APC by Schneider Electric APDU11455ME Advanced Metered 3-Phase Rack PDU
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric APDU11455ME is a 2U horizontal rack-mount, three-phase metered PDU engineered for high-density data center and enterprise network room deployments where accurate per-unit power visibility and flexible outlet configurations are non-negotiable. Rated at 208V / 60A three-phase input with a 17,300 VA load capacity, this unit handles the kind of aggregate draw you see in dense compute rows, security operations centers, and multi-server cabinets without requiring a second PDU or load-balancing workaround. If you are specifying power distribution for a rack that needs more than a basic strip PDU but does not yet warrant a full switched or outlet-metered unit, the APDU11455ME occupies a well-defined position in the APC by Schneider Electric rack power catalog.
Key Features
- 17,300 VA / 60A Rated Load Capacity: At 17.3 kVA on a 208V three-phase feed, this PDU supports a fully loaded high-density cabinet — think blade chassis, dense 1U servers, or stacked NVR and storage appliances — without derating headroom concerns at typical 80% utilization (effective 13.8 kVA safe load). That gives real runway before you hit thermal or breaker limits on most 60A branch circuits.
- 18 AC Outlets — Mixed C13, C15, C19, C21: The four IEC outlet types on a single PDU mean you can serve standard 10A server loads (C13), elevated-temperature equipment like some UPS bypass outputs (C15), 16A high-draw devices (C19), and hot-condition high-current loads (C21) all from one distribution unit. This eliminates the common situation of ordering a separate PDU just to accommodate a handful of C19-cabled devices in an otherwise C13 rack.
- Metered Input Power: Input metering gives facility managers and NOC teams a real-time draw readout at the PDU level. This is the spec that justifies chargeback models in colocation environments and helps catch gradual load creep — a cabinet that was at 40% utilization six months ago and is now at 72% shows up in the meter log before it trips the breaker.
- IEC309 Power Plug: The IEC309 (industrial CEE form) input connector is the correct plug type for 3-phase 60A circuits in data center and industrial environments — hardened latching design that does not inadvertently disconnect under vibration or accidental contact, unlike standard NEMA configurations at this amperage.
- IP44 Ingress Protection: IP44 means the unit is protected against solid objects larger than 1mm and water splashing from any direction. In a standard sealed data center row this is largely academic, but it matters in hybrid environments — a security operations facility with open cable trays, a manufacturing floor edge-compute rack, or any deployment where occasional liquid exposure during maintenance is a real scenario.
- 2U Horizontal Mount: The 2U rack footprint keeps vertical outlet real estate intact for high-density zero-U deployments to coexist in the same cabinet. Horizontal mounting also simplifies cable management to a dedicated PDU position in the rack, a detail that matters in auditable installations where cable tracing is part of the compliance record.
- Operating Range -5°C to 60°C: This thermal envelope covers everything from cool-aisle data center rows (typically 18–27°C) up to the 55–60°C ambient conditions found in industrial edge cabinets or poorly ventilated telecom closets. The PDU will not require derating in environments that would stress consumer-grade equipment.
- Storage Temperature Down to -20°C: Units can be warehoused or shipped in unheated facilities without thermal shock risk to internal components — relevant for large integrators who pre-stage equipment in warehouse environments before deployment.
- 5–90% Operating Humidity: The humidity range accommodates both dry raised-floor environments and the higher-humidity conditions seen in edge deployments in coastal facilities, factory floors, or outdoor-rated enclosures.
Integration and Compatibility
The APDU11455ME is designed for rack PDU deployments in standard 19-inch EIA cabinets. The IEC309 input is compatible with the 3-phase 60A branch circuit infrastructure used in most Tier II and Tier III data centers. The mixed outlet configuration (C13/C15/C19/C21) integrates directly with the power cord types supplied with enterprise servers, storage arrays, and high-draw networking equipment from major OEMs. Metered input data is readable locally; pair with APC's network management infrastructure for remote monitoring in managed deployments. For broader power infrastructure planning, evaluate upstream UPS capacity against the 17.3 kVA rated load before finalizing the circuit design. Consult your network switching and cabling layout to confirm cable run lengths and raceway routing align with the horizontal 2U form factor positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum load the APDU11455ME can support?
A: The APDU11455ME is rated at 17,300 VA (17.3 kVA) at 208V three-phase with a 60A maximum current. At the standard 80% continuous load guideline, the safe operational ceiling is approximately 13,840 VA — sufficient for a fully loaded high-density cabinet in most enterprise deployments.
Q: What type of power plug does the APDU11455ME use for its input connection?
A: The input uses an IEC309 industrial plug, which is the standard latching connector for 3-phase 60A circuits in data center and industrial rack environments. Verify your facility's branch circuit receptacle matches IEC309 before installation.
Q: What outlet types are available on the APDU11455ME?
A: The unit provides 18 AC outlets across four IEC types: C13 (standard 10A server/networking), C15 (elevated-temperature rated), C19 (16A high-draw), and C21 (high-current hot-condition). This mixed configuration means a single PDU can serve the full range of outlet types in a typical enterprise cabinet.
Q: Is the APDU11455ME suitable for outdoor or industrial enclosure use?
A: The IP44 ingress protection rating provides defense against particulate ingress (1mm+) and water splash from any direction. It is appropriate for enclosed industrial edge cabinets and hybrid environments with incidental moisture exposure, but it is not rated for direct outdoor exposure without an appropriate rated enclosure.
Q: What is the operating temperature range of the APDU11455ME?
A: Operating temperature is -5°C to 60°C (-23°F to 140°F), which covers standard data center cool-aisle conditions through the elevated ambient temperatures found in industrial edge or telecom closet deployments.
Q: Does the APDU11455ME provide per-outlet switching or outlet-level metering?
A: No. The APDU11455ME is a metered PDU — it provides input-level power metering only, not per-outlet metering or switching. If per-outlet control or individual outlet energy monitoring is required, you will need to specify a switched or outlet-metered variant in the APC NetShelter Advanced family.
The APDU11455ME lands in a specific and well-defined slot in the power distribution hierarchy: 3-phase 208V, 60A input, 17.3 kVA rated load, 18 mixed IEC outlets, input metering — no per-outlet switching, no remote outlet control. That clarity is what makes it the right call for integrators who need honest load visibility at the cabinet level without the cost and complexity of a fully managed PDU in every rack.
Technical Highlights:
- 17,300 VA Load Rating: At 80% continuous utilization that is 13.84 kVA of safe headroom — enough for a fully populated blade chassis plus ancillary networking gear without derating anxiety on a standard 60A branch circuit.
- Mixed C13/C15/C19/C21 Outlet Configuration: Having all four IEC outlet types on a single 2U unit eliminates the need for a supplemental PDU to serve C19-cabled storage or UPS bypass equipment. This is a real BoM simplification in dense rack builds.
- IP44 Rating in a Data Center PDU: Uncommon at this tier. Provides meaningful protection in hybrid environments — manufacturing edge racks, open-cable-tray security operations rooms, or any rack that sees maintenance traffic near liquid cooling infrastructure.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm your facility branch circuit terminates in an IEC309 receptacle before the unit ships — field-fabricated plug adapters on 60A 3-phase circuits are a compliance and safety issue, not just an inconvenience.
- Input metering is aggregate only — if your project requires per-outlet energy data for chargeback or granular fault isolation, the APDU11455ME is the wrong model; step up to an outlet-metered variant in the same APC Advanced family.
This unit is the correct specification for a security operations center or enterprise data closet where cabinet-level load tracking is required, the electrical infrastructure is already 3-phase 208V/60A, and the outlet mix across the rack is heterogeneous enough to make a single outlet-type PDU impractical.
