Data Center Keeps Its Cool With Tripplite Portable Air Conditioner

Hot-Spot Cooler

With all the heat being generated in data centers, even the most well-planned data center cooling system can be overwhelmed by summer weather or peak computing periods.

Designed for such occasions is Tripplite's SRCool 12K, a spot-cooling device that the CRN Test Center thought was worthy of a closer look. As its name suggests, it provides 12,000 BTUs of cooling, and is designed for data centers, server rooms, wiring closets and other emergency cooling situations and impromptu office parties.

List price: $950.

Not Managaged, But Manageable

Though it's not a managed device, the SRCOOL 12K is easy to operate thanks to a simple control panel. A central LED displays the thermostat's current setting as determined by plus/minus buttons above. Modes include cooling, dehumidifying or fan only. The control panel is a no-brainer, and an automatic timer can cool down areas prior to human occupation. In our tests, the SRCool ran more quietly than some air conditioners we've heard. In cooling mode, peak power consumption was 934 watts.

Don't Pull The Plug

The free-standing unit runs on household current and requires no special connectors or converters. It has a 20x13-inch footprint and four casters allow it to swoop in, put out "the fire" and store away again without back strain. It's self-contained; there's no need for special drainage lines and no pans to empty. Instead, condensation collects in a container (that's not user-accessible), where it evaporates into the exhaust stream. A drainage plug allows for a dedicated drainage system, if desired.

Filter Fumble

The SRCool's entire left side is for air intake, with two fine-screen filters that slide out for cleaning. Testers found that a slight curving of the upper filter kept it from sliding in easily. As a remedy, we gently bent the filter in the opposite direction to straighten it. Tripplite recommends cleaning the filters after every two weeks of operation using warm (not hot) water and a neutral detergent. For dry cleaning, we've found that a soft brush also works well with these filter types.

Spot-On Cooling

Cool air can be dispersed in hot rooms using the included louvers or applied directly to overheating equipment by replacing the louvers with the duct adapter (shown) and flexible duct pipe (both included).

Not A Taxing Bracket

A simply designed sliding exhaust bracket adjusts to openings between 26.5 inches and 49.2 inches and secures with a single nut and bolt. It created a tight seal for exhausting to windows or drop ceilings (shown next). The end of the flex pipe, shown here unattached, must be bent into an oblong shape to attach to the exhaust bracket snugly.

Into the void

Here we show the included exhaust pipe stretched nearly to its maximum length of 118 inches and attached to the exhaust bracket that's adjusted for output into a drop ceiling or plenum ventilation system. To read the CRN Test Center's full review of the Tripplite SRCool 12k, visit CRN's Reviews page.