Rack power with modular RS Pro PDUs featuring power management options

RS Components has introduced what it describes as ‘easily upgradeable’ power distribution units (PDUs) to its ‘high-quality, high-value’ RS Pro range. Designed to give flexibility to retrofit power metering or networked power monitoring cost effectively, with minimal disruption.

RS claims its family of PDUs offer ‘versatile’ configurations, presenting an ‘elegant’ solution for various types of racks. Choices include up to 24 Euro 2-pin (Shuko or NF 2P+T), UK 3-pin, or IEC socket outlets, and with CEE 7/7 or British-Standard (BS) mains plug, 16A or 32A BS4343 plug, or IEC inlet.

All configurations are available as basic PDUs, which can be upgrades to metered PDUs with an ammeter module, or fully monitored PDUs featuring an SNMP management module with Ethernet ports for remote power monitoring.

A basic PDU without power monitoring can be installed ‘quickly and easily’, adds RS, and ‘at little cost’. It can then be upgraded at any time in the future by adding the desired power-monitoring module, which can be ordered individually.

As the modules are hot-pluggable, operators can start monitoring power usage without having to take equipment offline. Savings can also be made, RS says, by investing in one module to share among several PDUs for temporary fault finding or data gathering.

Adding the metering module to a basic PDU gives access to power data via the module’s built-in LCD panel. The ‘more sophisticated’, firmware-upgradeable SNMP management module allows users to monitor input current, voltage, power, energy consumption, and power factor via a web interface, and to set SNMP traps and receive automatic email alerts about any faults. Daisy chaining allows full monitoring of up to five PDUs.