Power distribution unit system incorporating smart cables and adapters

A power distribution system comprising:

• a piece of electrical equipment having a power input;
• a power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
• a housing;
• an input adapted to receive input power from a power source;
• at least one output for provisioning power to the piece of electrical equipment;
• and
• a network interface card (NIC);
• and
• at least one adapter interconnecting said PDU to the piece of electrical equipment, said at least one adapter comprising:
• a first connector mated with at least one of said outputs;
• and
• a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector via a power cable, said second connector mated with the power input of the piece of electrical equipment;
• and
• an interface circuit for communicating power-related parameters of the electrical equipment to the NIC, wherein at least a portion of said interface circuit includes a non-wired medium.

A power distribution unit, comprising:

• a housing;
• an input adapted to receive input power from a power source;
• a plurality of outputs for provisioning power to electrical equipment;
• and
• a network interface card (NIC);
• and
• at least one adapter for interconnecting said PDU to an associated piece of said electrical equipment, said at least one adapter comprising:
• a first connector mated with at least one of said outputs;
• and
• a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector via a power cable, said second connector matable with a power input of the associated piece of said electrical equipment;
• and
• at least one interface circuit for communicating power-related parameters of the associated piece of said electrical equipment to said NIC, wherein at least a portion of said at least one interface circuit includes a non-wired medium.

A power distribution unit according to claim 9 including a plurality of adapters for interconnecting said PDU to additional electrical equipment, each of said adapters comprising:

• an associated first connector mated with at least one of said outputs;
• and
• an associated second connector in electrical communication with said first connector via an associated power cable, said second connector mateable with a power input of an associated piece of the additional electrical equipment;
• and
• an associated interface circuit connected to said NIC for communicating power-related parameters of the associated piece of additional electrical equipment to said NIC, wherein at least a portion of said associated interface circuit includes a non-wired medium.

A power distribution method, comprising:

• providing a piece of electrical equipment having a power input;
• providing a power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
• a housing;
• an input adapted to receive input power from a power source;
• at least one output for provisioning power to the piece of electrical equipment;
• and
• a network interface card (NIC);
• and
• interconnecting said PDU to the piece of electrical equipment with an adapter, said adapter comprising:
• a first connector mated with said at least one output;
• and
• a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector via a power cable, said second connector mated with the power input of the electrical equipment;
• and
• communicating power-related parameters of the electrical equipment to the NIC via an interface, wherein at least a portion of said interface includes a non-wired medium.