Rows of modern switchgear in a spacious switch room

If the grid fails, your data centre keeps running.

Redundant power chains with UPS and standby generator – designed for N+1 or 2N.

Range of services

Power supply, UPS & backup power

A data centre’s power chain has five stages: grid connection, standby generator, UPS, distribution and rack PDU. When one stage fails, it becomes clear how well the next one has been designed. We build the entire chain and test it as a whole, not device by device.

The UPS bridges seconds to minutes – until the grid returns or the standby generator takes over. We size its battery system on the basis of the power budget and the runtime you specify. Later, the capacity test shows how much reserve the batteries have left.

Electrical inspection with an installation tester in front of a protected distribution board

The standby generator covers longer outages. Generator, fuel storage, transfer switching and controls belong together; the transfer is the point at which an outage becomes real. That is why we test it in the load test and record the sequence.

We set the level of redundancy for each stage. N+1 keeps one redundant unit on standby so that maintenance is possible without a shutdown. 2N runs two separate paths from the incoming supply to the rack PDU – two feeds per rack, dedicated circuit protection for each path.

Scope of services

Full scope of services: from load analysis to the test run.

  • Load analysis per rack row
  • N+1 or 2N redundancy concept
  • UPS systems
  • Battery system and capacity test
  • Standby generator and fuel storage
  • Transfer switching and controls
  • Distribution to the rack PDU
  • Current measurement per outgoing circuit
  • Load test with transfer test
  • Maintenance and test run
Services
Load analysis, redundancy concept, UPS and battery systems, standby generator with transfer switching, distribution to the rack PDU, load test, maintenance
Clients
Data centre operators, IT managers, developers and electrical design engineers on new builds
Records
Load test report including transfer test, battery capacity test, acceptance report, system documentation, maintenance plan
Design
N+1 or 2N per stage; availability targets up to Tier IV – design, not a certification
Typical applications
New-build data halls, server rooms in office buildings, replacement of UPS and distribution in existing facilities

N+1, 2N and the load test

N
As much power as the load demands. Maintenance on one unit requires a shutdown.
N+1
One redundant unit above the load: neither maintenance nor the failure of one unit leads to a shutdown.
2N
Two separate paths from the incoming supply to the rack PDU, two feeds per rack.
Load test
Testing the chain under load, with transfer to the standby generator and the sequence recorded.
Capacity test
Shows how much runtime the battery system still delivers – the basis for timing its replacement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a UPS and a standby generator?

The UPS bridges interruptions of seconds to minutes. In a prolonged outage, the standby generator, usually diesel-powered, takes over. Together, they ensure a continuous supply.

Talk to the team that builds your network.

Electrical engineering, data centres, fibre, IT and security – across Switzerland, under one roof.

One project manager per contract. A 24/7 service number for installations with a service contract.