Middle Atlantic 20A 2 OUT Series Surge Compact - PDX-220C-SP

Middle Atlantic PDX-220C-SP NEXSYS Compact Series Surge Power Distribution Unit

The Middle Atlantic PDX-220C-SP is a 0U compact surge PDU from the NEXSYS Compact series, purpose-built for space-constrained AV and security equipment racks where a dedicated 20A circuit needs clean, surge-protected distribution to a pair of 20A-rated loads. With a 2-foot cord and a footprint measuring just 118mm wide × 229mm deep × 44mm tall, the PDX-220C-SP fits flush behind rack-mounted equipment, on a rack shelf, or tucked into a wall enclosure without consuming valuable rack units.

Overview

The NEXSYS Compact series addresses a real-world rack challenge: most single-circuit surge PDUs waste 1U or more of rack space on two outlets. Middle Atlantic's compact form factor eliminates that tradeoff. The PDX-220C-SP delivers series surge protection — a filtering topology that clamps transients before they reach connected gear rather than simply clamping after the fact — over a 20A-rated feed, terminated in two NEMA 5-20R receptacles ready to accept standard 20A plugs. For power distribution and UPS solutions, this is a focused, no-frills unit: no metering display, no battery backup, no auxiliary I/O. That's by design — complexity you don't need is complexity that can fail.

Key Features

• Series Surge Protection: Series-mode surge suppression filters transient energy rather than diverting it to ground like MOV-based designs. This means no degradation over time and no silent failure after a large surge — the protection level stays consistent across the unit's service life. That matters for NVRs, access control panels, and AV processors where a single transient event can corrupt stored data or damage sensitive electronics.
• 20A Input Current Rating: The PDX-220C-SP is rated for a full 20A circuit, matching the NEMA 5-20R outlet format. If you're running a 20A dedicated circuit to your rack — standard practice for security head-end closets — this unit won't become the choke point. A standard 15A PDU on a 20A circuit leaves capacity on the table; the PDX-220C-SP uses it correctly.
• 2x NEMA 5-20R Outlets: Both receptacles are 20A-rated, accepting the T-slot 20A blade as well as backwards-compatible 15A plugs. This matters when powering 20A-rated UPS units or high-draw appliances alongside standard IEC-to-NEMA cordsets — no adapter required.
• 0U Compact Form Factor (118 × 229 × 44mm): At under 5 inches tall and just under 9 inches deep, the unit installs without occupying a rack unit. Wall-mount, shelf-drop, or rear-panel placement all work. In a shallow-depth wall enclosure where every millimeter counts, the 229mm depth fits comfortably in most 12-inch-deep enclosures.
• 0.6m (2-foot) Input Cord: The short cord is intentional for rack-local installations. It reaches a PDU or UPS power strip one shelf away without excess cable bundled behind the rack. If your power source is farther than 2 feet, plan an extension or reposition the input feed before installation.
• UL Listed: UL listing confirms the unit has been independently tested against relevant safety standards — important for commercial building code compliance, insurance requirements, and AHJ approval in security and AV installations. Many facility managers and inspectors require UL Listed power products before sign-off.
• 12-Year Limited Warranty: Middle Atlantic's 12-year limited warranty on the PDX-220C-SP is substantially longer than most comparable PDUs in this class. For installed infrastructure in a rack that won't be revisited for years, that warranty horizon reduces long-term replacement planning overhead.
• 120V Nominal Input Voltage: Designed for North American 120V single-phase circuits. Not suitable for 208V or 240V applications without a step-down transformer. Confirm your rack circuit voltage before installation.

Integration & Compatibility

The PDX-220C-SP integrates into any Middle Atlantic rack and enclosure system or third-party rack where a 0U surge PDU fits the installation. Its NEMA 5-20R outlets accept both 20A and 15A NEMA plugs, making it compatible with the broad range of network video recorders, access control servers, AV processors, and managed switches that terminate in standard North American cordsets. Because there is no metering, network interface, or remote management port, the PDX-220C-SP requires no IP address, no driver, and no software configuration — it powers on with the circuit and provides passive surge protection continuously. For installations requiring per-outlet switching, remote monitoring, or higher outlet counts, consider a higher-channel NEXSYS unit from the same Middle Atlantic power distribution line. Pair with a PoE network switch on the second outlet when deploying compact IP camera head-end enclosures where two loads are the entire rack population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of surge protection does the PDX-220C-SP use?

A: The PDX-220C-SP uses series surge protection (series-mode filtering), which filters transient energy inline rather than diverting it to ground. Unlike MOV-based designs, series-mode protection does not degrade after large surge events.

Q: How many outlets does the PDX-220C-SP have, and what plug types do they accept?

A: The PDX-220C-SP has two NEMA 5-20R outlets. These accept both 20A (T-slot) and 15A (standard) NEMA plugs, so backwards compatibility with standard 15A cordsets is built in.

Q: Does the PDX-220C-SP take up rack unit space?

A: No. The PDX-220C-SP is a 0U compact form factor unit measuring 118mm wide × 229mm deep × 44mm tall. It is designed to mount without consuming rack units — on a shelf, behind equipment, or in a wall enclosure.

Q: What is the warranty on the PDX-220C-SP?

A: Middle Atlantic provides a 12-year limited warranty on the PDX-220C-SP.

Q: Is the PDX-220C-SP suitable for a 20A dedicated circuit?

A: Yes. The PDX-220C-SP is rated for 20A input current and terminates in 20A NEMA 5-20R receptacles, making it the correct match for a dedicated 20A branch circuit. Using a 15A PDU on a 20A circuit wastes available capacity; the PDX-220C-SP is properly rated for the circuit.

Q: Does the PDX-220C-SP include battery backup or power metering?

A: No. The PDX-220C-SP is a surge-only PDU with no battery backup, no metering display, and no auxiliary I/O. If battery backup or outlet-level metering is required, a different unit in the NEXSYS line would be the appropriate selection.

Jerry Tildsen

The PDX-220C-SP (often searched as PDX 220C SP) comes up regularly when integrators are building out compact security head-end enclosures on a dedicated 20A circuit and need surge protection without burning a rack unit on a two-outlet PDU. The series-mode surge topology is the detail that separates it from generic strip-style options — it doesn't rely on sacrificial MOVs that quietly fail after the first major transient.

Technical Highlights:

• Series-Mode Surge Filtering: Unlike MOV-based surge strips that degrade with each event, series-mode protection filters transients inline. For a rack hosting an NVR with active recordings, that distinction is operationally meaningful — you won't get a false sense of protection after the MOV has worn out.
• Full 20A Rating End-to-End: Input cord, internal wiring, and both NEMA 5-20R receptacles are all 20A-rated. No derating, no undersized outlet behind a 20A breaker. That matters when one of the two loads is a 20A-rated UPS that will actually draw close to rated capacity under battery discharge.
• 12-Year Limited Warranty: Middle Atlantic's 12-year warranty on this unit is longer than most competing PDUs in the compact category. For infrastructure sealed in a wall enclosure that won't be revisited for a decade, that warranty coverage meaningfully lowers lifecycle risk.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 0.6m input cord is optimized for rack-local power sources — plan your circuit termination point within 2 feet of the PDU's installed location, or route a whip from a nearby outlet strip to avoid forced extension cord use.
• No metering means no visibility into outlet-level load — if load monitoring is a project requirement (e.g., for remote NOC oversight), this unit does not support it. Size up to a metered NEXSYS variant before the rack is sealed.

The PDX-220C-SP is the right call for a two-load compact enclosure — think a single-channel NVR plus managed PoE switch in a small wall-mount rack on a dedicated 20A circuit — where you want set-and-forget surge protection that won't degrade silently over a 10-year installation lifecycle.