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Reserve Your Seat TodayWhen you manage telecom sites across multiple states or even nationwide, you know how important it is to get power distribution right. Equipment loads keep increasing, new technologies get added, and site expansions happen all the time.
That's why, when a major telecom VAR (value-added reseller) approached us with a challenge related to designing a power distribution unit (PDU), we jumped at the chance to collaborate.
Let me walk you through how DPS is working with our client to create a flexible and reliable custom PDU tailored to Tier-1 telecom needs. I'll also share how our engineering approach addresses battery monitoring, remote control, and long-term scalability.
This story is based on a recent project, so it's a good window into how we help solve real-world challenges.
Nowadays, telecom infrastructure is more complex than ever. This is especially true for sites with advanced technology deployments (like 5G). Traditional "one-size-fits-all" power solutions often can't keep up.
You might think a standard off-the-shelf PDU would do the trick. But in reality, these units rarely address all the demands at telecom sites. That's particularly true when you have to manage everything from battery strings and temperature sensors to equipment expansions down the road.
Insufficient PDUs are lacking in several areas:
Finding the right manufacturer is an important step in addressing power distribution challenges. With a manufacturer that understands every telecom site is different, you'll have a partner that approaches each project with flexibility in mind. Having a reliable partner allows you to plan for a new PDU design that hits your key targets.
Finding a solution where the engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing under one roof can be incredibly beneficial. Working under one roof means they can adapt quickly to your feedback and refine prototypes.
If you've ever worked with a one-size-fits-all vendor, you know how often you end up with "good enough" instead of "exactly what I need." With a partner that offers flexibility, you can find custom or semi-custom solutions - which is what a lot of Tier-1 carriers truly need.
When we sat down with the client, one of the first things we discussed was battery health. Finding a vendor or manufacturer that has a proven approach to battery monitoring benefits more than just the equipment at your sites. You'll also gain peace of mind knowing that your batteries are under dependable care. Reliability in measuring voltage, internal resistance, and temperature for multiple battery strings can be the difference between a normal day and a disaster.
The right manufacturer will understand that "scalability" means a lot more than just adding a breaker or two. Your PDU should support multiple configurations so users can add breakers when needed - perhaps going from 4 breakers to 12 or more.
Each breaker should be hot-swappable. That way, you won't need to overhaul the entire cabinet just to support a new piece of equipment.
It's not enough to have local LEDs showing breaker status. You want real-time data feeding into your existing network monitoring system. That's why flexibility of build options are so important.
This flexibility allows you to build SNMP and Modbus RTU options into the PDU. If you're already using a system like T/Mon or SolarWinds (or any other SNMP-based manager), you'll be able to see breaker status, voltage levels, current consumption, and environmental sensors in one place.
Whenever working with a manufacturer to design new hardware for your system, recommend that they talk to the field techs. Since they're the ones who have to deploy and maintain it, they'll likely have some good insights.
Your new equipment should come with clear labeling, a compact layout, and visual indicators to guide techs through any troubleshooting. You'll want them to spend as little time on-site as possible - so they can move on to their next task.
To make sure the PDU design remains relevant for years to come, our engineering team is baking in forward-looking features that will adapt as telecom networks evolve.
Telecom infrastructure isn't static. That's why we're emphasizing modularity. As your site expands to support new radios or advanced equipment, this PDU will scale with you. Breaker slots are intentionally designed to allow future additions without forcing a complete rework.
We're also adding compatibility for both traditional and modern battery technologies. This includes the kinds of setups often found at high-capacity tower sites. That means whether you're using older-style lead-acid batteries or shifting toward newer lithium-ion solutions, your PDU won't become obsolete.
Data from the PDU can feed into your broader IoT or network analytics framework. By watching trends in voltage, current, and breaker events, you can move toward predictive maintenance. This allows you to fix issues proactively rather than dealing with costly outages.
Pro Tip: If you're already leveraging analytics for other parts of your network (like HVAC monitoring or camera surveillance), the PDU's telemetry will be yet another rich data source to help you optimize site operations.
Custom hardware only makes sense if it offers a tangible return on investment. For Tier-1 carriers, that ROI typically comes from lower operating expenses, better uptime, and fewer headaches when rolling out future expansions.
Remote breaker control significantly cuts down on truck rolls. If a piece of equipment goes offline, you can cycle the power from your central NOC instead of sending a tech on a multi-hour drive. That convenience alone can justify a PDU upgrade for many carriers, especially if you have hundreds or thousands of sites.
Intelligent power management is another big plus. If certain radios aren't in use during off-peak hours, you can power them down. That means lower electricity bills and less wear on your gear. Over time, these incremental energy savings really pile up - especially across multiple locations.
Nobody wants to hear about service interruptions. Customers and regulators expect uninterrupted connectivity. By providing dependable monitoring for every breaker, the PDU can alert you to issues - like a tripped breaker or an impending battery failure - before it becomes a major event. More proactive data means fewer unexpected outages as well as faster recovery times.
Field technicians love a straightforward deployment. Our design team pays close attention to labeling, enclosure layout, and mounting options. This attention to detail cuts install time and reduces the chance of wiring mistakes. As a result, you spend less on labor, and your site upgrades go more smoothly.
Bringing all these ideas together, the "dream" PDU for telecom applications has a few defining characteristics:
After our in-depth discussion, we worked out a general plan for what comes next:
Having this kind of collaborative and iterative process is essential. When you're dealing with Tier-1 infrastructure, you can't leave anything to chance. Each revision must prove itself ready for harsh environments and heavy usage.
Fun Fact: DPS started with alarm monitoring solutions in the early '90s and expanded to PDUs and advanced RTUs over the years. That long history means you're tapping into a deep well of experience every time you call us.
If you're running a telecom network (or supporting one) and you're worried about how to handle power distribution and battery monitoring, let's talk. You might find that an off-the-shelf product does 80% of what you need, but that last 20% really matters. We can help close that gap.
We'll discuss your specific challenges and figure out how to keep your sites powered up, remotely managed, and future-ready. Whether you need a brand-new PDU solution, advanced monitoring for an existing setup, or a bit of both, DPS is here to help you succeed.
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 18 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
