Add support for "Y" adaptor power cables

[taupehat]

NetBox version

v2.11.1

Feature type

Change to existing functionality

Proposed functionality

• Create a cable type "Power (Y type)"
• When this cable type is used, allow multiple power ports to connect to the same outlet
• Calculate power draw to that outlet to be the sum of both ports attached to the cable

Use case

It's occasionally necessary to use a Y adaptor to power both power supplies on a device when not enough outlets are available. Example of such a Y adaptor: https://www.tripplite.com/computer-power-extension-cord-y-splitter-cable-10a-18awg-iec-320-c14-to-2x-iec-320-c13-6-ft~P0040062C13

Currently there is no acceptable way to model this cable type within Netbox.

Database changes

No response

External dependencies

No response

[jeremystretch]

Implementing this will likely require overhauling the cable model completely. Which isn't to say we won't do it; just setting expectations. However, we may want to re-cast this as general support for multi-point cabling, as I suspect there's a high degree of overlap with modeling breakout cables (e.g. a 40GE interface connected to four channelized 10GE interfaces).

[xkilian]

Great idea Jeremy to make it generic, there are a few other use cases where this pops up. Ex. Copper cabling for telephony that use these types of Y cables.

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