Seven Steps to Selecting a Rack PDU for Your Data Center

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Greg More

As you can imagine, a wide variety of rack power distribution unit (PDU) configurations are available based on parameters such as: number of phases, voltage, total amps, branch circuits, number of outlets, socket type, plug type, rack units consumed, and physical dimensions. Beyond the functions of the basic rack PDU, additional capabilities are available in rack PDU categories we call metered, switched, and intelligent PDUs.

Furthermore, if you cannot find an off-the-shelf rack PDU that matches your specific requirement, some vendors will assemble or even design a custom rack PDU (also called BTO/ETO: built-to-order/engineered-to-order). Here, we'll discuss seven basic steps you should follow to help you to select and deploy the appropriate rack PDUs for your data center.