What Is Power Whip?_
A power whip is a pre-assembled electrical cable that connects a rack PDU to the facility power source (typically a busway tap-off box, RPP, or panel board). Power whips come in specific lengths, gauge, and connector configurations matched to the PDU and circuit. In high-density GPU environments, whip gauge and length directly impact voltage drop and must be calculated for each rack position.
Technical Details
Power whips are custom-manufactured to specific requirements: wire gauge (determined by amperage and length to meet voltage drop limits), length (measured from power source to rack position, with excess managed by coiling), connector type (matched to the PDU inlet and power source outlet), and conductor count (3-phase + neutral + ground for 3-phase circuits). For GPU deployments at 120 kW per rack (415V, 3-phase), power whips use heavy-gauge conductors that are stiff and require careful routing. Voltage drop must be calculated and kept within acceptable limits (typically <3% from source to load). Whip routing must avoid interference with data cables and liquid cooling lines, and must comply with NEC requirements for separation and support.
How Leviathan Systems Works with Power Whip
Leviathan Systems routes and connects power whips as part of our GPU rack deployment scope, ensuring proper gauge selection, voltage drop compliance, and organized routing that doesn't interfere with data or cooling infrastructure.