Cisco NXA-PDC-440W-PI=: High-Efficiency DC Power Supply for Critical Infrastructure Deployments

​​Hardware Architecture and Technical Specifications​​

The Cisco NXA-PDC-440W-PI= is a ​​hot-swappable, 440W DC power supply​​ designed for Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series switches, including the N9K-C93180YC-FX3 and N3K-C3232C platforms. Tailored for environments requiring DC power redundancy, it delivers ​​94% efficiency​​ at 50% load while supporting mission-critical network operations.

Key technical specifications include:

• ​​Input voltage range​​: ​​-40V DC to -72V DC​​, compatible with standard telecom power plants.
• ​​Output stability​​: 12V DC with ±1% voltage tolerance under dynamic load fluctuations.
• ​​Redundancy support​​: N+N and N+1 configurations with ​​<8ms failover​​ during power source transitions.

​​Performance Benchmarks and Reliability Validation​​

Cisco’s testing under ETSI EN 300 019-1-4 Class 4.1 (stationary use, controlled environment) confirms:

• ​​1.2 million hours MTBF​​: Calculated per Telcordia SR-332 Issue 4, including derating for capacitor aging and thermal stress.
• ​​Transient response​​: Recovers from 20-100% load steps in ​​900μs​​, preventing ASIC resets during traffic bursts.
• ​​EMI compliance​​: Meets FCC Part 15 Class A and EN 55032 standards for electromagnetic interference.

​​Critical Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios​​

​​Telecom Central Offices​​

The PSU’s DC input design aligns with ​​GR-63-CORE​​ standards, making it ideal for:

• ​​5G DU/CU power backup​​: Sustains operation during AC grid failures via -48V battery plants.
• ​​Optical transport nodes​​: Powers Nexus 3232C switches handling 100G OTN aggregation.

​​Industrial IoT Hubs​​

Operates reliably in harsh environments:

• ​​Wide temperature tolerance​​: Full performance from ​​-20°C to 65°C​​ ambient.
• ​​Vibration resistance​​: Withstands 5 Grms random vibration per IEC 60068-2-64.

​​Installation and Operational Best Practices​​

• ​​Power cabling​​: Use 6 AWG copper cables for runs >3 meters to minimize voltage drop.
• ​​Grounding​​: Implement star-topology grounding with ≤0.1Ω resistance to chassis.
• ​​Monitoring integration​​:

bash复制
switch# show environment power  
Power Supply: NXA-PDC-440W-PI=  
Input Voltage: -48V DC  
Output Current: 36.7A @ 12V  

​​Addressing Key User Concerns​​
​​Q: Is it compatible with third-party rectifiers?​​

Yes, when using ​​Cisco’s DCIM Integration Toolkit​​ for voltage telemetry synchronization.
​​Q: Can it support mixed AC/DC configurations?​​

No – use NXA-PAC-500W-PI= for hybrid power shelf deployments.
​​Q: What’s the service life under full load?​​

​​6 years​​ at 55°C continuous operation, based on accelerated lifecycle testing.

​​Strategic Role in Cisco’s Power Ecosystem​​
The NXA-PDC-440W-PI= is integral to Cisco’s ​​Converged Infrastructure​​ strategy. When paired with Cisco Crosswork Network Controller, it enables:

​​Predictive load balancing​​: Distributes power across multiple DC sources to extend battery runtime.
​​Carbon reduction​​: Optimizes energy use during off-peak hours via programmable power profiles.
​​Compliance automation​​: Generates audit trails for NEBS Level 3 and TIA-942 Tier IV certifications.


(Field Insight: During a recent 5G core network upgrade, these PSUs demonstrated exceptional resilience to voltage sags caused by aging battery banks. While competitors focus on AC-DC conversion efficiency, Cisco’s emphasis on transient response and input voltage range ensures stability in real-world scenarios where “clean power” is a myth rather than a guarantee.)