APC by Schneider Electric AP7563 Vertical 0U 208V 3-Phase Rack Power Distribution Unit
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AP7563 is a vertical, zero-rack-unit (0U) power distribution unit purpose-built for high-density data center cabinets and server racks running three-phase 208V infrastructure. Rather than consuming horizontal rack space, the AP7563 mounts vertically in the side channel of a standard open-frame or enclosed cabinet — freeing every rack unit for active compute, switching, or storage gear. With a 5,700 VA load capacity and 27 total outlets split across two receptacle types, this PDU handles mixed server and storage loads in a single strip. If you are specifying rack power distribution units for a multi-cabinet rollout or a dense co-location deployment, the AP7563 is a credible candidate to evaluate.
Key Features
- Three-Phase 208V Input via NEMA L21-20P: The AP7563 accepts three-phase 208V power through a NEMA L21-20P twist-lock plug with a 0.91 m (approximately 3 ft) cord. Three-phase distribution balances load across phases — critical in high-density cabinets where single-phase PDUs create unbalanced panel draws and potential breaker trips. Confirm your floor PDU or busway tap provides an L21-20P receptacle before ordering.
- 27 Total Outlets in a Mixed Receptacle Configuration: The strip delivers 21x NEMA 5-20R outlets and 6x NEMA L6-20R outlets. The 5-20R receptacles cover standard 1U servers, 1U switches, and most 1U/2U storage nodes. The six L6-20R outlets handle higher-draw equipment — dual-PSU servers, GPU nodes, or networking gear requiring a locking 20A connection. This dual-type layout means one PDU can serve a mixed cabinet without adapters.
- 5,700 VA Aggregate Load Capacity, 20A Per Phase: At 20A maximum input current per phase, the AP7563 supports up to 5,700 VA total across all three phases. In a balanced three-phase load scenario that works out to roughly 1,900 VA per phase. Plan your per-phase outlet groupings during rack design — overloading a single phase while the others run light is a common commissioning mistake on mixed-load cabinets.
- 0U Vertical Form Factor — Zero Rack Units Consumed: At 1,778 mm (70 in) tall, 56 mm wide, and 44 mm deep, the AP7563 occupies the vertical side channel of a compatible rack enclosure rather than horizontal rack space. In a 42U cabinet, recovering even 1U of PDU space across 20 cabinets equals 20 additional rack units — relevant in dense deployments where per-rack costs run high.
- 50–60 Hz Input Frequency: Dual-frequency compatibility (50 Hz and 60 Hz) means this unit deploys in both North American 60 Hz facilities and international 50 Hz data centers without any hardware change. Useful for organizations standardizing on a single PDU SKU across global sites.
- Operating Range 0–45°C: The AP7563 is rated for ambient temperatures from 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F), which covers the ASHRAE A1 and A2 thermal envelopes used in most commercial data centers. Storage is rated to -25°C / 65°C, so units can be warehoused in non-climate-controlled spaces without risk.
- UL Listed, cUL Listed, CSA C22.2, RoHS Compliant: The AP7563 carries UL 60950-1 and cUL Listed certifications — baseline requirements for data center deployments in the US and Canada. CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-03 adds Canadian market compliance. RoHS 7b Exemption covers hazardous substance restrictions for EU deployments. These certifications are typically required by facilities teams and AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) sign-off before energizing a new cabinet row.
- Black Finish: The black powder-coat finish matches standard black rack enclosures — a minor point, but one that matters in customer-facing co-location spaces and structured cabling environments where cabinet aesthetics are specified.
Integration and Compatibility
The AP7563 is a basic (non-metered, non-switched) rack PDU — it distributes power but does not provide per-outlet switching, current metering, or network management. This is the right choice when your facility already handles power monitoring at the panel or floor PDU level and you need a reliable, high-outlet-count distribution strip in the rack without the cost or complexity of managed PDU infrastructure. If per-outlet load monitoring or remote switching is a requirement, evaluate the APC metered and switched PDU families instead.
The NEMA L21-20P input plug is compatible with three-phase power strips, rack-mounted transfer switches, and data center busway taps that provide an L21-20P receptacle. The 0.91 m cord length typically reaches floor-entry or top-entry power connections in a standard 42U cabinet — measure your tap-to-PDU distance before deployment if your power entry point is non-standard. For guidance on sizing and planning rack power infrastructure, see our power distribution planning guide.
The mixed outlet configuration (NEMA 5-20R + L6-20R) avoids the need for C13/C14 or C19/C20 IEC outlets, which means this PDU is aimed at North American deployments using standard NEMA power cords. International deployments with IEC-standard server PSUs will require a different PDU model. Review your server and storage power cord inventory against the AP7563 outlet types before committing to a rack design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input plug does the AP7563 use, and what does that mean for installation?
A: The AP7563 uses a NEMA L21-20P twist-lock plug on a 0.91 m (approximately 3 ft) cord. This plug type is standard for three-phase 20A circuits in North American data centers. Your floor PDU, busway tap, or panel must have a matching L21-20P receptacle. Confirm this before ordering — L21-20P is not interchangeable with single-phase twist-lock receptacles like L6-20R or L5-20R.
Q: Is the AP7563 a metered or managed PDU?
A: No. The AP7563 is a basic (unmanaged, non-metered) PDU. It distributes power to 27 outlets but provides no per-outlet current display, network management port, or remote switching capability. If you need outlet-level monitoring or remote load control, you will need a metered or switched PDU variant from the APC lineup.
Q: How many outlets does the AP7563 provide, and what are the receptacle types?
A: The AP7563 provides 27 total outlets: 21x NEMA 5-20R (standard 20A duplex-style receptacles compatible with most 1U servers) and 6x NEMA L6-20R (locking 20A receptacles for higher-draw or dual-PSU equipment). Both types are rated for 20A circuits.
Q: Does the AP7563 take up rack space (rack units)?
A: No. The AP7563 is a 0U vertical PDU — it mounts in the vertical side channel of a compatible rack enclosure and consumes zero horizontal rack units. Its physical dimensions are 1,778 mm tall × 56 mm wide × 44 mm deep.
Q: What certifications does the AP7563 carry?
A: The AP7563 is UL Listed (UL 60950-1), cUL Listed, CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-03 certified, and RoHS compliant (7b Exemption). These cover US and Canadian market requirements and EU hazardous-substance restrictions.
Q: What is the maximum load the AP7563 can handle?
A: The AP7563 is rated at 5,700 VA total load capacity, with a maximum input current of 20A per phase on a three-phase 208V supply. In a balanced three-phase deployment this yields approximately 1,900 VA per phase — plan outlet-to-phase assignments during rack design to keep phase loads balanced.
The AP7563 is straightforward to spec when you know your power topology: it is a passive, three-phase 208V strip with a NEMA L21-20P input, 27 NEMA outlets, and a 5,700 VA aggregate ceiling — no monitoring, no switching, no remote access. What it does well is pack 27 outlets into a 0U vertical profile that keeps rack-unit real estate available for revenue-generating compute. In a 40-cabinet row, that trade-off adds up quickly.
Technical Highlights:
- Mixed Outlet Topology (21x 5-20R + 6x L6-20R): the six locking L6-20R positions handle dual-PSU servers or GPU nodes that need a secured connection; the 21 standard 5-20R positions cover the bulk of 1U compute without requiring locking cords — practical for environments where technicians swap servers frequently.
- 20A Per-Phase Input Ceiling: at 5,700 VA total across three phases, the AP7563 is designed around a balanced 20A-per-phase draw. In practice, asymmetric cabinet builds (storage-heavy on one phase, compute-heavy on another) will hit per-phase limits before reaching the aggregate VA ceiling — phase mapping during rack design is not optional, it is mandatory.
- 1,778 mm Vertical Profile, 56 mm Wide: the narrow 56 mm width fits the standard vertical mounting channel in APC NetShelter and most third-party 600 mm-wide enclosures without interfering with cable management arms or blanking panels. Verify channel depth against the 44 mm depth spec if your enclosure uses a non-standard vertical mount.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 0.91 m input cord is short by design — it assumes the power tap (floor PDU, overhead busway, or local panel) is within 3 ft of the top or bottom of the cabinet. In raised-floor environments with below-floor power entry, measure the routing distance carefully; you may need a longer-cord variant or a local power tap extension.
- No overcurrent protection is provided at the PDU outlet level — branch-circuit protection lives upstream at the panel or floor PDU. If your facility requires per-outlet fusing or circuit-breaker protection at the rack, this basic PDU is the wrong product class; look at APC's rack-mount metered PDUs with per-phase circuit breakers.
The AP7563 fits best in a build-out scenario where the facility power team already handles monitoring and protection upstream (via a metered floor PDU or DCIM platform), and the rack-level requirement is simply reliable, high-outlet-count distribution in a 0U footprint — high-density co-location cabinets and enterprise server refresh projects being the most natural fit.
