UPS POWER DISTRIBUTION UNITS

A Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is an advanced version of an extension lead you would find in your home used to power more than one electrical device.

PDU’s are usually placed within a 19” equipment rack and are designed to distribute power to multiple devices, these are often mounted vertically at the rear (Zero U type) or horizontally in a rack (for example 1U, 2U).

PDU’s have multiple outlets and can be made up of many different socket types to suit any specific requirement. They also come in single and three phase options and various power ratings from single phase 10 amp right through to 3 phase 32 amp typically.

There are many different PDU form factors and levels of sophistication and on this page, we try to explain the benefits of each type. Here is a quick overview of the different products we offer but please read on for full details of our PDU products.

• Basic
• Metered
• Monitored
• Switched

We cover more details about each of these products below but if you would rather speak to one of our experts, call us today or email our team to discuss your PDU requirements.

Basic PDUs provide reliable power distribution to critical IT equipment within a rack or cabinet which are low-cost entry-level strip solutions with no intelligence.

They meet a broad range of applications with almost unlimited different configurations available, typically providing a single input with multiple output receptacles in various socket types 3 pin UK plug, C13 10A and C19 16A and in both single and three phase versions.

Metered PDUs allow users to view power consumption data instantly from a local display which is ideal when deploying or moving equipment to monitor power usage and prevent overloads.

A metered PDU is normally best suited for environments where seeing basic information at the rack position is deemed sufficient.

Some models will show power by socket and some will only provide the power of a branch of circuits so careful consideration is needed when specifying this option.

Monitored PDUs provide a comprehensive view of power usage, both at the rack and via remote access typically via the client’s local area network. Monitored PDU's are available in socket-level and branch-level remote monitoring options depending on the requirements and level of sophistication required.

Monitored version offer quick access to critical information to evaluate energy usage trends as well as provide alarming capabilities to alert users of breaches in user-defined power thresholds. They are recommended for high-density data centres that want to monitor or improve power usage effectiveness (PUE).

Switched PDU's provide a comprehensive view of critical IT equipment power usage, both at the rack and via remote access with the added ability to remotely turn on, turn off, or reboot power at each outlet.

Switched PDU's also tend to provide all power monitoring benefits of the metred and monitored types but in addition have the capability to remotely control each socket.

They are extremely useful for data centres that require a quick and easy way to power cycle equipment in a large facility or, in some cases, an entire network of facilities. These are the PDU’s of choice for unmanned sites generally.

If you wish to know more about any of the above PDU options then call us today on 01234 851155 or email [email protected] to speak to an expert.