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Paying and Paying and Paying for a Generator

Members of the ISP-Tech list say that there are a blizzard of additional costs to consider when you buy a gas or diesel generator for your data center, but if a real blizzard or ice storm hits, it can all be worth the price and the pain.

[December 26, 2002]

On the ISP-Tech list in December, DG asked for advice:

"After seven years of playing the odds and relying on a portable generator for emergency power outages, we are planning on installing a natural gas power generator with an automatic transfer switch at our main POP.

I've picked the generator and the contractors, and find myself a little surprised at how inexpensive this project is. Am I missing something? It looks to me that a lot of Datacenters have both oversized and over spent on huge backup power systems. My data center is not huge, but it isn't small either. I have 25+ servers, four 3Com total control racks crammed full of modems, three DS3 multiplexors, 6 large routers, etc. The fiber equipment is all powered by the phone company and they handle the backup for it.

What motivates the IT buyers to buy such big systems? Ego, ignorance, other? Or is it my ignorance and I'm under sizing?

Thanks for your enlightened opinions."

HS seconded the query:

"Hey, I've also looked at a natural gas power generator from time to time. I'd be interested in learning more about prices."

[DG replied] "This is the one I'm looking at. I got four quotes for different electrical contractors that ranged from $3,900 to $8,500. Fortunately the one preferred by the building manager had the best price. That is probably because they already are familiar with the building. They will handle the crane and the roof penetration. They also have to convert my panal from 3 phase to single phase. The plumber is another $1000.

That doesn't look to bad to me."

[DO warned] "Please don't forget you'll need a central UPS unit (possibly a Liebert) to clean the power running from your generator into your data center otherwise you'll fry many hard drives, yo."

[BR asked] "Why so big? Perhaps impressing people on a tour, and also eliminating he hassle and expense of refueling trips. I'm talking about diesel generators."

MT suggested it was about boomtime money:

"Many of these generator purchases were done in the roaring 90's when co-location was in high demand. I believe it was, as it is now, just simple economics.

I think it was mostly marketing driven. If you think of it from a sales persons perspective, saying you have 'N+1 power redundancy with super huge diesel generators' is certainly more appealing than 'we have a sweet power strip with six outlets!'"

[JM noted] "Yours is a very small datacenter. I'm not sure how you can use your experience to come to the conclusion that anyone's overbuilt their power generation systems. That's not to say they haven't—certainly many companies anticipated growth that never materialized."

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