Power distribution unit

<h2 id="form-factors">Form factors</h2>
<p>PDUs vary from simple and inexpensive <a href="/facts/19-inch_rack/yFvLAnBg">rack-mounted</a> <a href="/facts/Power_strip/RyMvVFvx">power strips</a> to larger floor-mounted PDUs with multiple functions including power filtering to improve power quality, intelligent load balancing, and remote monitoring and control by <a href="/facts/LAN/edUDxJ6J">LAN</a> or <a href="/facts/SNMP/UNYPVA1C">SNMP</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> This kind of PDU placement offers intelligent capabilities such as power metering at the inlet, outlet, and PDU branch circuit level<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> and support for environment sensors.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a>
</p><p>Newer generation of intelligent PDUs allow for <i>IP consolidation</i>, which means many PDUs can be linked in an array under a single <a href="/facts/IP_address/z9V22Sw9">IP address</a>. Next-generation models also offer integration with electronic locks, providing the ability to network and manage PDUs and locks through the same appliance.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p><p>In <a href="/facts/Data_center/DS5wJY41">data centers</a>, larger PDUs are needed to power multiple server cabinets. Each server cabinet or row of cabinets may require multiple high current circuits, possibly from different phases of incoming power or different UPSs. Standalone cabinet PDUs are self-contained units that include main <a href="/facts/Circuit_breaker/vbw6cWSe">circuit breakers</a>, individual circuit breakers, and power monitoring panels. The cabinet provides internal bus bars for neutral and grounding. Prepunched top and bottom panels allow for safe cable entry.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Uninterruptible_power_supply/aYD6Yo6L">Uninterruptible power supply</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets/938U5dTF">AC power plugs and sockets</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li> Media related to Power distribution unit at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Definition of: Power distribution unit". PCMag.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 8, 2014. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60095/power-distribution-unit" target="_blank">https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60095/power-distribution-unit</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Sentry Power Manager: Rack-Level Data Center Power Monitoring and Management". ServerTech.com. Server Technology. 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2015. <a href="http://www.servertech.com/products/sentry-power-manager" target="_blank">http://www.servertech.com/products/sentry-power-manager</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Benefits of intelligent power distribution". www.vertiv.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023. <a href="https://www.vertiv.com/en-us/about/news-and-insights/articles/educational-articles/benefits-of-intelligent-power-distribution/" target="_blank">https://www.vertiv.com/en-us/about/news-and-insights/articles/educational-articles/benefits-of-intelligent-power-distribution/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"Definition of: Power distribution unit". PCMag.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved March 8, 2014. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60095/power-distribution-unit" target="_blank">https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/60095/power-distribution-unit</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"PDU Metering at the Inlet, Outlet, and Branch Circuits - Raritan". Raritan.com. 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015. <a href="https://www.raritan.com/products/feature/pdu-metering-at-the-inlet-outlet-and-branch-circuits" target="_blank">https://www.raritan.com/products/feature/pdu-metering-at-the-inlet-outlet-and-branch-circuits</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"Rack PDU - Rack Power Distribution - Intelligent PDU". Raritan.com. 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015. <a href="https://www.raritan.com/products/power/power-distribution/rack-pdu" target="_blank">https://www.raritan.com/products/power/power-distribution/rack-pdu</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>US 9865109, Roth, Wayne D.; Conner, Donald A. & Orris, Ronald S., "Systems and methods for controlling an electronic lock for a remote device", published January 9, 2018
 <a href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US9865109" target="_blank">https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US9865109</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>"Cabinet Power Distribution". APC. Retrieved November 4, 2013. <a href="http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=367" target="_blank">http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=367</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
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Power distribution unit open-in-new

Power distribution unit