Data Center: Knick Delivers Robust Electrical Measurement Solutions

The rapid growth of data centers, fueled by AI and high-performance computing, is driving a shift toward high-voltage DC architectures to address challenges with increasing power density. Microgrids and DC energy sources are becoming critical to support capacity-limited grids and meet the growing power demands forecasted for the industry. Accurate, fast, and isolated electrical measurements are foundational to these new architectures, enabling safe, scalable, and reliable operation across evolving data center power systems.

Power at Scale: Designing for AI-Driven Demand Today

Exponential growth of AI and cloud-based services are driving unprecedented power demand in data centers.

To meet these demands, data centers are beginning to shift away from traditional 480 V AC distribution. Facilities are now being designed with 800 V DC architectures, which reduces current, lowers copper requirements, and decreases the need for AC/DC converters throughout the facility, including at each rack—helping to cut capital costs. This approach also enables direct integration of battery energy storage and renewable sources into the power network, creating new opportunities for flexible and scalable power delivery.

However, these evolving high-voltage DC designs introduce new measurement and protection challenges. Robust, electrical isolation must be engineered in to safeguard controls, personnel, and downstream electronics while fast, precise measurement for optimization and feedback control is ensured. Devices must deliver long service lives with minimal maintenance or recalibration, as downtime has significant financial impact.

Knick’s solutions meet these demands with flexible, isolated, and future-ready measurement devices. Off-the-shelf transducers designed for applications at and above the 800 V architecture simplify integration, allowing data centers to scale safely and efficiently without long qualification cycles.

Why Knick?
Knick provides high-isolation measurement solutions built for modern DC data center architectures. High-voltage transducers deliver fast, accurate data for dynamic loads, ensuring reliable control, protection, and optimization. Commercial off-the-shelf products are ready for immediate deployment and easily configurable for future expansions, supporting system-agnostic integration. With decades of experience in high-voltage DC power distribution, Knick devices combine precision, durability, and high-voltage capability to help future-proof infrastructure. No matter the system requirement, operators can rely on safe, accurate monitoring within their data center power delivery systems.

Technology Highlight – Fault Protection with High Speed Circuit Breakers

High-speed circuit breakers are critical for protecting data center power systems from fault conditions. Accurate voltage and current measurements serve as the primary inputs for protection and trip logic, providing the real-time electrical data needed to detect overcurrent, overvoltage, or other abnormal events.

Knick’s transducers are designed to meet these demanding requirements. With microsecond-level response times, they enable rapid fault detection and trigger protective actions before damage occurs. High, 3-port galvanic isolation ensures downstream control and relay electronics remain safe during fault events, while stable, accurate signals help prevent false tripping that could interrupt operations. Their configurable, system-agnostic design also allows integration across a variety of DC architectures, making it easier for operators to deploy reliable protection as facilities scale and evolve.

For data center operators, this translates into improved system reliability and confidence in protection strategies as DC voltages and power densities continue to rise. By integrating Knick measurement technology with high-speed breakers, facilities can maintain operation while safely scaling to meet the growing demands of AI workloads and high-density power architectures.

Product Overview

Download the product brochure: With its comprehensive range of signal conditioners and transducers, Knick offers solutions that meet the highest standards of safety, precision, robustness and durability.