July 14, 2025
by Jake Ring, PDM Co-founder and President
In the world of data centers, uptime is everything. With 24/7/365 operations and increasing power demands from high-density computing environments (including AI computing!), ensuring the electrical infrastructure can withstand and respond to faults without causing catastrophic outages is crucial. One of the most vital components in this mission is overcurrent protection.
The Challenge: Preventing Small Issues from Becoming Big Failures
Data centers consume massive amounts of power—100 to 150+ megawatts in some cases. This power is delivered through complex electrical systems involving medium voltage transformers, low voltage switchgear, and a host of power distribution components. An overcurrent event—such as a short circuit or ground fault—can introduce dangerously high current into the system. Without protection, that current can damage equipment, extend outages, and put personnel at risk.
The Solution: VFI Transformers
Overcurrent protection devices like fuses and circuit breakers are the first line of defense. Fuses are reliable but must be physically replaced after a fault. Circuit breakers, however, can be reset—manually or remotely—making them more flexible and less prone to prolonged downtime.
At PDM, we go a step further. We integrate vacuum fault interrupters and advanced relays into our medium voltage padmount transformers, enabling not only overcurrent protection but real-time monitoring, automated reset, and arc flash mitigation. Our system gives operators insights into the cause of the trip, allowing for safe and informed recovery procedures.
Why It’s a Game-Change for Data Centers
- Minimized Downtime: Our breakers trip only when absolutely necessary—protecting equipment without overreacting to transient conditions.
- Enhanced Safety: Adjustable interrupt ratings and relay-driven monitoring reduce arc flash risk during maintenance.
- Remote Diagnostics & Reset: No more suit-up and manual fuse replacements in the middle of a summer outage—our systems can be monitored and reset remotely.
- Five Times Faster Lead Times: Unlike other manufacturers with 50–105 week lead times, PDM delivers custom breaker-equipped transformers in as little as 9 weeks.
Built for Hyper-scalers
As transformer sizes push past 3000 kVA to meet growing power demands, traditional fusing methods fall short. PDM’s breaker-integrated solutions not only scale with these demands but are designed to support redundant loop-feed configurations and concurrent maintainability—essential for hyper-scale data centers operating at 100+ megawatt loads.
In today’s high-stakes data environment, PDM provides best-in-class delivery of innovative overcurrent protection technology that keeps mission-critical operations online. Learn more at pdmlllc.net and contact us to see how we can support your next build.
