Programmable power supplies for cellular base stations and related methods of reducing power loss in cellular systems

An equipment enclosure, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a first power supply, in the enclosure, configured to generate a first DC power;
• a second power supply, in the enclosure, coupled to the first power supply, and configured to receive the first DC power and to generate an output voltage at an output which is coupled to a power cable;
• wherein the second power supply has an input configured to receive a first signal derived from a measurement by a measurement circuit;
• wherein the power cable, having a first conductor and a second conductor, is coupled between the second power supply and at least one remote radio head, where the at least one remote radio head is coupled to the measurement circuit, and where the measurement circuit and the at least one remote radio head are mounted on a mounting structure;
• and
• wherein the second power supply is configured to use the first signal to determine a level of the output voltage of the second power supply that maintains the voltage proximate to the at least one remote radio head at a constant level or within a range.

A method, comprising:

• generating DC power in a first power supply;
• providing the DC power to a second power supply;
• receiving, from a measurement circuit, at least one parameter measured at a first end of a power cable proximate to at least one remote radio head coupled to the first end of the power cable;
• using the at least one parameter, determining a voltage level of an output of the second power supply, coupled to the second end of the power cable, that maintains the voltage at the first end at a constant level or within a range;
• and
• providing the determined voltage level at the output of the second power supply.

A method, comprising:

• receiving at least one voltage level (a) from a measurement circuit by at least one wire coupled to an input of a power supply including a power supply coupled to a DC-to-DC converter, and (b) measured at a first end of a power cable proximate to at least one remote radio head coupled to the first end of the power cable;
• wherein the power supply is configured to generate a DC voltage, and the DC-to-DC converter is configured to receive the DC voltage;
• and
• using the at least one voltage level, determining a voltage level of an output of the DC-to-DC converter, coupled to the second end of the power cable, that maintains the voltage at the first end at a constant level or within a range.