A Remote Power Node for Span Powering

This paper will present the design considerations for developing a remote power node for span powering new broadband services. Wire-line service providers have been increasingly turning to span powering to economically power broadband services. Use of higher voltages has expanded the possible reach of span powering. However, the distribution of subscribers and increasing power demands can make it impractical to do this from existing facilities in all situations. Use of a dedicated remote power node is a viable option for supporting span powering in these cases. The paper will discuss the integrated enclosure requirements, the dc power system and battery backup options, and the span power converter, protection, cross connect and termination. It will also cover cabling and power transmission strategies for the customer and safety considerations and procedures. A case study of one power node will be presented. The paper will demonstrate that a remote power node is a viable method of providing span powering for expanding broadband services.