A modern audiovisual (AV) system relies on power being distributed to multiple devices. Narender Vasandani, RCDD, technical manager India, Middle East & Africa at Siemon, explains why maximizing the potential of today’s AV technology relies upon the use of intelligent power distribution units (iPDUs).

Gone are the days when an AV system comprised nothing more than a microphone and a projector. As buildings have become more intelligent, AV systems that operate over a Ethernet based network infrastructure are now considered the norm. Wireless microphones, projectors that connect wirelessly to computers or smartphones, smartboards, digital signage, video walls and smart screens with touch based interaction are all part of the picture.

Power packed

As well as enabling building occupants to work smarter, organizations are also realizing that there are other benefits to having a cutting edge AV system. It can provide updated corporate information, negate the need to travel to meetings, highlight good health and safety practices, reinforce company messaging and be used to carry out training.

Given the integral role it plays in an intelligent building, AV system equipment must have a stable power supply. In the past a basic power strip was often used to split a power supply to multiple AV devices. However, these are not designed for continuous use under load and, as AV equipment has become more sophisticated, power distribution units (PDUs) that are specifically engineered and certified for use in high performance installations are vital.

Smart thinking

Although basic and metered PDUs offer significant advantages over a standard power strip by providing a robust yet economical means to distribute power to AV equipment, iPDUs go a whole lot further. Switched, monitored and managed iPDUs are ideal for reducing energy costs, managing and optimizing power capacity, and identifying potential operational problems.

The upsurge in demand for intelligent products within buildings means that the iPDU market is expected to be worth $5.58bn by 2025 – up from $1.25bn in 2017. Although the technology with these devices is impressive, the main reason why the sector is seeing such incredible growth is down to the wider advantages that iPDUs offer.

In addition to supplying a reliable source of power, iPDUs such as those in Siemon’s PowerMax range provide real time current, voltage, and power consumption information for valuable troubleshooting, control and monitoring of power usage & capacity as well as provide real-time monitoring of environmental conditions at the cabinet level via sensor ports using temperature, humidity and other sensors. Organizations can remotely monitor and control power, as well as capacity and environmental conditions, via an internet browser that displays data from all monitoring points via easy to understand charts, tables and graphs. These platforms can also be configured to send alerts via email or SMS when current or environmental sensor data, which could cause a power outage, falls outside of user defined limits.

Remote control

iPDUs save time, money and effort. For example, when a device becomes unresponsive, often the only viable solution is a manual hard reboot, where someone unplugs it and then plugs it back in. Not only is this disruptive, during the coronavirus pandemic this type of action has become logistically problematic.

Manual reboots also translate to longer periods of downtime, which impacts revenues, reputation and overall productivity. Therefore, the ability to perform a remote hard reboot through an iPDU offers an instant fix, providing a fast and effective way to get AV equipment back online. Recovering from a downtime incident involves more than just simply restarting equipment though – the process must be carried out in a way that doesn’t damage sensitive AV devices. iPDUs allow AV equipment to be powered-on sequentially to avoid an in-rush current event that can overload devices. Just as importantly, the ability to remotely lock-out individual outlets prevent unauthorized equipment from overloading iPDUs or circuits.

Efficiency drive

Organizations across the world are under increasing pressure to make their operations more energy efficient, and one of the less obvious benefits of iPDUs is their ability to help companies meet their sustainability based obligations. Failing to switch off high energy consuming AV equipment when not in use is expensive. Using iPDUs with remote monitoring means devices that have been left on are able to be switched off when people have vacated a building, while power sequencing can be initiated to turn off all devices at once.

Conversely, iPDUs can schedule power to switch on AV equipment so that it is active when people begin their working days. Furthermore, the ability to monitor the power usage of individual connected devices lowers operational expenditure by identifying when they are not being used and enabling appropriate action to be taken.

Due to a special outlet control feature, iPDUs such as switched or managed PDUs can restart or shut down individual pieces of equipment remotely, for example when equipment isn’t running critical services 24/7. Rather than having the equipment idle or on standby, a PDU with outlet level switching can switch off power to the device and restore power when it is needed. This can be an automatic process that is set by a predefined schedule.

Delivering the goods

To get the very best results from an Ethernet based AV system, it is advisable to specify components that are designed for performance and durability, and work with a manufacturer that has expertise in this area. Complementing its PowerMax range of iPDUs, the Siemon’s Z-MAX shielded Category 6A cabling and Z-PLUG field terminated solution are proven to meet the needs of HDBaseT AV applications – creating perfect sound and vision.

iPDU market is expected to be worth $5.58bn by 2025