It just works!
This is a site where we have mains 240V power, however a few years ago decided that we needed to convert some sites to DC to ensure that they ran for many hours/days during mains power outages.
We're running a 24V DC system at this location with about 120AH, so the efficiency is working >90%, however the WS-12-250-DC is designed to operate between 9V and 60V, with the sweet spot around 24-48V.
This site had a UBNT Toughswitch 5-port whose power input had been hacked onto our batteries via some voltage regulators.
Expensive and time consuming to "hack" on to DC.
With the Netonix WS-12-250-DC, we just connect the DC terminals onto the batteries. No hacking. Simples.
We were keen to replace this UBNT TS because the uplink to it was 1 Gb and the Rocket radios were 100 M!
1 Gb to 100 Mb issues UBNT TS!!
Although this was causing 20 Mb down, 70 Mb issues for customers connecting downstream, latterly, it sorted itself out, so replacing for a Netonix would just provide reassurance.
Not a great deal is happening at this site yet, we're powering 2 x UBNT Rocket M5s base stations, we are connecting to a Site Monitor which is practically redundant now we can monitor the DC voltage from the switch Web GUI and SNMP (that will save a few £100), and a 1 Gb SFM media converter provides the uplink.
However in the next few weeks we are connecting a load of FTTP customers onto the switch so will need the ports.
As the switch only has 2 x SFP ports, we will have to use some media converters (hacked onto DC (expensive and messy), but will use the SFP for the uplink upstream to our Edgeswitch which then routes onto a Mikrotik 1100.
(We will try and replace the UBNT ES for a WS-24-400A in due course).
So in conclusion, it just works:
- No hacking things to work on DC saves time and money.
- Shows live power usage stats in Web GUI and SNMP
- Shows live DC power voltage in web GUI and SNMP sames money on purchasing things like a Site Monitor and time configuring it
- Shows efficiency of DC conversion so you can decide whether you need to change those 12V sites to 24V!
- Just works like the AC versions so no reeducation
- There's the ability to shut down PoE ports based on input voltage ensuring that the batteries last the time during really long power cuts
We are installing 1 x WS-12-250-DC later today on a 12 V battery system that will be slightly more complex (powering a UBNT Rocket AC Backhaul) as well as some Base Stations, FTTH, LACP to a local Mikrotik, and powering the Mikrotik too!
We are also installing a WS-8-250-DC on a 12 V system. Powering 2 x UBNT Rocket M5s, and an 1 Gb SMF media converter uplink. A shame the 8-port does not have SFPs.
Will make another post later.
Some screen shots of the first installed WS-12-250-DC
- WS-12-250-DC Status Tab
- WS-12-250-DC Status Tab.png (122.06 KiB) Viewed 12710 times
- WS-12-250-DC Port Tab
- WS-12-250-DC Port Tab.png (142.31 KiB) Viewed 12710 times
- WS-12-250-DC Power Tab
- WS-12-250-DC Power Tab.png (98.63 KiB) Viewed 12710 times
- WS-12-250-DC Device Tab
- WS-12-250-DC Device Tab.png (119.67 KiB) Viewed 12710 times
