Cisco NCS2006-AC= Power Supply Unit: Technical Deep Dive, Deployment Strategies, and Operational Best Practices

​​Hardware Overview and Design Philosophy​​

The ​​Cisco NCS2006-AC=​​ is a high-efficiency, hot-swappable AC power supply unit (PSU) designed for the ​​Cisco NCS 2006​​ modular optical transport platform. As documented in Cisco’s NCS 2000 Series Hardware Installation Guide, this PSU provides ​​3,000W​​ of output power with ​​94% efficiency​​, adhering to ​​80 PLUS Platinum​​ certification standards. Its primary role is to ensure uninterrupted power delivery for mission-critical DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) systems in carrier and enterprise networks.

Key design features include:

• ​​N+1 Redundancy Support​​: Allows parallel operation with up to three additional PSUs, ensuring zero downtime during failures.
• ​​Universal Input Voltage​​: Operates at ​​90–264V AC​​, compatible with global power grids without external transformers.
• ​​Modular Airflow Design​​: Configurable for front-to-back or back-to-front cooling to align with data center aisle layouts.

The unit’s ​​hot-swappable​​ design enables replacement without disrupting network operations, a critical feature for Tier IV data centers and submarine cable landing stations.

​​Technical Specifications and Performance Metrics​​

​​Electrical Characteristics​​

• ​​Input​​: 90–264V AC, 47–63 Hz, 32A max.
• ​​Output​​: 54V DC, 55.5A (3,000W continuous).
• ​​Hold-up Time​​: 20 ms at full load, ensuring seamless transfer to backup sources during grid fluctuations.

​​Efficiency and Compliance​​

• ​​94% Efficiency​​ at 50% load, exceeding ​​ENERGY STAR 8.0​​ requirements.
• ​​Certifications​​: UL 60950-1, IEC 62368-1, and RoHS 3.

​​Environmental Tolerance​​

• ​​Operating Temperature​​: -5°C to 55°C (derated to 80% capacity above 45°C).
• ​​Humidity​​: 5–95% non-condensing.

​​Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases​​

​​Hyperscale Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​​

In DCI architectures, the NCS2006-AC= powers ​​NCS 2006​​ line cards supporting ​​400G-ZR+​​ coherent optics, enabling low-latency, high-capacity links between geographically dispersed data centers.

​​Submarine Cable Landing Stations​​

The PSU’s ​​salt fog resistance​​ (per ISA-71.04-2013 Class G3) makes it suitable for coastal installations where corrosion is a concern.

​​5G Mobile Backhaul​​

Supports ​​NCS 2006​​’s OTN switching capabilities, which aggregate 5G xHaul traffic with ​​μs-level jitter​​ for precise synchronization.

​​Installation Best Practices​​

​​Rack Integration​​

• ​​Weight Distribution​​: Install PSUs in separate power shelves to avoid uneven load on rack rails (max 4 units per shelf).
• ​​Circuit Breaker Sizing​​: Use 40A dual-pole breakers for North American 208V deployments.

​​Cooling Optimization​​

• Maintain ​​≥1U clearance​​ above/below the PSU for airflow.
• Monitor intake temps via ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Controller​​; alarms trigger at 50°C.

​​Cable Management​​

• Use ​​12 AWG copper cables​​ for runs exceeding 2 meters to minimize voltage drop.
• Separate AC and DC cabling by ≥30 cm to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI).

​​Maintenance and Troubleshooting​​

​​Proactive Health Monitoring​​

• ​​LED Indicators​​: Green (operational), amber (warning), red (critical fault).
• ​​Syslog Integration​​: Forward alerts to SIEM tools like Splunk for predictive analytics.

​​Common Fault Scenarios​​

• ​​Overcurrent Shutdown​​: Caused by short circuits in DC busbars; inspect O-ring connectors for debris.
• ​​Fan Failures​​: Replace fans if RPM drops below 8,000 (measured via CLI command show environment fan).

​​Firmware Updates​​

• Upgrade PSU firmware using Cisco’s ​​Software Download Center​​ to patch vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-20178 (AC input validation flaw).

​​Purchasing Considerations and Supply Chain​​

The NCS2006-AC= is sold as a standalone unit or part of ​​Cisco NCS 2006 Starter Kits​​. Key factors:

• ​​Warranty​​: 5-year limited hardware warranty, excluding consumables like fans.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Validated for use with ​​NCS 2006-S​​ and ​​NCS 2006-SE​​ chassis only.
• ​​Availability​​: [“NCS2006-AC=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) stocks pre-configured units with Cisco Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) eligibility.

​​Final Insights: The Critical Role of Power Integrity in Optical Networks​​

Having overseen deployments in hurricane-prone coastal regions, the NCS2006-AC=’s ruggedized design and fault tolerance have proven indispensable for maintaining submarine cable uptime. However, its lack of DC input support limits flexibility in telco central offices reliant on -48V power plants. For hyperscalers and carriers, this PSU’s blend of efficiency and redundancy justifies its premium—though teams must rigorously validate airflow patterns during installation. As networks scale toward 800G, investing in future-proof power infrastructure like this isn’t just prudent; it’s non-negotiable for avoiding costly mid-lifecycle retrofits.