PWR-5400-POE-AC= High-Capacity PoE Power Supply: Design, Integration, and Operational Guidelines

Introduction to the PWR-5400-POE-AC=

The ​​PWR-5400-POE-AC=​​ is a 5400-watt AC power supply module engineered for Cisco Catalyst and Meraki switches requiring high-density Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities. Designed for enterprise campuses, data centers, and smart building deployments, this PSU delivers ​​802.3bt (90W) PoE++​​ support, enabling simultaneous power delivery to hundreds of devices—from IP cameras and access points to IoT sensors and digital displays. Cisco’s proprietary power management algorithms prioritize critical loads while maintaining energy efficiency, making it a cornerstone for scalable, future-proof networks.

Core Technical Specifications

Electrical Performance

• ​​Input​​: 200–240V AC (50/60 Hz), 3-phase support for data center redundancy.
• ​​Output​​: 54V DC ±2% (100A max), with ​​5400W total capacity​​ split across 48 ports.
• ​​PoE Standards​​:
  • ​​802.3af (15.4W)​​, ​​802.3at (30W)​​, ​​802.3bt (90W)​​.
  • ​​Cisco UPOE+​​: Extends PoE to 100W per port for specialized devices like VR headsets or robotic arms.
• ​​Efficiency​​: 94% at 50% load, compliant with ​​80 Plus Platinum​​ and ​​ENERGY STAR 8.0​​.

Thermal and Mechanical Design

• ​​Cooling System​​: Dual redundant, hot-swappable fans with N+1 airflow redundancy.
• ​​Operating Temperature​​: 0°C to 45°C (non-condensing).
• ​​Form Factor​​: Fits standard Cisco Catalyst 9400/9500 chassis slots (2RU height).

Compatibility and Scalability

The PWR-5400-POE-AC= is validated for use with:

• ​​Cisco Catalyst 9400/9500 Series Switches​​: Supports up to four PSUs per chassis for N+N redundancy.
• ​​Cisco Catalyst 9200L Series​​: Requires a chassis expansion module (C9400-FAN-2) for airflow alignment.
• ​​Cisco Meraki MS425/MS355​​: Limited to 3600W per PSU due to firmware constraints.

​​Critical Limitation​​: Incompatible with legacy Catalyst 6500 or Nexus 9000 platforms due to voltage regulation differences.

Deployment Best Practices for High-Density PoE

Step 1: Power Budget Calculation

• Use Cisco’s ​​Power Calculator Tool​​ to allocate PoE budgets per device type. Example:
  • 30x 802.3bt IP phones = 2,700W.
  • 20x 802.3at cameras = 600W.
  • Reserve 10% headroom (540W) for surge events.

Step 2: Redundancy Configuration

• For Catalyst 9400, deploy PSUs in ​​grid redundancy mode​​ with separate AC feeds.
• Enable ​​Cisco StackWise Virtual​​ to share power pools across multiple switches.

Step 3: Thermal Management

• Position chassis to ensure 6 inches of rear clearance for exhaust airflow.
• In ambient temperatures >35°C, activate ​​priority-based fan throttling​​ via Cisco DNA Center.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

​​Q: Can this PSU handle inrush currents from mass device reboots?​​
A: Yes. The ​​active current limiting​​ circuit caps inrush at 110A for 50ms, preventing breaker trips.

​​Q: Is it compatible with 110V AC infrastructure?​​
A: No. The PWR-5400-POE-AC= requires 200–240V AC input. For 110V sites, use the ​​PWR-2700-POE-AC=​​ instead.

​​Q: How does Cisco UPOE+ differ from standard 802.3bt?​​
A: UPOE+ uses ​​Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)​​ to negotiate extended power budgets (up to 100W) for non-standard devices, bypassing IEEE handshake limitations.

​​Q: What is the MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) for fan replacements?​​
A: Hot-swappable fans can be replaced in <3 minutes without downtime. Logs are accessible via ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Automation​​.

Procurement and Firmware Management

To avoid counterfeit risks and ensure compatibility, purchase the PWR-5400-POE-AC= exclusively through authorized distributors like [“PWR-5400-POE-AC=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/). Third-party PSUs often lack firmware signatures required for Cisco Trusted Platform Module (TPM) validation.

Operational Insights

The PWR-5400-POE-AC= redefines high-density PoE with its blend of raw power and intelligent load balancing. While its 3-phase input requirement may deter smaller deployments, the PSU’s granular power telemetry—accessible via RESTCONF APIs—provides unparalleled visibility for predictive capacity planning. One notable gap is the absence of DC input options for solar/wind-powered edge sites, which Cisco must address to dominate sustainable networking markets. Until then, this PSU remains the gold standard for enterprises bridging IT and OT at scale.