Will 208v Hurt My Servers?

I've decided to move most of my servers out of our closet at work and into a datacenter. All of our servers are 110v, however we're starting to purchase some new ones, and the datacenter tech recommended we opt for the 208v since it was cheaper for the cage we are getting.

I've looked up on most of our servers that we traditionally use 110v for, however they SEEM to all support 208v as well (HP DL360 g4, Dell 2850's, and Dell 2650's).

Is there anything wrong with putting all of these servers on 208v??


DL360's should handle 208v with no problems. They have auto-switching power supplies which'll handle the switch for you. Also, running at 208v is slightly more efficient than running at 120v. A few percentage points gained, which can add up for a server that routinely burns 300+ watts.


If the servers support 208v (and most do these days) then you'll be fine. The datacenter tech is correct, this will save you money as most data centers charge per amp for power and running your servers at 208v will reduce the number of amps you'll need to power the servers.


208v vs 220 v is a factor of how the voltage is derived from the transmission line; whether or not it's delivered as single-phase or three-phase.