ATEN PG6308A 30A 8-Outlet Outlet-Metered and Switched 1U Rack PDU (110V–120V)
Overview
The ATEN PG6308A is a 1U rack-mount, outlet-metered and switched power distribution unit rated for 30A at 110V–120V with eight individually controllable outlets. Where most basic PDUs give you a single breaker and no visibility into which device is drawing what, the PG6308A delivers per-outlet switching and metering — so you can remotely cycle power on a locked-up switch, isolate a misbehaving server, or confirm actual load before adding another device to a circuit. For data centers, IDF closets, and rack-dense security deployments running rack PDUs, this is the spec that separates a managed PDU from a fancy power strip.
The PG6308A ships with a 3-meter cord terminated in NEMA L5-30P — the standard locking connector for 120V/30A circuits in North American data center and server room environments. If your facility runs 208V or international 32A three-phase, ATEN offers the PG6308B (NEMA L6-30P) and PG6308G (IEC60309 32A) in the same family.
Key Features
- Per-Outlet Switching: Each of the eight outlets can be toggled independently — remote power cycling without touching the rack. Critical for headless servers, OOB management appliances, and NVRs that lock up and need a clean reboot without dispatching a technician.
- 1% Metering Accuracy: Outlet-level power metering at ±1% gives you reliable load data for capacity planning and anomaly detection. At 1% on a 30A circuit, you're looking at ±0.3A resolution — enough to catch a failing PSU drawing above its rated spec before it trips a breaker.
- 30A / 110V–120V Input: Full 30A capacity on a standard North American L5-30P circuit. Distribute up to ~3.6kW across eight outlets — appropriate headroom for a densely populated 1U–2U server or multi-device security rack without derating concerns.
- 3-Meter Input Cord (SR + NEMA L5-30P): The 3M cord provides enough slack to reach floor-level PDU receptacles or overhead busway drops without cable management gymnastics. The locking L5-30P plug won't accidentally disconnect under vibration or cable pull.
- UL and PSE Listed: UL listing covers North American safety compliance; PSE covers Japan. Both are hard requirements for many enterprise procurement and insurance policies — they confirm the unit passed independent safety testing, not just self-declaration.
- 1U Rack Form Factor: Mounts in a standard 19-inch rack, consuming one rack unit. Horizontal mounting keeps outlet access straightforward and leaves vertical space for the equipment it's powering.
- Firmware v1.0.097 (2026-05-05): Active firmware maintenance signals ongoing platform support. The ability to upgrade firmware means security patches and feature updates can be applied without hardware replacement — relevant for PDUs sitting on managed networks.
- 0–80% RH Non-Condensing Operating Range: Covers standard data center humidity envelopes (typically 20–80% RH per ASHRAE A1/A2). Non-condensing qualification means it won't fail due to humidity cycling in environments that fluctuate between air-conditioned cold and warmer ambient.
Integration and Compatibility
The PG6308A fits standard 19-inch rack enclosures and draws from a NEMA L5-30P 30A dedicated circuit — the typical provisioned circuit for managed PDUs in colocation and enterprise server rooms. Its outlet-switching capability integrates into remote management workflows: pair it with an ATEN KVM switch or out-of-band management appliance to give your ops team full remote control of both KVM console access and power state from a single pane. For facilities running mixed-voltage racks, note that the PG6308A is strictly 110V–120V — do not deploy on 208V circuits where the PG6308B is the correct model.
For rack power planning guidance across multi-PDU deployments, consult the rack power planning guide covering circuit sizing, redundancy topologies, and outlet-count recommendations per rack density. If you're managing a physical security rack alongside IT infrastructure, the outlet-switching capability pairs naturally with the remote management demands of managed PoE switches that sometimes require a clean power cycle to recover from firmware or spanning tree issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input plug does the PG6308A use, and what circuit does it require?
A: The PG6308A uses a NEMA L5-30P locking plug on a 3-meter cord and requires a dedicated 30A, 110V–120V circuit. This is a standard provisioned circuit in North American data centers and server rooms. Do not connect to a standard 15A or 20A outlet — the PDU is rated for 30A input.
Q: What is the metering accuracy of the PG6308A?
A: Per-outlet metering accuracy is ±1%. On a 30A circuit this translates to approximately ±0.3A resolution, sufficient for load trending, anomaly detection, and capacity planning at the outlet level.
Q: Can I use the PG6308A on a 208V circuit?
A: No. The PG6308A is rated for 110V–120V only. For 208V applications, ATEN offers the PG6308B (NEMA L6-30P input) in the same product family. Connecting a 110V-rated PDU to a 208V circuit is a safety and equipment risk — verify your circuit voltage before ordering.
Q: What safety certifications does the PG6308A carry?
A: The PG6308A is UL listed (North American safety) and PSE certified (Japan). These are independent third-party safety verifications, not self-declared. UL listing is commonly required by enterprise procurement, facilities, and insurance policies for rack-mounted electrical equipment.
Q: Can the PG6308A firmware be updated in the field?
A: Yes. ATEN provides firmware updates for the PG6308A; the current release is v1.0.097 (released 2026-05-05), available as a downloadable zip file. Field firmware upgrades allow security patches and feature improvements without hardware replacement.
Q: What is the difference between the PG6308A, PG6308B, and PG6308G?
A: All three are the same 8-outlet switched and outlet-metered 1U PDU platform with 1% metering accuracy. They differ by input connector and voltage: PG6308A = NEMA L5-30P (110V–120V, UL/PSE); PG6308B = NEMA L6-30P (208V, UL/PSE); PG6308G = IEC60309 32A (international, CE/UKCA). Choose based on your facility's circuit standard.
The PG6308A is the model I reach for when a customer needs per-outlet kill-switch capability on a 30A North American circuit without stepping up to a full data-center-grade PDU with a six-figure feature set they'll never use. The ±1% outlet-level metering is the spec that earns its keep in mixed-use security racks — you can watch a camera NVR's draw trend upward over weeks as drives fill, and catch a failing power supply before it takes the rack down at 2 AM.
Technical Highlights:
- ±1% Metering Accuracy: At 30A input, this gives you ±0.3A per-outlet resolution — tight enough for genuine load trending, not just ballpark estimates. Most cheap PDUs don't meter at all; this one does it at outlet granularity.
- NEMA L5-30P, 3-Meter Cord: The locking L5-30P won't back out under cable stress, and 3 meters covers most rack-to-floor or rack-to-overhead PDU receptacle distances without an extension. Verify your facility has 30A dedicated circuits provisioned — this is not a 20A unit.
- UL + PSE Dual Listing: UL covers North American enterprise and insurance requirements; PSE opens the door for deployments shipping to Japan. Both are independently tested certifications, not self-declared.
Deployment Considerations:
- The PG6308A is strictly 110V–120V. If your rack has 208V circuits — common in newer data center deployments — you need the PG6308B. Ordering the wrong variant is an easy mistake when both look identical on a spec sheet.
- Firmware v1.0.097 (2026-05-05) is the current release. If you're deploying on a managed network segment, validate your network management interface configuration and apply the latest firmware before commissioning — field upgrades are supported and straightforward.
For a physical security integrator building a rack that combines NVRs, managed PoE switches, and access control servers on a single 30A North American circuit, the PG6308A gives you the per-outlet remote cycling and live load visibility to manage that rack without a truck roll every time a device hangs.
