How Schleifenbauer’s NZVS Technology Protects Your Power Infrastructure. As data centres become more power-dense and sensitive to even the slightest disturbances, controlling how and when power is delivered is just as important as how much is delivered. This is where Schleifenbauer’s Near-Zero Voltage Switching (NZVS) makes a crucial difference — particularly in our Switched and Managed PDU models.
The Hidden Risk: Inrush Currents and Relay Damage
Most IT equipment today includes switch-mode power supplies with large capacitors and EMC filters. These components can cause inrush currents — extremely brief but intense current spikes — during switch-on. In one test from our whitepaper, a simple 65W laptop adapter created a shocking 150 A peak when switched on at the top of the AC sine wave. That’s over 450 times higher than its steady-state operating current.
Such spikes can:
Schleifenbauer’s Solution: NZVS, Bi-Stable Relays and Switching Delay
Schleifenbauer Switched and Managed PDUs are designed to neutralise inrush risks by combining three key technologies:
1. Near-Zero Voltage Switching (NZVS)
Our PDU firmware actively monitors the AC waveform and switches outlets precisely when the voltage crosses zero. This drastically reduces the inrush current — in the same 65W adapter test, switching at the zero point reduced the peak from 150 A down to just 35 A, with no distortion or oscillation.
2. Bi-Stable Relays
Unlike traditional relays that consume power continuously, bi-stable relays only use energy during switching. They also generate significantly less heat and mechanical wear. This means:
3. Outlet Switching Delay
Schleifenbauer PDUs allow for programmable switching delays between outlets. This ensures:
Why It Matters in Today’s Data Centres
Failing to manage inrush currents effectively can result in:
By integrating NZVS, Schleifenbauer prevents these issues before they occur — making remote switching not just convenient, but safe and reliable.
Summary: A Smarter, Safer PDU
With Schleifenbauer’s Switched and Managed PDU’s, you get:
In a world where uptime is everything, don’t let inrush currents compromise your rack.
Choose Schleifenbauer – engineered for control, built for resilience.
Want to learn more or test it yourself? Email sales@schleifenbauer.eu or call +31 73 523 0256.
Download the Whitepaper
Schleifenbauer introduces groundbreaking packaging-free PDUs, designed for direct installation in server racks without unnecessary packaging. This solution is ideal for data centres aiming for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
Why retrofit instead of replace? Data centres are designed to last for years, but technological and regulatory demands change rapidly. Many legacy PDUs lack the advanced metering capabilities that are now essential for efficiency, sustainability and high-density workloads such as AI and HPC. • Replacing PDUs means downtime, complex logistics and high costs. • Retrofitting […]
Request a Quote