DC Power Supply 715W PWR-C1-715WDC

The Cisco PWR-C1-715WDC is a robust, high-efficiency 715-watt DC power supply engineered for mission-critical deployments in data centers and service provider environments that rely on -48V DC power infrastructure. Designed for compatibility with select Cisco Catalyst 9000 and Nexus 9000 Series switches, including the Nexus 9300-EX/9300-FX, Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 platforms, this power supply delivers reliable, redundant, and intelligent power management with enterprise-grade resilience.

Featuring front-to-back (port-side intake) airflow, the PWR-C1-715WDC aligns with standard hot-aisle/cold-aisle cooling architectures, ensuring optimal thermal performance even under full load. Its hot-swappable design and support for N+1 redundancy make it ideal for environments where uptime is non-negotiable—such as financial institutions, telecom central offices, and cloud-scale data centers.

Key Features & Specifications

• Model: PWR-C1-715WDC
• Power Output: 715W DC
• Input Voltage: -48V to -60V DC (standard telecom/data center DC range)
• Airflow Direction: Front-to-back (port-side intake) – cool air drawn from front, exhausted rear
• Compatibility:
  • Cisco Nexus 9300-EX/FX Series (e.g., N9K-C93180YC-EX, N9K-C9336C-FX2)
  • Cisco Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9500 Series (specific models with DC PSU support)
• Redundancy: Supports 1+1 or N+1 power redundancy
• Hot-Swappable: Yes – enables replacement without service interruption
• Efficiency: High-efficiency design compliant with 80 PLUS® Titanium standards (where applicable)
• Intelligent Management: Monitored via Cisco IOS-XE or NX-OS (show power, show environment)
• Cisco Certified: Fully validated for safety, thermal, and electrical compliance

Note: Always confirm chassis compatibility and airflow requirements before installation. Mixing airflow types (intake vs. exhaust) can cause overheating and system shutdowns.

Why Choose DC Power in Modern Data Centers?

While AC power is common, DC power infrastructure offers distinct advantages in specific environments:

• Telecom Central Offices: Legacy and modern telco facilities use -48V DC as standard.
• High-Efficiency Data Centers: DC distribution reduces AC/DC conversion losses, improving PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
• Renewable Energy Integration: Solar and battery systems often use DC natively.
• Reliability: Fewer power conversion stages can enhance system stability.

The PWR-C1-715WDC enables Cisco switches to integrate seamlessly into these DC-powered ecosystems without compromising performance or manageability.

Thermal Design: Front-to-Back Airflow

The front-to-back (port-side intake) airflow means:

• Cool air enters through the front (port side) where network cables connect.
• Hot air is exhausted out the rear (power side).

This design aligns with standard cold-aisle containment, where cold air is delivered to the front of racks. Using the correct airflow variant is essential—installing an exhaust-oriented PSU in an intake system can lead to thermal faults and hardware damage.

High Availability & Operational Resilience

• N+1 Redundancy: Multiple PWR-C1-715WDC units can be installed to ensure continuous operation during a failure.
• Zero-Downtime Maintenance: Hot-swap capability allows field replacement without powering down the switch.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Administrators can track input voltage, output wattage, temperature, and fan status via CLI or Cisco DNA Center.
• Graceful Degradation: If input voltage fluctuates, the PSU maintains stable output within operational tolerances.

Genuine Cisco Quality & Support

Using the Cisco-original PWR-C1-715WDC ensures:

• Full compatibility with Cisco switch firmware and power budgeting
• Accurate telemetry and fault reporting
• Eligibility for Cisco TAC support and warranty coverage
• Compliance with safety standards (UL, CE, IEC, NEBS for select variants)

Third-party DC power supplies may lack proper voltage regulation, thermal sensors, or firmware integration—posing serious risks to network stability and safety.

Ideal Use Cases

• Service provider edge and aggregation networks
• Telecom data centers with -48V DC infrastructure
• High-availability enterprise cores requiring DC redundancy
• Green data centers leveraging DC power for efficiency gains
• Military or industrial environments with DC microgrids

Technical Summary

Best Practices for Deployment

1. Verify Chassis Support: Not all Catalyst/Nexus models accept DC PSUs—check the hardware compatibility matrix.
2. Match Airflow: Ensure all power supplies and fans use the same airflow direction.
3. Use Redundant Units: Deploy at least two PSUs in production for failover protection.
4. Monitor Power Budget: Use show power to ensure total load stays within chassis limits.
5. Maintain Spares: Keep a genuine PWR-C1-715WDC on hand for rapid recovery.

Conclusion

The Cisco PWR-C1-715WDC 715W DC Power Supply is a critical enabler for organizations operating in DC-powered environments, delivering enterprise-grade reliability, intelligent management, and seamless integration with Cisco’s leading switch platforms. Whether you’re modernizing a telco central office or optimizing a green data center, this power supply ensures your network remains powered, cooled, and protected—24/7.

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