Vertical-mount electrical power distribution plugstrip

Abstract

A vertical-mount electrical power distribution plugstrip comprises a long, thin plugstrip body with several power outlet plugs distributed along the length of one face. A power input cord is provided at one end, and this supplies operating power to each of the power outlet plugs through individual relay control.

1 . An electrical power distribution plugstrip, comprising: 
 a strip enclosure for mounting vertically within an equipment rack cabinet and for providing electrical power distribution to a number of electrical loads mounted within such cabinet;    a plurality of power outlet sockets disposed along one longitudinal face of the strip enclosure and each providing for independent supply of operating power to corresponding ones of said electrical loads;    a power input cord for receiving all electrical operating power to be ultimately supplied to every one of said number of electrical loads;    a plurality of power control relays each connected to independently switch electrical current from the power input cord to corresponding ones of the plurality of power outlet sockets; and    a user display disposed on said longitudinal face of the strip enclosure and for providing a digital readout of a total current passing in from the power input cord.    
     
     
         2 . The plugstrip of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an intelligent power module (IPM) in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket.    
     
     
         3 . The plugstrip of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a power manager connected to the IPM and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads.    
     
     
         4 . The plugstrip of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a network interface controller (NIC) connected to the power manager and providing for remote user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads over a TCP/IP network.    
     
     
         5 . The plugstrip of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a network interface controller (NIC) connected to the power manager and providing for a TCP/IP network report of said total current passing in from the power input cord to a remote user.    
     
     
         6 . The plugstrip of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM's) in which each hosts at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket.    
     
     
         7 . The plugstrip of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a power manager connected in parallel to the plurality of IPM's and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads.    
     
     
         8 . The plugstrip of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a power manager connected in serial to the plurality of IPM's and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads by a serial communication channel.    
     
     
         9 . The plugstrip of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM's) in which each hosts at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket;    wherein each IPM is identical in its hardware and software implementation to each other one.