Gude Expert Power Control 1121 / 1141 in the test report | PROFESSIONAL SYSTEM
by Sven Shoesarticle from the archives of last updated on
Green IT and Green AV are largely dependent on it being clear what individual components consume in order to identify savings potential. And that components can be switched off that cannot do so on their own. Gude offers these options with its two networked power distributors – now also for smaller installations.
(Image: Gude)
Content of this test:
In the Gude family of intelligent power distributors, the two-way switchable and measuring power distribution unit (PDU) Expert Power Control 1121 and the four-way version 1141 are the latest additions in 2024. With a very compact form factor, they are, according to the manufacturer, the flattest solutions on the market, which should be able to be integrated unobtrusively, especially in smaller installations. This means they can be hidden in furniture or behind displays to save space. Thanks to the open API, the power distributors can be operated in almost all common IP environments and with most monitoring and management systems. Professional System had the opportunity to take a closer look at the two devices in a practical test.
Size comparison: The “switchable IP sockets” can be integrated unobtrusively, especially in smaller installations (Image: Sven Schuhen)
“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” is often the first question a technician asks after seeking help with a problem. As banal as this tip sounds, it is usually effective. This measure often results in a system or device being reset to its desired initial state or freed from a frozen state. But what if a device or system does not have an obvious off switch or is not easily accessible? Of course, it would be very practical here if a switching process could be triggered remotely.
The Expert Power Control series from Gude is designed precisely for this case, thanks to its network connection, web interface and integration into various management and security environments. What’s more, it even offers a so-called watchdog, which monitors the connected device with a PING (addressing a network device with a request for an answer) and, in the event of no or no answers, automatically switches the device off/on in order to ensure a… Force restart. This process is called the self-healing function and, among other things, ensures less downtime for the devices being supplied. If automatic monitoring is not possible, the restart can also be triggered manually from a distance. But switching operations for individual outputs or all of them together (EPC-1141 only) can also be carried out using buttons on the housing via the smart power distributor itself.
Status: On the top of the smart power distributor Gude Expert Power Control 1121 and the front of the 1141, information about the operating and switching status can be quickly found out using two-color LEDs. For the outputs, red means they are off and green means they are on. The outputs can also be switched manually using the Select button. (Image: Sven Schuhen)
Accessing an intelligent power distributor via a web interface is super practical. But it gets really exciting when you can monitor and automate all distributors in a management environment in larger environments. Here you not only look at all the parameters of all distributors together from a central location and trigger switching processes clearly. No, some systems are even able to make predictions about the possible failure of connected components based on the analysis of the data collected. This allows problems to be avoided in advance, before a user is restricted and has to ask for help. Outputs can also be switched off using set threshold values even if the load is too high in order to protect against overload. In order to cushion voltage peaks in the connected components during the switch-on process, the switching state after a power failure and a switch-on delay for the individual load outputs can be defined.
Control Panel: The Gude PDUs EPC-1121 and 1141 can be managed and set up via a web interface. In the control panel you can see the device status, the switching states as well as the measurement of current, voltage, power and other parameters. The intelligent power distributors can be adjusted very delicately and can therefore be used in many imaginable scenarios.
In addition to an open API that providers of such solutions can use to integrate the smart PDUs into their systems, Gude offers many protocols such as HTTP/HTTPS, JSON, SNMP, TCP, Telnet, SSH and MQTT, which are already standard in communication are in networks. Of course, this can all be done encrypted via SSL (TLS) and SSH.
But even if the small power distributors are not used in large numbers in huge rollouts, they offer numerous opportunities to upgrade projects with individual devices. Event and schedule-controlled switching processes can be stored via the web interface or switched via the open API using IP commands with smaller controls, as are often found in video switchers and BYOD systems, or via RS232 (with the EPC-1141). Drivers for controlling the smart power distributors are already available for systems from AMX, Atlona, Barco, Control4, Crestron, Extron, QSYS, Savant and Utelogy.
The web interface also offers the option of defining status messages and alarm messages, which can then be output via email, SNMP traps or the console.
Extended timer: It doesn’t always have to be the large cloud and IT management solution into which the Gude power distributors can also be integrated, but especially for small installations, simple time-controlled specifications can also be made in the web interface for each device. For many well-known AV control systems, for example from Crestron, AMX, Atlona, Extron or Q-SYS, there are already drivers for integrating smart PDUs.
In addition to the possibility of switching the connected components on the IEC C13 load outputs (female power connector), which are each designed for a maximum of 10 A, a highlight is the precise measurement of current, voltage, mains frequency, phase angle, power factor and energy as well as apparent power and Reactive power. The measurement of electricity consumption takes place here using two energy meters, one of which counts permanently and the other is resettable.
There is also an integrated overvoltage protection (Type 3), which protects the power distributor as well as connected devices, as well as the option of connecting external sensors for monitoring temperature and humidity as a plug & play module via an RJ-45 connector in order to provide further protective measures For example, to protect against overheating or increased humidity for an installation. If defined limit values are exceeded or fallen short of, messages can be sent via email or console and automatic switching processes can also be triggered.
Sensors: The Gude Expert Power Control series has internal sensors that measure the current and monitor switching processes, but can also be expanded to include external temperature and humidity meters in order to also carry out switching processes based on threshold values. This is very useful in some environments to protect connected devices from adverse environmental conditions.
Firmware updates can be installed on these Gude PDUs during operation, as this does not require restarting the device itself or individual outputs.
Multi-colored LEDs on the housing provide a quick overview of which ports on the smart power distributor are on (green) or off (red), whether the device status is OK and, in the case of a connected external sensor, whether it has exceeded or fallen below its threshold value or is in the desired range.
It is also important to know that the operating temperature should be between 0 and 50 °C. It is therefore not recommended to use them, for example, in unheated digital signage steles that are operated outdoors even in sub-zero temperatures. Gude also cites solar installations or test laboratories as possible use cases. An operating temperature of less than 0 °C should also be excluded here.
With the intelligent power distributors EPC-1121 and EPC-1141, Gude is expanding its Expert Power Control series to include two devices for smaller installations where two or four switchable load outputs are completely sufficient. With their compact housings, they can be operated and hidden very easily in the tightest of spaces. Of course, the IEC C13 cold device connectors on the output side were also chosen because of the small housing dimensions. However, this means that you have to plan for these for the integration. Unfortunately, this is not plug & play; appropriate Schuko adapters or a qualified electrician are required to connect devices. Since the slipping of cold device cables often causes avoidable errors in installations, Gude offers IEC lock clips as accessories.
The detailed measuring function, which according to the manufacturer should have an accuracy of over 99%, is a highlight of the two smart power distributors. However, the measurement only monitors the input; a simple measurement of voltage and current, as well as the power per output, would also be exciting. This would result in even more effective use of the PDUs and also more effective protection of the connected components. However, it is understandable that with such a compact device for small installations not every detail can be taken into account. According to the manufacturer, many customers were asked about this in advance, but understandably an attractive price was more important to them.
At this point we also have to praise the very detailed and well-explanatory operating instructions, which go into every little detail and give many tips for the optimal configuration. In addition to the high quality of the components such as high-inrush relays and type 3 surge protection as well as the workmanship of the smart PDUs, this is certainly an advantage of Made in Germany!
Gude’s intelligent power distributors are available in DACH from the manufacturer and its sales partner network. The net list price for the EPC-1121 is €229 and for the EPC-1141 it is €279.
