Centralized vs Distributed DC Power

The introduction of Switch Mode Rectifiers (SMR) and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) cells has motivated a new examination of distributed power for telecommunication systems. A comparison is given of the cost of distributed and centralized power for a Subscriber Loop Carrier (SLC) system and for a digital switching system. Distributed power is seen to cost more in Subscriber Loop Carrier Systems which have minimal distribution costs. However, in a digital switching system which has large distribution costs, distributed power costs less until a size is reached where the economy of large power overrides the savings in distribution.