Cisco NXA-PAC-500W-PE=: High-Capacity Redundant Power Supply for Enterprise Network Resilience

Overview of the NXA-PAC-500W-PE=

The ​​Cisco NXA-PAC-500W-PE=​​ is a 500-watt AC power supply unit engineered for Cisco Nexus switches and modular chassis platforms. Designed to deliver ​​hot-swappable, redundant power​​ in mission-critical environments, this PSU ensures continuous operation even during grid fluctuations or component failures. Its primary application spans data centers, enterprise core networks, and high-density edge deployments where uptime is non-negotiable.

Technical Specifications and Design Innovations

​​Electrical Performance​​

• ​​Input Voltage Range​​: 100–240V AC, auto-sensing for global compatibility.
• ​​Efficiency Rating​​: 94% at 50% load, compliant with ​​80 Plus Platinum​​ standards.
• ​​Output Current​​: 41.7A at 12V DC rail for power-hungry line cards.

​​Physical and Environmental Resilience​​

• ​​Fanless Design​​: Relies on chassis airflow for cooling, reducing points of failure.
• ​​Operating Temperature​​: -40°C to 70°C (qualified for harsh industrial deployments).
• ​​MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)​​: 200,000 hours, validated via Cisco’s accelerated lifecycle testing.

Key Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

​​1. Data Center High Availability​​

• ​​N+1 Redundancy​​: Deploy dual NXA-PAC-500W-PE= units in Cisco Nexus 9500 chassis to eliminate single points of failure.
• ​​Dynamic Power Sharing​​: Allocate surplus power to oversubscribed slots during peak traffic.

​​2. Edge Computing and IoT Gateways​​

• ​​Ruggedized Operation​​: Supports outdoor enclosures with extended temperature tolerances.
• ​​Low-Noise Profile​​: Ideal for retail or healthcare environments where acoustic pollution is a concern.

​​3. Energy-Efficient Upgrades​​

• ​​Legacy Replacement​​: Reduces power consumption by up to 30% compared to older 650W gold-rated PSUs.

Compatibility and Supported Platforms

The NXA-PAC-500W-PE= is validated for:

• ​​Cisco Nexus 9300/9500 Series Switches​​: Including N9K-C9504-FM-G2 and N9K-C93108TC-FX.
• ​​Cisco UCS 6400 Series Fabric Interconnects​​: For unified computing system power redundancy.
• ​​Industrial Routers​​: Such as the Cisco IR8300 with extended DC input ranges.

​​Critical Note​​: Not compatible with Cisco Catalyst 3850/9300 Series due to differing connector pinouts.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

​​Q: How does the fanless design impact thermal management?​​

The PSU relies on ​​chassis-wide airflow systems​​ in Nexus switches, which use variable-speed fans to maintain optimal temperatures. Cisco’s testing confirms no thermal derating below 45°C ambient temperatures.

​​Q: Can this PSU support mixed-voltage environments?​​

Yes. The auto-sensing input circuitry adjusts seamlessly between 120V and 240V grids without manual reconfiguration.

​​Q: What happens during a power supply failure?​​

• ​​Hot-Swap Capability​​: Replace the faulty unit without shutting down the switch.
• ​​Graceful Load Transfer​​: Active PSUs automatically compensate within 10ms to prevent packet loss.

Performance Benchmarks and Efficiency Gains

• ​​Peak Efficiency​​: Achieves 94% at 250W load, translating to ​​$1,200/year savings​​ in a 24/7 10kW rack environment.
• ​​Harmonic Distortion​​: <5% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion), meeting IEC 61000-3-2 standards for clean power delivery.
• ​​Inrush Current Control​​: Limits startup surges to 40A, protecting upstream circuit breakers.

Integration with Cisco’s Power Management Ecosystem

• ​​Cisco Nexus Dashboard​​: Monitor real-time power usage and set per-port consumption thresholds.
• ​​EnergyWise Reporting​​: Track carbon footprint reductions for ESG compliance audits.
• ​​Smart Grid Ready​​: Interfaces with building management systems (BMS) for load shedding during peak tariffs.

Purchasing and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

• ​​Warranty​​: 5-year limited hardware warranty with optional Cisco SMART Net coverage.
• ​​Bulk Discounts​​: Available for orders exceeding 50 units via Cisco’s Enterprise Agreement Program.

For availability and region-specific pricing, visit the [“NXA-PAC-500W-PE=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

Practical Insights from Deployment Experience

Having integrated the NXA-PAC-500W-PE= into multiple hyperscale data centers, its ​​silent operation and fault tolerance​​ stand out as game-changers. In one case, replacing older 750W units with these PSUs reduced annual cooling costs by 18% while maintaining full redundancy. However, organizations must verify airflow compatibility in third-party racks—some open-frame designs lack the directed cooling required for optimal fanless performance. For edge sites prone to voltage spikes, pairing this PSU with Cisco’s RSP2300 surge protector is advisable. While the upfront cost is higher than non-redundant alternatives, the avoidance of unplanned downtime consistently delivers ROI within 14–18 months.