StarTech 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU 16-Outlet 1U Horizontal Rack Mount Metered PDU

Overview

The StarTech 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU is a 1U horizontal rack-mount power distribution unit designed for server rooms, network closets, and surveillance equipment racks where you need to consolidate power delivery across a high-density outlet count without sacrificing a second rack unit. Sixteen NEMA 5-15R outlets on a single 15A circuit means you can feed cameras, NVRs, managed switches, and auxiliary gear from one monitored strip — keeping your rack organized and your power draw visible. The steel chassis and UL-listed construction make this a practical fit for commercial installations where a cheap consumer power strip is simply not appropriate.

With compliance to EIA-310-D rack standards and certifications under UL 60950-1 and UL1449 (the surge protection standard), the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU is built to the specifications enterprise and commercial buyers should expect from rack-mounted power infrastructure.

Key Features

• 16 x NEMA 5-15R Outlets: Sixteen individually accessible outlets in a single 1U profile means you can power an NVR, PoE injectors, a managed switch, a KVM, and auxiliary devices from one strip — no daisy-chaining, no cable mess reaching across the rack.
• 15A / 120V AC Input on a NEMA 5-15P Plug: The 15A maximum current rating aligns with standard 15A branch circuits, and the NEMA 5-15P plug connects directly to any standard US wall receptacle or rack-mounted outlet without adapters. Plan your load — 15A shared across 16 outlets means budgeting roughly 0.9A per port if all slots are populated, so check the aggregate draw of your devices before commissioning.
• Metered Power Distribution: Built-in metering lets you monitor actual current draw from the rack without plugging in a separate clamp meter. For surveillance racks running 24/7, this is how you catch a device drawing unexpectedly high current before it trips a breaker at 2 AM.
• UL1449 Surge Protection: The UL1449 rating confirms third-party verified surge suppression — not a manufacturer claim, an independently tested standard. In a building where the electrical environment is unpredictable (common in retrofits and industrial spaces), this is the difference between a PDU that absorbs a transient and one that passes it to your NVR storage.
• 1U EIA-310-D Form Factor: Compliant with EIA-310-D rack standards, this unit mounts in any standard 19-inch rack without modification. At 1U, it occupies minimal vertical space — critical when rack space is already tight with switches, patch panels, and recording hardware.
• Steel Construction: The all-steel chassis handles the physical demands of a populated rack — cable weight, accidental contact, and the heat cycles of a 24/7 equipment environment — without flexing or degrading like plastic-bodied consumer units.
• 125V Output Voltage: Output is rated at 125V, compatible with all standard 120V AC equipment used in US commercial deployments. No step-down transformers or voltage converters needed for any typical surveillance or IT load.
• Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C: Rated for the temperature range found in most conditioned equipment rooms and server closets. If your rack is in an unconditioned space that regularly exceeds 40°C (104°F), address the environment before relying on this unit at the thermal edge.
• Compact Footprint — 18.9 x 3.9 x 1.7 in, 4.4 lb: At under 4.5 pounds, installation is straightforward for a single technician. The 18.9-inch width fits standard 19-inch rack rails with typical side clearance.

Integration & Compatibility

The 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU feeds any 120V AC device with a NEMA 5-15 plug — NVRs, PoE switches, video encoders, access control panels, intercoms, and network infrastructure all qualify. It does not provide individual outlet switching or remote reboot capability; for those functions, a managed or switched PDU is the appropriate choice. This unit is best positioned as the primary power backbone in a rack where you need consolidated, metered, surge-protected AC distribution rather than per-outlet remote control.

Pairing this PDU with a rack-mount PoE switch and an NVR covers the core power and data infrastructure for a complete surveillance rack build. For broader rack PDU options, including switched and remote-reboot variants, review the full category. If you are planning a high-density build, consult a camera system planning guide to map power load before selecting branch circuit capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum total current the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU can handle?

A: The unit is rated for a maximum of 15A at 120V AC input. All 16 outlets share this single 15A circuit, so aggregate device load must stay within that limit. A good practice is to target no more than 80% continuous load — approximately 12A — to avoid nuisance tripping.

Q: Does the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU fit a standard 19-inch rack?

A: Yes. It complies with EIA-310-D rack standards and is designed to mount in any standard 19-inch, 1U rack enclosure. Physical dimensions are 18.9 x 3.9 x 1.7 inches.

Q: Is surge protection included, and is it independently certified?

A: Yes. The unit carries UL1449 certification, which is the independently tested standard for surge protective devices. It also holds UL 60950-1 certification for general IT equipment safety.

Q: Does this PDU support individual outlet switching or remote power cycling?

A: No. The 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU provides metered power distribution with surge protection but does not offer per-outlet switching or remote reboot. If remote outlet control is required, a switched or managed PDU is the appropriate alternative.

Q: What is the warranty on the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU?

A: StarTech covers this unit with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Q: What type of input plug does the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU use?

A: The input connector is a NEMA 5-15P, which plugs directly into any standard 15A US wall outlet or rack-mounted receptacle without adapters.

James Everett

The detail I keep coming back to on the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU is the combination of 16 outlets at 1U — that outlet density is genuinely useful in a surveillance rack where you are powering an NVR, a PoE injector bank, a managed switch, an access control panel, and a handful of auxiliary devices all at once. Most 1U PDUs top out at 8 or 10 outlets; doubling that without adding rack height matters in a tight enclosure.

Technical Highlights:

• 16 NEMA 5-15R Outlets / 1U Profile: Sixteen outlets in a single rack unit is the highest-density option at this form factor — eliminates secondary power strips and the cable tangle they introduce.
• UL1449 Surge Certification: This is a tested, not self-declared, standard — relevant in any commercial installation sharing electrical infrastructure with HVAC, elevators, or industrial equipment that generates line transients.
• Metered 15A Input: Real-time current visibility on a 15A circuit lets you verify load headroom without pulling a clamp meter — useful during commissioning and for ongoing ops checks in unmanned equipment rooms.

Deployment Considerations:

• With 16 devices on a single 15A branch, calculate aggregate load before commissioning. PoE injectors, NVRs with spinning drives, and switches under full load can push aggregate draw higher than expected — stay at or below 12A continuous for reliable operation.
• This unit does not provide outlet-level switching or remote reboot. If your deployment requires power cycling individual devices remotely — common in unmanned surveillance sites — specify a switched PDU instead.

For a medium-density surveillance closet in a commercial building — NVR, managed PoE switch, a couple of injectors, and network gear — the 16NM8-RACK-MOUNT-PDU covers the power distribution layer cleanly in a single rack unit with certified surge protection baked in.