Lessons · Lesson 3 of 6
From the grid to the chip
Trace power from the substation to a GPU, then cut it and watch the backup.
A relay race for electricity
Power arrives from the grid at a very high voltage. Transformers step it down, switchgear routes it, a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) keeps it steady, and PDUs (power distribution units) hand it to each rack.
Each hand-off loses a little energy as heat. Tap a stage to see what it does.
When the grid fails
Grids do go down. Batteries in the UPS take over instantly, and big diesel or gas generators start up within seconds and carry the load for as long as needed.
Press “Cut the power” above to watch the hand-over.
Quick check
What carries the load in the first seconds of a power cut?
- The generators
- Batteries in the UPS
- Nothing: the chips stop
Show the answer
Batteries in the UPS. Generators take a few seconds to start, so batteries bridge the gap without a flicker.