At Redback racks, we liked to keep everything simple! When assisting our customers to select a rack, we ask these 3 questions:

1. Height in RU
2. Wall mount or floor standing?
3. Depth?

These handy mouse pads are part of our promotional gear to assist customers.

Height in RU?

Server rack height is measured in rack units (RU), 1RU = 44.45mm.

Most racking equipment is also measured in RU, for example 1 x patch panel = 1 RU.

Add your equipment together to establish the RU of your rack.

If it is a large rack and a lot of heat generating equipment, you may want to add 1-2RU extra to allow for ventilation throughout the cabinet.

Wall mount or floor standing?

At Redback Racks our wall mount racks come in 6, 9, 12 and 18RU, floor standing come in 18,27 and 42RU.

Depth

Depth of most cabinets and equipment is measured in mm, standard depths of our cabinets are 450 and 600mm for the wall mount units and 600, 800mm & 1000mm in the floor standing units.

When selecting depth of your rack, be sure to look at the specs of your equipment to ensure it will fit.

Width

Adding on from the questions above, all server racks are usually 19” internally and most equipment is compatible with this, 19” = 482.6mm

At Redback Racks we have the option of 600mm and 800mm externally and the internal width is standard 19″.

The difference between the 600 and 800mm wide is 100mm either side of the equipment to allow for cable management. These larger 800mm wide server racks are mostly used in larger cabinets, 42RU and above.

We hope this helped in selecting your cabinet size, if you have any other questions in please contact one of our friendly staff.

PSS Distributors has been selected for various NDIS locations to provide battery back up to critical equipment with their UPS systems, proudly supporting the national disability Insurance scheme.

The specification of the NDIS asks for backup on 2 circuits for a total of 2 hours. PSS has used their GP range across all sites, the GP range is best known for its reliability, it is specifically designed with a Galvanic Isolation Transformer for the Medical industry. It can handle high and varying loads as well as large inrush current. The specification has been checked before installation by engineers and the NDIS, it has passed every time.

PSS keeps stock of our GP range nationwide to assist in quick roll out times for these projects. If you have any questions, please contact us.

If you’d like to read about why we suggest you need a UPS for your CCTV system click here, if you’ve come from that article and you’d like to know which UPS system would be best for your CCTV system, we’ve got you… keep reading!!

We’re going to skip through all the technical lingo and get right down to the run times each UPS will provide your CCTV system.

We’ve made it easy for you by assuming the amount of camera’s, starting with the most common household setup, 4:

RUNTIME IN MINUTES

*All calculations are estimations only

*Calculations are based on standard cameras (10watts each) and NVR with 3T storage and a modem  (40watts).

*PTZ, temperature and Bullet or turret dome cameras have a higher load.

The Eco-range is our entry level product and could provide a long enough run time if a burglar were to turn the power off before attempting a break in.

If you’d like longer run times, we have a range designed for security cameras to achieve run times for up to 36 hours, you can read about our CamSecure range here.

For any other run times please visit or calculator or contact us and we will a happy to help.

Starting with the basics, what is an external manual Bypass?

An interlocking manual bypass is used to retain power to critical equipment during UPS downtime seamlessly.

In layman’s terms “Bypass” is to go around, in the context of a manual bypass used on UPS systems, the bypass allows the power to go around and isolate the UPS, which may be necessary in event of UPS downtime.

Below is a basic image demonstrating the use of an interlocking external manual bypass (if you’re require more technical info, please contact us)

In image 1 we see the UPS operating normally, image 2 demonstrates how the equipment would operate with the UPS in bypass, using an external Bypass.

What about the Bypass that is included with the UPS?

At PSS all of our online UPS come with an internal bypass :

1. The bypass is internal
2. The bypass is automatic

Australian standards state, for safety reasons, all manual bypasses need to be external to the UPS to isolate for service purposes.

Below are images showing the internal bypass.

1. Position of the internal bypass
2. The mimic clearly indicates if the UPS is Online or in bypass

So, what are the benefit of an external manual bypass over the internal bypass included with the UPS?

In Essence, not having an external manual bypass would be for the critical equipment to be switched of in the event of UPS downtime.

Corporations trust UPS systems on their most critical equipment, this is where the Interlocking external manual bypass allows seamless maintenance and repair on the UPS without any interruption to the critical equipment.

If you have any questions, please contact us 

INTRODUCING…

…Our latest and greatest product!!!

PSS has created a product to fill a gap in the market, a product we haven’t quite seen anything like before.

What are the benefits of our CamSecure:

1. Provides the highest level of protection CamSecure is an online unit, unlike most of it’s competitors which are line interactive (if that means nothing to you, you can read about line interactive vs online here).
2. We have done all the hard work for you. Take the guess work or math calculations out of determining which UPS to use and refer to all our pre-established run time charts.
3. CamSecure is specifically made for CCTV systems, meaning we can achieve run times of up to 36 hours.
4. Tying into the point above, in doing this we can keep the cost low

We’ll let the numbers do the talking about why our CamSecure is superior…

Did we mention how sleek she looks??

For all enquiries and pricing please contact us

* Runtimes are an estimation only

* NVR represents a standard NVR and modem with true power consumption on 40W

* 1x Camera represents a standard IR camera with a true power consumption of 10W

* PTZ Cameras and Temperature monitoring cameras would have a true power consumption of 30W (3x Cam)

PSS Distributors are proud to support Victoria Health in providing UPS systems for the current COVID-19 rollout.

Vic health have selected our Medi-X 5 to provide to support Medical refrigeration across various sites organised by the state government.

Our Medi-X 5 is an easy plug and play design, which assists the sites in a quick rollout. The unit comprises of a 2kva UPS, along with battery bank for extended run time. With this UPS the sites are seeing a back up time of up to 8.5hours.

Click here for further information on our Medi-X range 

Our IP range has been expanded by the inclusion of Australian made products. This was after realising the need to support and utilise local based companies whilst expanding our range to suit customers demands.

We saw benefits to us manufacturing these custom-built racks with the main being the very quick turnaround time.  Our local manufacturers standard production time is 1.5 weeks + shipping. Fortunately shipping time is minimal being Australia to Australia (1 week maximum), as opposed to overseas produced products having at least a 3 month wait. This then allowed us to offer customers stock quicker and faster.

All data racks are powder coated with marine grade aluminum and are designed and made in Australia. Other features that come standard on our CA rack cabinets are:

• Compatible with all 19” rack equipment
• Polyurethane gasket on front door for reliable seal
• Secure doors with 3-point locking system
• Wall / pole mounted or floor standing
• 2 x cable entry gland plates
• Provision for fans and air vents
• Adjustable 19 inch uprights
• IP 66 rated

Options for our CA range include:

• Fans
• Air vents
• Pole clamps
• Plinth (standard for 18RU and higher)
• Custom colours (examples of custom matte grey data rack below)

If you have any enquiries about a custom built rack please fill out this form and one of our friendly staff will get back to you.

There are two main UPS topologies, line interactive and online double conversion. We are going to explain these and assist you to select which one would be best for your application.

This information is broken down into two parts; the layman definition, written by myself (I have a marketing and sales, non-technical background) and a technical definition, which we will be explained by our technical manager.

Layman definition

Line-interactive, the load is always running off the mains power, when the power is cut there is a short change-over time to the batteries (approx. 6ms) Line-interactive the power always go through and AVR and Surge protection before the load, thus the power is still being “cleaned”.

Online, the load is always running off the batteries, so we always have a controlled frequency (50Hz) and AC output (230V AC). There is no change over time with online for it is already on the batteries.

Overall, short change over does not affect most equipment (CCTV, basic computer equipment) , however online UPS is preferred for more expensive and sensitive equipment like servers and medical scanners.

Below is a diagram to demonstrate the difference between how a line interactive UPS “cleans the power” vs and online UPS. Please note if you are after a more technical diagram we do have this below.

Technical definition

Line-Interactive, during normal operation the mains supply is fed via an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) to feed the load. The AVR regulates the mains supply voltage, boosting if low or bucking if high. The mains supply is used to charge the batteries. When the AC goes out of the specified range, the load is switched to the inverter that draws its power from the batteries.

Online double conversion, converts the power twice, so during normal operation the mains supply is converted from AC to DC, the DC is then converted to AC that feeds the load. When the mains supply goes out of a specified range, there is no switching, and the UPS simply draws its power from the batteries.

Topology Comparison

If you require any further assistance in selecting the correct UPS for your application, please contact one of our technicians 1300882447 or [email protected]

Recognising a gap in our range of accessories for the Redback Rack, we have introduced commercial air conditioners.  This is a refrigeration product created for specialised use in communication cabinets.

The AC units are useful in applications where the environments cabinet internal temperature is above recommended operational temperature for sensitive electronic equipment. Examples of applications our aircons have been used include:

• Rural UPS and battery cabinets
• Server cabinets
• Communication cabinets
• Mine sites

Below is an example of one of our Redback Racks in the Pilbara WA, fitted with a 600W Redback Aircon. This example shows the external temperature at 46 degrees and the equipment internally maintaining a consistent temperature of 21 degrees.

The AC units are available in a range of different sizes, from 500watts to 5000watts. The size aircon required will depend on the application, considering variables such as the size of the data rack, heat produced by the equipment that you are storing, does the rack have a sunshield and environmental factors. If you need help selecting an aircon please call or email one of our friendly technical team and we will be able to assist.

Other features and advantages of the aircons are:

• • • High reliability
    • High efficiency
    • Powerful cooling abilities
    • Adjustable perimeter settings
    • Emergency fan outputs
    • Self-inspection
    • Simple interface for better user experience

For more specifications, diagrams and information please review our PDF. (click here)

When selecting a data rack, once you know what size you need in terms of depth and RU, you have the option to mount your equipment horizontally or vertically.

Redback Racks have designed a series of specialty racks where you are able to mount your equipment vertically.

What are the advantages of mounting your equipment vertically?

Mounting your equipment vertically creates a smaller footprint, allowing the rack to fit into smaller more compact spaces.

Other features of our enclosed vertical racks VM.6904 and VM.6606 include:

• Solid door and secure key –providing greater security
• Cable entry (rear and top)
• Earth studs
• Cage nuts
• Space to mount fans for ventilation
• Holds up to 40kg

For more information on each of our vertical racks click the product code:

• VM.6904 – 4RU 800mm deep (vertical) and 2RU 150mm (horizontal mounting)
• VM.6606 – 6RU 450mm deep
• BRV – Vertical brackets that can hold 2RU, 3RU or 4RU

To ensure you are choosing the right partnership for your next UPS project – you want a company that has proven themselves time and again and one who has previous experience with similar jobs, superior technical expertise and can offer the after sales support that you require.

So, Why PSS Distributors…

PSS Distributors has manufactured our own units since 1994, We have over 100 000 units in the market at present in 2 continents. Our technical expertise to design and manufacture the more difficult solutions has held us in good stead for 25 years.

A few of our more recognisable sites include:

1. Toshiba CAT scans nation wide
2. Avis Car Hire (2 x 60KVA)
3. DHL (1 x 80KVA)
4. BOC gases (1x 80KVA)
5. Bunnings Warehouse (2000 x 600VA )
6. NSW health
7. Bosch
8. Abbott Labs

We have designed and manufactured security power supply systems and have become the largest security power supply distributor in Australia, which include:

1. Wall mount 4-24A in 12 and 24VDC
2. Wall mount 4-25A in 24VAC
3. Rack mount in DC and AC
4. Battery backed up units

With over 40 years experience in power, innovative engineers, we have achieved what other UPS companies have turned away from, for example:

1. Controlling a UPS to run on static switch to overcome large inrush currents and transferring back to inverter remotely when given the signal (CAT scans)
2. Designing UPS with sleep mode to operate weeks after a power failure when needed (roller shutter doors)
3. Manufacturing cost effective UPS systems with small inverters but large charges for very long battery back up (security cameras / telecommunications)
4. Arranging UPS systems that convert single phase to 3 phase (lathes, power tools in workshops etc)
5. Dedicated UPS systems to keep pumps on vaccine fridges running for hours.

“Well, how long is a piece of string?”

How long a battery will last for is the most frequently asked question by customers who are planning to purchase an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and there are many variables to consider.

The batteries we will be referring to is our standard sealed lead-acid UPS battery that comes with our UPS systems. 

Unlike the typical alkaline batteries, the life a UPS battery depends on impacting factors such as environmental conditions, maintenance, and the number of discharge cycles.

The standard life of a UPS battery is three to five years, this is referred as 5-year design life. The design life has been calculated in a controlled lab environment and doesn’t consider adjusting environmental factors. These factors that will affect the life of your battery include:

1. Room Temperature

Temperature can alter the performance of a UPS battery and can potentially shorten its expected life span. The optimum temperature to store and utilise a UPS battery  is 21°C – 25°C, moving out of this range will influence its batteries life span. The maximum temperature to store and operate a UPS battery in is 40°C.

One of the common causes of over temperature is inadequate ventilation around the UPS. If you are unable to store your UPS in a room with adequate ventilation, we recommend keeping the UPS in a data rack with fans.

2. Regular Maintenance

No matter how well-kept your batteries are, they still need to undergo proper maintenance. Neglecting maintenance may cause your UPS batteries to experience improper loading, heat-generating resistance at the terminals, loose connections, premature failure, and reduced protection. We have all our maintenance options available here.

3. Cycling

During a power outage the UPS will operate using its own battery power. Once mains power is restored to the UPS, the battery will then get recharged for future use. This process is called a discharge cycle. When the UPS was first installed, the battery’s rated capacity is at a hundred percent. However, each discharge cycle reduces the relative capacity of the battery by a small percentage.

4. Battery Chemistry

Unfortunately, UPS batteries are electrochemical devices and are not designed to last a lifetime. Even if your UPS batteries are well-maintained and meet the specific standards for proper storage, your batteries will eventually still run out of power.

5. Standard Shelf life

Keeping the above in mind it is always important to consider how long the UPS has been sitting on the shelf since being manufactured, as this would reduce how long the UPS is viable once being used by you. At PSS, we combat this issue by only keeping batteries in our fast-moving products, we source and supply batteries specific to the order on hand for all our larger UPS (3kva and above).

In summary, to get the maximum life span out of your sealed lead acid batteries, it is recommended to follow the above. If you’re currently planning to replace your UPS batteries with new ones, we can service and maintain a wide range of UPS.

https://pssdistributors.com.au/contact/

Why Do You Need An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) For Your CCTV Cameras

In the present day, numerous homes and businesses are investing in CCTV cameras for protection and security. As we may know, installing a CCTV camera is an excellent way to maintain the overall safety of a home or a business establishment’s perimeters. CCTV cameras are also beneficial when it comes to monitoring your premises when you’re away. 

UPS and CCTV Cameras

Since CCTV cameras need a constant supply of power to function efficiently, installing an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is an integral factor of a functioning CCTV system. A UPS can provide a consistent amount of power to the CCTV system, especially in the event of an unexpected power outage.

There are other benefits that UPS can provide for your security cameras, such as:

• Automatic Voltage regulator
• Surge protection
• Option to notify you if the power has been cut (added security)
• Continuous and uninterrupted monitoring

If you’re looking to install a UPS, PSS Distributors can take care of your UPS installation. We guarantee that no matter how small or big the installation is, we will provide each project with proper planning, professional technology, and relevant skills to ensure reliable power protection.

Click here for recommendations and run-times of UPS we recommend for you.

Discarded electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing waste products today due to the increasingly large usage of these products. This needs to be monitored responsibly and methods used such as effective collection, reuse and recycling. Each person using these products can also make the right and responsible decision for discarding their equipment.

Electronic equipment waste contains hazardous material which is harmful to the environment and human health and this waste is growing three times faster than general municipal waste.

Governments and organisations are working closer with such projects.

At PSS – we take discarding of our old electronic items and batteries very seriously and ensure our methods comply with safety standards.

We strip out units and recycle the parts. We also offer a service to our customers whereby we discard their old batteries for them.

Please call us on 130088447 for assistance or information.

Although most of the modern units test batteries periodically, if is always good to power the UPS every 6 months.

This is done by switching the power off to the UPS and monitoring DC voltage. Once the batteries reach 20% capacity, re-instating power. This cycles the battery, prolonging their service life.

If the batteries do not perform to specification, they should be replaced by a qualified service technician and old batteries disposed of correctly.

From research carried out by various UPS companies, it has been shown that the chance of UPS failure is nearly four times greater when the unit is not regularly checked and serviced.

PSS Maintenance contracts include two site visits per year where PSS technicians will check the condition of the UPS and advise if any issues. We will test batteries, run discharge tests to establish battery life, check operating parameters as well as perform any required adjustments.

Our all-inclusive service contracts are designed to offer 24 x 7 peace of mind protection for our customers; we will take ownership of all UPS related matters and deal with them promptly.

Very proud to announce PSS Distributors has been selected as a FINALIST in the Australian Small Business Champion Award 2018.