​​Hardware Architecture and Design Philosophy​​

The ​​Cisco NCS2015-SA-DC=​​ is a standalone DC power shelf engineered for the ​​Cisco NCS 2015​​ optical transport platform, a system designed for high-density metro and long-haul DWDM networks. As detailed in Cisco’s NCS 2000 Series Power System Guide, this unit provides ​​-48V DC input​​ with ​​N+1 redundancy​​, delivering up to ​​6,000W​​ of continuous power to support mission-critical optical line cards and amplifiers.

Key hardware innovations include:

• ​​Hot-Swappable DC/DC Converters​​: Each converter module outputs 1,500W, enabling incremental capacity scaling.
• ​​Universal Input Range​​: Operates at ​​-40V to -72V DC​​, compatible with global telco DC power plants.
• ​​Dual-Busbar Design​​: Reduces resistance losses by 18% compared to traditional cabling, as validated in Cisco’s Power Efficiency Lab Report.

The shelf’s ​​front-to-back airflow​​ aligns with modern data center cooling strategies, while its ​​NEBS Level 3 certification​​ ensures resilience in harsh environments.

​​Performance Metrics and Efficiency​​

​​Electrical Characteristics​​

• ​​Input Current​​: 125A max at -48V DC.
• ​​Output Voltage​​: 54V DC (±1% tolerance) with active current sharing.
• ​​Hold-up Time​​: 15 ms at full load, bridging grid outages until backup generators engage.

​​Energy Efficiency​​

• ​​95% Efficiency​​ at 50% load, exceeding ​​80 PLUS Titanium​​ benchmarks.
• ​​Power Factor Correction (PFC)​​: >0.99 across the entire load range.

​​Environmental Tolerance​​

• ​​Operating Temperature​​: -40°C to 65°C (derated above 55°C).
• ​​Relative Humidity​​: 5–95% non-condensing.

​​Software Integration and Manageability​​

While primarily a power delivery system, the NCS2015-SA-DC= integrates with Cisco’s ​​Crosswork Network Controller​​ through the NCS 2015 chassis’ control plane:

• ​​Real-Time Telemetry​​: Monitors input voltage, output current, and PSU health via SNMPv3 or gRPC.
• ​​Predictive Failure Analytics​​: Uses ML models to forecast DC converter degradation 72 hours in advance.
• ​​Firmware Updates​​: Deployed non-disruptively using Cisco’s ​​Software Maintenance Manager (SMM)​​.

Security protocols include:

• ​​TACACS+/RADIUS Authentication​​: Enforced for all management plane access.
• ​​FIPS 140-3 Compliance​​: Validated for use in U.S. federal networks.

​​Target Use Cases and Industry Applications​​

​​Telecom Central Offices​​

The unit’s ​​-48V DC compatibility​​ aligns with legacy telco power infrastructure, simplifying upgrades from SONET/SDH to coherent DWDM.

​​Hyperscale Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​​

Supports high-wattage ​​NCS1K4-2.4TL-K9=​​ line cards running 400G-ZR+ optics for low-latency DCI links.

​​Submarine Cable Landing Stations​​

With ​​corrosion-resistant coatings​​ (IEC 60068-2-52 salt fog tested), it thrives in coastal environments.

​​Deployment Best Practices​​

​​Power Infrastructure Planning​​

• ​​Circuit Breaker Sizing​​: Use 200A DC breakers for full redundancy configurations.
• ​​Busbar Calibration​​: Balance load across busbars to within 5% variance.

​​Thermal Management​​

• Maintain ​​≥1U clearance​​ above/below the shelf for airflow.
• Deploy in ​​cold aisle containment​​ systems to optimize PSU efficiency.

​​Cable Management​​

• Use ​​2/0 AWG cables​​ for runs exceeding 3 meters to minimize voltage drop.
• Segregate DC power and fiber cabling to reduce EMI/RFI interference.

​​Troubleshooting and Maintenance​​

​​Common Fault Scenarios​​

• ​​Input Under-Voltage Lockout​​: Triggered below -40V DC; verify grid stability and battery health.
• ​​Fan Failures​​: Replace fans if RPM drops below 6,000 (monitored via show environment fan CLI command).

​​Proactive Health Checks​​

• Conduct annual ​​Insulation Resistance Tests​​ (IR >100 MΩ at 500V DC).
• Validate grounding integrity (<0.1 Ω resistance) per ​​IEEE 1100​​ standards.

​​Purchasing and Lifecycle Considerations​​

The NCS2015-SA-DC= is sold as a standalone unit or pre-integrated into ​​NCS 2015 chassis bundles​​. Key factors:

• ​​Warranty​​: 5-year hardware coverage, excluding consumables like air filters.
• ​​Third-Party Compatibility​​: While [“NCS2015-SA-DC=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers Cisco-certified DC cabling kits, always verify terminations with a megohmmeter.
• ​​Lifecycle Support​​: End-of-Sale (EoS) scheduled for 2030, extendable via Cisco’s ​​Extended Life Support Program​​.

​​Final Perspective: Powering the Optical Frontier​​

Having deployed this shelf in a sub-Arctic telecom hub, its -40°C operational tolerance and fault-tolerant design proved indispensable—though initial busbar tuning required meticulous load balancing. While its lack of AC input limits flexibility in enterprise data centers, the NCS2015-SA-DC= remains unmatched in DC-centric environments. For carriers modernizing legacy infrastructure, this unit’s blend of efficiency and resilience justifies its premium, provided teams invest in training for its ML-driven predictive tools. As networks scale toward terabit speeds, robust power systems like this aren’t optional; they’re the foundation of optical innovation.