Power Distribution in the lab

[TheUnnamedNewbie]

Hi guys.

As the number of instruments in my lab keeps increasing, I am running into a problem that I think most of us will run into at some point in time: Distribution of mains sockets for the lab.

Ofcourse, I could just go buy more and more and more distribution bars, but eventually it all ends up being a mess. Every time I get something new it takes about an hour to move existing gear out of the way to get to the plugs in the first place, and then I need to stack it all back up one by one and try to keep all the cables from falling (because then you can pretty much start over again).

 So, anyone have more elegant solutions to this problem? I've seen people run power bars high up so all gravity works with you instead of against you. Seeing as I have a bunch of stuff in 19" racks (small ones which are to be integrated into the table), I was thinking about using rack-mounted distribution bars at the front?

Do you run your lab equipment from one (or multiple) separate breakers? Most gear doesn't use much in the way of power (I think you need to put in some effort before you run into issues on the 16 A 230 V breakers standard here) but I can imagine it still being useful as it also allows you to separate things regarding interference?

anyho, TL;DR - I'm interested if any of you found neat and clever solutions/systems, instead of just going for the mess of splitters I usually end up with...

[capt bullshot]

So this is what I had in the "old" lab:

All the instruments have their power cords stuffed behind them, in between their rear and the wall. At least 3 series connected power strips were required to supply all of them, quite a mess of cables, but nearly invisible.

For the "new" lab, I've got a new plan:
A dedicated panel to distribute the power (this is work in progress)

I've got some contactors that I'll fit into the panel, to be able to power on / off the whole lab area with a simple remote switch panel. The contactors will fit onto the lower DIN rail that is left empty at the moment.

Space saving power strips:

I guess these are common with server racks, found them at a second hand electronics dealer for a decent price. I plan to run some cables from the distribution box directly to these strips, and attach the strips at the back of the new instrument shelve (also work in progress)


I've made this shelve accessible from front and rear side, so it's an easy job to re-arrange the instruments if I want to. Bonus points: all the backside connectors are easily accessible too ...

[capt bullshot]

Here's a picture shown the back side of the shelves, and the new power panel (top left at the opposite wall). So there's only a short path for the power cables from the panel to the shelves' backside.


This is the front of the shelve:

So, as this is work in progress, one important thing is missing: The workbench. My plan is to place a 65cm deep and 230cm wide table in the front of the shelves, and place some power outlets easily accessible at the edge of the table, right below the lowest row of instruments. The bench supply outlets and the instruments get different contactors and circuit breakers, so I can turn on/off the power individually using my still to be built power control panel.

[TheUnnamedNewbie]

Here's a picture shown the back side of the shelves, and the new power panel (top left at the opposite wall). So there's only a short path for the power cables from the panel to the shelves' backside.
- image removed from quote -

This is the front of the shelve:
- image removed from quote -
So, as this is work in progress, one important thing is missing: The workbench. My plan is to place a 65cm deep and 230cm wide table in the front of the shelves, and place some power outlets easily accessible at the edge of the table, right below the lowest row of instruments. The bench supply outlets and the instruments get different contactors and circuit breakers, so I can turn on/off the power individually using my still to be built power control panel.

That is a pretty neat system. At some point I was also thinking about including a local breaker in my bench and using DIN-rail mounted plugs, but they cost of those is quite high. Perhaps when I redo the lab in a few years after having worked of a while instead of being a student...

If I may be so free to comment on your plans - Getting a very deep bench was a very important requirement for mine when I got the current table, also still work in progress. The idea here is that on top of the table will sit 5 4RU high tiny racks (so like a shelf that is subdivided into 5 sections, each having a 4RU rack rail in them) for the big gear. On top of the shelf will then be all the smaller gear and some basic components and soldering stuff. Untill I get that top shelf I can't sort all of the components so they are still a mess in the rest of the room (not visible in the picture).



But as it is now I don't have room to move the entire thing forwards to allow easy acces from the back. Perhaps that is a thing for me to consider once I move out and get a new lab space - have storage behind the bench or such.

[capt bullshot]

That is a pretty neat system. At some point I was also thinking about including a local breaker in my bench and using DIN-rail mounted plugs, but they cost of those is quite high. Perhaps when I redo the lab in a few years after having worked of a while instead of being a student...

Most of the stuff inside the distribution panel is "recycled" and didn't cost a thing. Except for the box itself and the new B 16A breakers (but these are cheap, not so the box). The DIN rail mounted plug is a intermediate solution, just to have power available.

If I may be so free to comment on your plans - Getting a very deep bench was a very important requirement fo mine when I got the current table, also still work in progress.

Yes, having a deep bench has been attractive to me. But now, I settled for another solution, having the bench in front of the shelves, so I'll have storage underneath the benchtop, and a "virtual" extension in bench depth with the first instruments row. I'm thinking of moving some of the boat anchors somewhere else, so I could place commonly used stuff there.

[GreyWoolfe]

My solution--an APC SmartUPS 1500 with, so far, 5-6 outlet surge protectors attached.  4 are mounted to a frame at the back of the bench and 1 in the front of the bench.  I have a more modest bench than most and I still have room for growth.  With everything on, including the 2 computers and 24" monitor, I am running a 20-30% load on the UPS, this is an estimate as the 20% LED is lit but the 40% LED isn't.  Add the benefit of automatic voltage regulation and I think I have a pretty good solution.  My workbench is on wheels so is fairly easy to get to the back of it.

[nctnico]

I've mounted the outlets underneath the desk and added some cable trunking as well for network and low voltage stuff:

BTW the white and black outlets are on different groups because sometimes a single group (230V 16A) doesn't cut it.

The desk panels are mounted far enough from the wall to allow to slip a mains plug to the underside.

[marmelade]

I have most gear unconnected on  a shelf / in a cupboard nearby and move it to the bench if required. For one measurement you seldom need more than 5 different instruments. So a usual set of mains-cabling is sufficient.

[nctnico]

I have most gear unconnected on  a shelf / in a cupboard nearby and move it to the bench if required. For one measurement you seldom need more than 5 different instruments. So a usual set of mains-cabling is sufficient.

I have the same setup (equipment on a shelve) but even then you run out of outlets quickly. I have about 100 mains outlets in total under a bench about 7.5 meter long (in total).

[HKJ]

I do not know how many connections I have to my mains fuse. I have run a cable from a single 10A fuse (That size is fairly common around here and means 2300 Watt available) in the distribution panel to my workspace. I probably have around 20-30 devices plugged in, most of them with 1-10W in power consumption when idle. I have devices that can draw considerable power (Like a 1.2kW power supply), but I have never blown a fuse. I do not use enough high power devices simultaneous to have any risk of blowing a fuse and all the smaller devices (Like bench DMM's, Electronic loads, ARB's and other) is not a problem.