AN/FSQ-7: the computer that shaped the Cold War

11 Power supply

Powering a DC with its duplex AN/FSQ-7, the complex input/output equipment, and its more than 100 display consoles is a formidable task.⁴⁵² Such an installation required roughly 3,000 kW of which 1,000 kW were used for the duplex computer system with all of its associated equipment while the remaining 2,000 kW were required for lighting and the air conditioning system. Since power outages often had devastating effects on the vacuum tubes in the computer and its associated equipment,⁴⁵³ utmost stability and availability of the power supply equipment were of prime importance.

11.1 The powerhouse

Each DC and CC featured a dedicated powerhouse which can be seen in figure 4.5 in section 4.3 as the flat building directly next to the ...