy using these batteries, even if they should only have a functional life of a few years.
A have a source for a used 11Kw LPG generator. It's a good name brand, but I'll check it over carefully before purchase.
I'm looking for what the requirements would be to run at at least 20A constantly, with enough battery time for at least a couple days, and the generator to help out if the solar cannot keep up.
Our average sun is 5.67 hours/day. We are in a hurricane prone area, which is why we want to have a couple days of reserve battery, and the generator. Sometimes it stays fairly dark for a few days through a big storm.
In time, we want to size it to run the building, which is a consideration too. I don't have accurate information on the total consumption for the building, but consider it like a 2500sq/ft house.