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1 What is the SPSM or SPSM system?
       
  2   How does the SPSM system work?
       
  3   What are alternative power sources?
       
  4   How does the SPSM know the operating voltage of the system?
       
  5   What if I have power supplies that use different voltages in my system? Do I have to use special SPSM units to make the different voltages work together or do I have to change all power supplies to use the same operating voltage?
       
 
6
  Is the SPSM limited to backing up only two power supplies at a time?
       
  7   How is the SPSM installed in my network?
       
  8   Does the SPSM design affect the existing RF design of my network?
       
 
9
  What is the maximum port current of the SPSM?
       
  10   What is the operating voltage of the SPSM?
       
  11   What happens when the SPSM switches to an alternate power source?
       
 
12
  Do I have to use more than one power supply at each SPSM?
       
  13   What type or types of power supplies will the SPSM work with?
       
  1   What is the SPSM or SPSM system?
      The SPSM is a power switching device that, when installed in pairs of one local and one remote, monitors the AC power in the RF broadband cable network and automatically switches to an adjacent power source when commercial power fails at one of the locations. It requires no batteries or inverters and uses normal commercial power to support the network. The SPSM comes in a standard network splitter/coupler housing and can be easily installed by a network technician, or skilled broadband coaxial splicer. Unlike a standby power supply, no special permits are required to install the SPSM..
   
  2   "How does the SPSM system work?
      Two SPSM power switches “talk” to each other through a power cable or through the RF/AC cable. When the main power source fails, the SPSM will sense the power loss and automatically switch to the alternate power source, thus preventing the network from experiencing a power failure. Although an actual network power failure occurs, the customer will not be affected because the SPSM will have switched to the alternative power source in less than 18ms.
     
  3   What are alternative power sources?
      An alternative power source can be an existing power company service area, sometimes referred to as a power grid, an area controlled by specific transformers; standby powering designed to work with the SPSM; portable or fixed generators; or any combination of the above sources mentioned
     
  4   How does the SPSM know the operating voltage of the system?
      The SPSM automatically senses the network voltage and uses that information to power the network.
   
  5   What if I have power supplies that use different voltages in my system? Do I have to use special SPSM units to make the different voltages work together or do I have to change all power supplies to use the same operating voltage?
      When the network power is designed to use the SPSM, the only issue is the amount of current available from the power supplies to the network. This assures that the design has sufficient power to operate the system. The SPSM automatically senses the voltage from the power supply and uses that voltage to operate the SPSM within the parameters it was designed to support.
     
  6   Is the SPSM limited to backing up only two power supplies at a time?
      The SPSM can back up an unlimited number of power supplies. The ability to back up a number of power supplies is controlled by the usable current available. Normally one-to-one backup is used; however, some companies are using one standby and two non-standby power supplies to support their networks. The SPSM will handle 95% of the power losses; however, when all commercial power is lost in a massive power failure, the standby power supply will support the network while a portable generator is connected or while a fixed generator comes on-line.
     
  7   How is the SPSM installed in my network?
      The SPSM can be installed using:
o The existing RF/AC cable;
o Using abandoned RF/AC cable;
o A separate power cable, or
o A combination of all of the above methods.
   
  8   Does the SPSM design affect the existing RF design of my network?
      The SPSM is not in the RF network and therefore will not affect the RF design. The Smart Power Combiner (SPC) takes the place of the normal system power combiner and has the same insertion loss; therefore it has no impact on the RF design. The SPSM connects to the SPC, switching and rerouting power as required.
     
 
9
  What is the maximum port current of the SPSM?
      The SPSM allows a maximum of 20 amps per power supply port.
The SPSM allows a maximum of 16 amps per amplifier port.
     
  10   What is the operating voltage of the SPSM?
      The SPSM operating voltage ranges are:
o 60Vac to 90Vac powering (Switching takes place at 40 volts)
   
  11   What happens when the SPSM switches to an alternate power source?
      When the SPSM senses a power loss, it automatically switches to the alternate power source by opening and closing specific relays within the two devices and following the logic of the micro controller. The switching time is less than 18ms; therefore no power is lost to the network. The key is not the AC power loss but the loss of power from the DC power pack in the active device. The SPSM switches so quickly that the power pack will not drain and impact the RF transmission.
     
 
12
  Do I have to use more than one power supply at each SPSM?
      The SPSM is designed to use a single power supply to operate the network. If for some architectural reason a second power supply is required where a power supply already exist the SPSM has the capability of controlling two power supplies at the same time, switching and routing power as the network dictates. While designing the network the user may elect to add, delete or move power supplies to better balance load of the network.
   
  13   What type or types of power supplies will the SPSM work with?
      The SPSM will work with standby or non-standby ferro-resonant power supplies or any combination of both.