Apparatuses and related methods for reducing power loss
View Patent ↗Methods of powering a radio that is mounted on a tower of a cellular base station are provided in which a direct current (“DC”) power signal is provided to the radio over a power cable and a voltage level of the output of the power supply is adjusted so as to provide a substantially constant voltage at a first end of the power cable that is remote from the power supply. Related cellular base stations and programmable power supplies are also provided.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a measurement sensor coupled to radio ends of power conductors, and configured to measure a direct current (DC) parameter at the radio ends of the power conductors; and
a transmitter configured to send the DC parameter to a first power supply coupled to first ends of the power conductors and configured (i) to receive DC power from a second power supply, (ii) to provide to the first ends of the power conductors a first DC voltage level determined with use of the DC parameter, and (iii) to provide at the radio ends of the power conductors a second DC voltage level that exceeds a nominal DC input voltage level rating of a radio, that is substantially constant notwithstanding variation in a current drawn through the power conductors by the radio, and that reduces a DC power loss in the power conductors from the first ends to the radio ends resulting from the current.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send the DC parameter to the first power supply through second conductors.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first power supply comprises a DC to DC voltage converter.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the measurement sensor comprises a voltage meter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the DC parameter comprises a DC voltage.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the power conductors is part of a single power cable for connecting the first power supply to the radio.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the power conductors includes at least two electrically connected conductive elements.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the at least two electrically connected conductive elements is a power cable.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a magnitude of the nominal DC input voltage level rating of the radio is 48V.
10. A first power supply, comprising:
a first input, of the first power supply, configured to receive direct current (DC) power from a second power supply;
a second input, of the first power supply, configured to receive a DC parameter measured at radio ends of power conductors; and
an output, of the first power supply, coupled to first ends of the power conductors and configured to provide to the first ends of the power conductors a first DC voltage level determined with use of the DC parameter, and to provide at the radio ends of the power conductors a second DC voltage level that exceeds a nominal DC input voltage level rating of a radio, that is substantially constant notwithstanding variation in a current drawn through the power conductors from the first ends to the radio ends by the radio, and that reduces a DC power loss in the power conductors resulting from the current.
11. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein each of the power conductors is part of a single power cable for connecting the first power supply to the radio.
12. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein the first power supply comprises a DC to DC voltage converter.
13. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein the second DC voltage level is less than a maximum DC voltage level rating of the radio.
14. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein the second DC voltage level is within four volts of a maximum DC voltage level rating of the radio.
15. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein the DC parameter comprises a DC voltage.
16. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein the second DC voltage level exceeds the nominal DC input voltage level rating of the radio by at least four volts.
17. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein each of the power conductors includes at least two electrically connected conductive elements.
18. The first power supply of claim 17 , wherein each of the at least two electrically connected conductive elements is a power cable.
19. The first power supply of claim 10 , wherein a magnitude of the nominal DC input voltage level rating of the radio is 48V.
20. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a first power supply and from a second power supply, direct current (DC) power;
receiving a DC parameter measured at radio ends of power conductors; and
providing to first ends of the power conductors a first DC voltage level which is determined with use of the DC parameter, and to the radio ends of the power conductors a second DC voltage level that exceeds a nominal DC input voltage level rating of a radio, that is substantially constant notwithstanding variation in a current drawn through the power conductors from the first ends to the radio ends by the radio, and that reduces a DC voltage drop in the power conductors resulting from the current.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein each of the power conductors is part of a single power cable for connecting the first power supply to the radio.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second DC voltage level is less than a maximum DC voltage level rating of the radio.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second DC voltage level is within four volts of a maximum DC voltage level rating of the radio.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second DC voltage level exceeds the nominal DC input voltage level rating of the radio by at least four volts.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the DC parameter comprises a DC voltage.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein each of the power conductors includes at least two electrically connected conductive elements.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein each of the at least two electrically connected conductive elements is a power cable.
28. The method of claim 20 , wherein a magnitude of the nominal DC input voltage level rating of the radio is 48V.