Patent ID: 8363388

Claim:
A power entry module (PEM) comprising: a PEM housing adapted to be coupled to a backplane of an electronics equipment enclosure; at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with a power feed; a backplane connector for electrically coupling the PEM to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure; a distribution network entirely disposed within the PEM housing and forming at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches, for coupling electrical power provided from the power cables to each of said electrically isolated power distribution branches, and for providing a return path for current flowing through each said electrically isolated power distribution branch; and where each said electrically isolated power distribution branch independently provides electrical power to at least one blade associated therewith; and wherein the distribution network being entirely disposed with the PEM housing permits a second PEM housing having a second distribution network entirely disposed within the second PEM housing to be substituted for the PEM housing without modification to the backplane, and wherein the second distribution network differs from the distribution network in the PEM housing.