You cannot manage what you cannot see. That is the whole case for a metered PDU. Without a meter, the first sign a rack circuit is overloaded is a tripped breaker and a room full of dead equipment. With one, you look at the display, see you are at 21 amps, and know the next server goes on a different circuit.
The Valiant Power 30A 240V Metered 1U Rack PDU puts that number on the front of the rack, along with 12 outlets in the mix most data center gear needs: ten C13 and two C19.
What the meter shows
The built-in display reads out voltage, amperage, and wattage in real time. In practice, amperage is the one you watch. It tells you how much of your circuit you are using right now, and it is the number that decides whether the breaker holds.
How much headroom does a 30A circuit have?
Rack equipment runs around the clock, so it counts as a continuous load. Code says continuous loads should stay at or under 80% of the breaker rating. On a 30A circuit, that is 24A.
| Voltage | Continuous capacity at 24A |
|---|---|
| 208V | about 4,990W |
| 240V | about 5,760W |
A good habit: when the meter reads 24A at your normal load, that rack is full. Do not count on the gap between 24 and 30 for anything except startup surges.
C13 vs C19: why you want both
- C13 outlets take the cords for most servers, switches, firewalls, and storage. The device end is a C14 inlet, so you use a C13 to C14 cord.
- C19 outlets are the bigger, higher-current version. They feed heavy gear with C20 inlets, like large servers, blade chassis, GPU systems, and some UPS units. Those connect with a C19 to C20 cord.
Two C19s alongside ten C13s means you can run a couple of power-hungry machines and a full stack of standard gear off the same strip.
Breaker vs no breaker
This PDU comes in two versions at the same price:
- VP-PDU-30A-1U-8009, with built-in breaker: the PDU has its own overcurrent protection. If the strip is overloaded, the PDU breaker trips instead of the one in the panel, so you reset it at the rack.
- VP-PDU-30A-1U-8016, no breaker: protection comes only from the upstream breaker in the electrical panel. Some facilities prefer this so there is one protection point to manage.
If you are not sure, the breaker version is the safer default for most racks, because the reset is right in front of you.
Specs
| Outlets | 10 x C13, 2 x C19 |
| Input | 30A, 200 to 240V single phase |
| Plug | NEMA L6-30P locking, 10 ft cord |
| Metering | Voltage, amps, watts |
| Surge suppression | 20kA |
| Size | 1U rack mount |
Who this is for
Server rooms, network closets, MSP deployments, and any rack where the load keeps growing. If you are adding gear over time, a metered unit pays for itself the first time it stops you from overloading a circuit.
Need more outlets without using rack space? Our 0U vertical PDU with 16 C13 and 4 C19 outlets mounts along the side of the rack. Need a different input plug? There is also a version with a 25 ft IEC 60309 cord.
Frequently asked questions
What receptacle does it need?
An L6-30R twist-lock receptacle on a 30A, 208 to 240V circuit.
Can I run it on 208V?
Yes, it is rated for 200 to 240V.
Which version should I buy, breaker or no breaker?
Both cost the same. Choose the breaker version if you want overload protection at the rack, or the no-breaker version if your facility handles protection at the panel only.
Does the meter show per-outlet usage?
No. It shows the total load for the whole PDU, which is what you need to keep the circuit within its limit.
Questions? Email support@valiantpowerco.com. Or see the 30A Metered Rack PDU.