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I'm in a bit of a pickle... We're moving a client's infrastructure to a colocation facility. We have redundant 208v/30amp PDUs.

While installing today, we realized that the client had a small collection of devices (fax modems, etc) that must have a 110v source.

We need to get power to these devices this weekend, and the data center won't be able to provide a separate 110v PDU until next week at the earliest.

Is the a way to build a stepdown converter we could temporarily use? Is there something else (maybe a UPS?), a special adapter, that would do the job?

dawud
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LinuxGnut
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  • Oh man. Answer: yes. SOMEONE, I am sure, has something like that. No product or service recommendations, sorry. – TomTom Feb 22 '14 at 07:29
  • so how is the client powering these things now? Can whatever they're doing also be relocated to the colo facility, at least on a temporary basis, or are they doing something that would make a competent electrician wrap themselves in insulation then cry themselves to sleep? – Rob Moir Feb 22 '14 at 08:13
  • Grab a used UPS (there are websites for that kind of local demand...) that takes 208v input, or go to a local decent electrical supplier and pay through the teeth. Either is easily do-able in a weekend. – quadruplebucky Feb 22 '14 at 09:33

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You don't actually need a stepdown converter if what you have is 208V three phase power. Each phase has a potential of 120v (note that you want 120v, not 110v. Common mistake) to neutral. What you would use is something like this, which splits the phases for you. Some UPSs would do this too. I don't know of any place that would have this for the weekend. You might be able to find an adapter like this. If you are really desperate, you can make a 120V plug yourself. You just have to take one of the three phase wires, the neutral, and the ground and connect it to a 120v NEMA-5 receptacle, found at any hardware store. Of course, without experience, this could be dangerous, but with proper fear and care, it's doable.

Additional thoughts: If the colo has an electrician on staff, he/she may be willing to rig something. Probably not. If I had a neckbeard or a COBOL programmer on staff he'd be my goto on this.

Edwin
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