APC by Schneider Electric Metered Rack 42-Outlets PDU

The APC Metered Rack PDU with 42 outlets is a strategic power management solution designed for data centers, server rooms, and IT closets that demand reliability, visibility, and efficiency. This metered rack power distribution unit delivers active metering, robust circuit protection, and intelligent alerting to help you optimize energy use, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of critical equipment. Built on APC’s renowned engineering standards and backed by Schneider Electric’s commitment to safety and efficiency, this PDU transforms ordinary power distribution into an analytics-driven component of your IT infrastructure. With real-time energy data, configurable thresholds, and clear visibility into how power flows through your racks, you can make informed decisions to enhance performance, lower cooling overhead, and improve overall uptime.

In today’s data-driven environments, energy consumption is not just a running cost—it’s a factor that affects capacity planning, cooling requirements, and environmental impact. The 42-outlet metered design provides dense, centralized power management for dense rack deployments, helping operations teams align power usage with IT workloads. Real-time metering presents a granular view of electrical demand across outlets and banks, enabling you to identify peak periods, forecast future needs, and implement load balancing strategies that reduce energy waste. The PDU’s monitoring capabilities empower you to implement smart energy practices, such as prioritizing critical workloads, scheduling nonessential devices off during peak hours, and optimizing airflow to prevent hotspots. By turning power data into actionable insights, you gain a powerful advantage in maintaining service levels while controlling energy spend.

Beyond energy optimization, this PDU emphasizes safety and reliability. User-defined alarm thresholds mitigate risk with real-time local and remote alerts to warn of potential circuit overloads, voltage irregularities, or abnormal power events. Local alarms keep your team informed at the rack, while remote alerts can be routed to facilities dashboards, ticketing systems, or alerting channels, ensuring you don’t miss critical issues even when you’re not on-site. The combination of metering, protection, and alerts helps safeguard sensitive IT gear from sudden power disturbances and contributes to longer equipment life, less downtime, and more predictable maintenance cycles. It’s a practical, scalable solution for growing data environments that demand both visibility and control over energy distribution.

This PDU is designed for seamless integration into standard data center racks. It delivers a clean, organized power distribution layout that simplifies labeling, cable management, and lifecycle management. Outlets are arranged to support orderly cabling and easy identification, allowing technicians to quickly connect and troubleshoot devices. In addition, the rugged enclosure and 19-inch rack compatibility ensure a durable, space-efficient footprint in crowded racks. The result is a reliable, easy-to-deploy power distribution solution that not only supplies power but also provides the critical intelligence needed to manage it effectively in modern IT settings.

• Active metering and real-time power data across 42 outlets empower data-driven energy optimization, enabling IT teams to track usage trends, identify peak loads, and implement cost-saving strategies.
• User-defined alarm thresholds and real-time alerts—delivered locally on the display and remotely via network management—help detect overloads, voltage irregularities, and cooling bottlenecks before they impact critical servers.
• Robust circuit protection and power distribution—engineered for reliability in demanding data centers—guard sensitive IT gear against power anomalies and extended outages, with clear labeling and safe, compliant design.
• Flexible installation and rack compatibility—fits standard 19-inch racks and is typically designed for 1U height, with cable management features and labeling options to simplify deployment in dense rack rows.
• Energy analytics and cost savings—combine metering data with IT workload insights to optimize cooling efficiency, reduce energy waste, and drive sustainable data center operations.

Technical Details of APC by Schneider Electric Metered Rack 42-Outlets PDU

• Outlet count: 42
• Metering: Active metering provides real-time measurements of voltage, current, real power (kW), and energy (kWh) with timestamped data for energy analytics.
• Display: Local status readout with a simple interface that supports quick checks of power and alarm status.
• Alarms: User-configurable thresholds for overloads, voltage anomalies, and other power events with clear audible and visual indicators.
• Mounting: 19-inch rack-mountable enclosure, typically 1U in height, designed for clean installation and labeling in standard data center racks.

How to Install APC by Schneider Electric Metered Rack 42-Outlets PDU

• Plan your rack layout and inspect the PDU for any transit damage. Confirm model, outlet count, and the availability of a suitable power source before installation.
• Mount the PDU securely in a standard 19-inch equipment rack. Use the included mounting screws and ensure there is adequate clearance for airflow and cable management behind and around the unit.
• Connect the PDU’s input power cord to a properly rated power source that matches the PDU’s specifications. Route the power cable to minimize bending and tension, and maintain separation from data cables to reduce electrical interference.
• Connect IT devices to the 42 outlets, labeling each outlet or bank to reflect connected equipment. This labeling simplifies future maintenance and targeted power monitoring.
• Configure metering and thresholds using the local display or available management interface. Set user-defined alarm thresholds for overload, voltage deviations, or abnormal power patterns, and establish remote alert destinations (email, SNMP, or management console) as appropriate.
• Power up, verify readings, and test alarms. Confirm that real-time metering data appears accurately and that alerts reach the intended recipients. Review energy usage patterns over time to validate efficiency improvements.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a metered PDU and who should use it? A metered PDU provides active metering for real-time power data and loads distribution in a rack, enabling energy optimization, precise capacity planning, and better protection of IT equipment. It is ideal for data centers, server rooms, and network closets seeking improved visibility and control over power usage.
• What are the benefits of a 42-outlet metered PDU? A 42-outlet metered PDU delivers high-density power distribution with granular energy analytics, helping IT teams monitor, manage, and optimize power for numerous devices in dense rack environments while supporting cost control and efficient cooling decisions.
• How do I set alarm thresholds? Alarm thresholds are configurable through the PDU’s local interface or remote management software. You can specify limits for overload current, voltage variations, and temperature or other power anomalies, and direct alerts to designated operators or monitoring systems.
• Is remote monitoring available? Yes. Many APC metered PDUs offer remote monitoring options via a network interface, enabling alerts, data logging, and centralized power management from a management console or compatible software. Check model specifications for exact capabilities.
• Is it compatible with standard 19-inch racks? Yes. The Metered Rack PDU is designed for standard 19-inch racks and typically fits in 1U height, providing labeling and cable management features to simplify deployment in dense rack arrangements.