Fiber Optic Sensing Heats Up: How SENTINEL™ TS is Using Distributed Temperature Sensing to Revolutionize Power Monitoring in Data Centers

Power is the lifeblood of modern data centers — and few components are more critical than the busway systems that distribute that power throughout the facility. As workloads increase and densities rise, even a minor thermal issue in a busway joint or tap-off point can quickly escalate into a serious outage or fire risk.

To stay ahead of the risk, forward-looking data centers are turning to SENTINEL™ TS, Network Integrity Systems' advanced Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) system, to deliver real-time, continuous thermal monitoring across the entire length of their busways.

A Smarter Way to Monitor Temperature

Traditional thermal monitoring approaches — like handheld IR sensors, thermal imaging scans, or smart PDUs — provide only point-in-time or point-specific information. SENTINEL™ TS changes that by transforming a simple optical fiber into a continuous line of thermal awareness.

Distributed Temperature Sensing uses standard optical fiber — typically a single-mode or multimode cable — attached to the busway — as a continuous thermal sensor. Instead of reading temperature at discrete points, SENTINEL TS analyzes the backscattered light from a laser pulse traveling through the fiber. Minute changes in this light reveal the exact temperature at every point along the fiber, in real time.

This means a single DTS fiber can provide thousands of temperature readings per second across hundreds of meters — even kilometers — of power infrastructure.

Application in Data Center Busway Monitoring

When embedded along or inside the busway enclosure, SENTINEL TS provides real-time thermal mapping of the entire system, including:

• Joint connections
• Tap-off units
• End feeds
• Overhead and underfloor pathways

No blind spots. No guesswork.

Real-Time Insight Where It Matters Most

SENTINEL™ TS is designed for continuous thermal monitoring, making it ideal for:

• Detecting loose or degraded connections
• Identifying abnormal load conditions or phase imbalances
• Alerting to hot spots and early-stage failure
• Monitoring thermal impact of ambient temperature fluctuations

By providing data center operators with actionable alerts before issues become incidents, SENTINEL™ TS supports predictive maintenance, reduces the risk of costly downtime, and extends the life of power distribution equipment.

Built for Mission-Critical Environments

Brought to you by Network Integrity Systems, a trusted partner to the U.S. Government, military, and critical infrastructure sectors, SENTINEL TS is designed to operate in high-reliability environments. Key advantages include:

• No electrical components in the sensing cable — ideal for high-voltage and EMI-heavy areas
• Dielectric Sensing Cable — Completely safe fro use on electrical systems
• Passive, safe, and low-maintenance sensing
• High spatial resolution and temperature accuracy
• Seamless integration with DCIM, BMS, or SCADA platforms for centralized monitoring

Whether deployed in a colocation facility, hyperscale data center, or edge site, SENTINEL™ TS brings the same level of performance NIS is known for — now applied to protecting your most vital electrical infrastructure.

Your Busways Deserve Better Protection

Data centers can’t afford surprises when it comes to power. With SENTINEL™ TS, you're not just monitoring temperature — you're gaining insight, foresight, and peace of mind.

Power smarter. Monitor continuously. Prevent downtime.

Learn more about SENTINEL™ TS and how Network Integrity Systems is helping data centers stay cool, connected, and protected.