APC Netshelter Rack PDU Advanced Metered 5.0KW 1PH 208V 30A L6-30P 40 OUT - APDU11151ME

APC by Schneider Electric APDU11151ME Advanced Metered Rack PDU

Overview

The APC by Schneider Electric APDU11151ME is a 5.0kW, single-phase, 208V metered rack PDU engineered for high-density data center and server room deployments where per-outlet power visibility directly affects uptime decisions. Rated at 30A via an L6-30P input plug and capable of distributing load across 40 outlets, this unit sits in the rack PDU category for installations where guessing at load levels is not an option. The metered design — accurate to ±1% — gives operations teams actionable, real-time data rather than estimates, which matters the moment a circuit approaches its 80% continuous-load threshold. For the broader APC by Schneider Electric power management line, the APDU11151ME represents the advanced metered tier: more visibility than a basic PDU, less complexity than a switched or outlet-metered unit.

Key Features

• 5.0kW / 30A Input Capacity (208V L6-30P): At 4,992 VA load capacity on a single L6-30P plug, this PDU handles a dense 1U/2U server row without requiring a three-phase circuit. If your rack is fed from a 208V single-phase panel with a 30A breaker — the most common configuration in colo and enterprise data halls — this input matches without adapters or rewiring.
• 40 Mixed Outlets (20 x C13/C15 + 20 x C13/C15/C19/C21): The dual outlet bank handles both standard IEC C13 server loads and higher-current C19/C21 connections for storage arrays, high-density switches, and GPU compute nodes. You can mix workloads in a single rack without needing a second PDU just to cover a C19 device.
• ±1% Metering Accuracy: Bank-level metering accurate to within 1% means you can confidently enforce the 80% continuous load rule (24A on this 30A unit) and identify power creep before it trips a breaker. Cheaper PDUs report ±3–5%, which is too wide to trust for capacity planning on loaded circuits.
• Gigabit Ethernet + Network Port Sharing for Up to 32 PDUs: One 10/100/1000 Ethernet port handles remote monitoring, while the two link ports let you daisy-chain up to 32 PDUs and share a single IP address across the chain. In a multi-rack deployment, this cuts network switch port consumption significantly — 32 PDUs, one IP, one management interface.
• 10 ft. (3 m) Input Cord: The 3-meter cord reaches from a floor-mounted PDU to an overhead or under-floor power panel without extension adapters. For standard 600mm or 800mm rack rows, this length covers most panel-to-rack distances without slack management headaches.
• 60°C (140°F) Operating Temperature Rating: Most rack PDUs are rated to 45°C. The APDU11151ME's 60°C ceiling means it remains within spec even in poorly cooled edge deployments, modular data containers, or equipment rooms where HVAC failures are a known risk. This rating also provides margin in hot-aisle containment setups where local temperatures spike during peak loads.
• Advanced Metered (Not Switched) Architecture: Metered means full-circuit visibility without per-outlet switching complexity. If your operations policy does not require remote outlet cycling, the metered tier gives you the monitoring data without the additional firmware surface, outlet relay hardware, and management overhead of a switched unit. Simpler firmware, fewer failure points.

Integration and Compatibility

The APDU11151ME integrates with APC's EcoStruxure IT infrastructure management platform via the onboard Ethernet port, enabling remote monitoring, threshold alerting, and historical load trending from a centralized dashboard. The network port sharing capability — supporting up to 32 daisy-chained PDUs — makes this practical for multi-rack infrastructure buildouts where IP address space and switch port counts are managed tightly.

The L6-30P input plug is the industry-standard connector for 208V/30A single-phase circuits in North American data centers and is compatible with standard PDU input receptacles in most colocation facilities. Verify your panel's breaker rating before deploying — the 30A input requires a dedicated 30A circuit; shared or undersized circuits will nuisance-trip under sustained load. For guidance on sizing your power infrastructure, see the rack power distribution buying guide.

This PDU does not include outlet-level switching or outlet-level metering. If your deployment requires the ability to remotely cycle individual outlets — for hung servers, remote reboots, or zero-touch provisioning — step up to a switched or outlet-metered variant in the APC rack PDU lineup. If individual outlet data (per-server power draw) is needed for chargeback reporting, an outlet-metered model is the appropriate choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug does the APDU11151ME use, and what circuit is required?

A: The APDU11151ME uses a NEMA L6-30P input plug for 208V single-phase, 30A circuits. It requires a dedicated 30A breaker — do not share the circuit with other loads. The continuous load limit is 24A (80% of 30A), giving you 4,992 VA of practical capacity.

Q: How accurate is the power metering on the APDU11151ME?

A: The APDU11151ME meters at ±1% accuracy. That level of precision is sufficient for capacity planning, 80% load enforcement, and billing-grade monitoring in colocation environments.

Q: Can I manage multiple APDU11151ME units from a single network connection?

A: Yes. The APDU11151ME supports network port sharing via two link ports, allowing up to 32 PDUs to share a single IP address and network connection. This is useful in multi-rack rows where minimizing switch port usage is a priority.

Q: Does the APDU11151ME support individual outlet switching or per-outlet metering?

A: No. The APDU11151ME is a bank-metered PDU — it provides circuit-level power data but does not offer per-outlet switching or per-outlet metering. If you need remote outlet cycling or per-outlet power data, select a switched or outlet-metered model in the same product family.

Q: What outlet types are included on the APDU11151ME?

A: The APDU11151ME provides 40 total outlets: 20 C13/C15 outlets and 20 C13/C15/C19/C21 combo outlets. This mix supports standard server loads on C13 connections alongside higher-current storage and compute devices requiring C19 or C21 connectors.

Q: What is the maximum operating temperature for the APDU11151ME?

A: The APDU11151ME is rated for operation up to 60°C (140°F), well above the typical 45°C rating of standard rack PDUs. This provides margin for edge deployments, hot-aisle containment environments, and equipment rooms with limited cooling.

Karl Wilson

The spec I keep coming back to on the APDU11151ME is the 60°C operating ceiling — that's 15 degrees above what most rack PDUs are rated for, and in practice it's the difference between a PDU that stays within spec during a cooling failure and one that becomes a liability. For edge deployments and any rack without redundant cooling paths, that thermal headroom is worth factoring into the procurement decision explicitly.

Technical Highlights:

• ±1% Metering Accuracy: At this precision level, you can enforce the 80% continuous load rule with confidence — on a 30A circuit, that's 24A max sustained, leaving you 4,992 VA of usable capacity. A ±3% PDU gives you a 900VA ambiguity band at full load; this unit doesn't.
• 32-PDU Network Port Sharing: Two link ports let you chain 32 units behind one IP. In a 10-rack row running two PDUs per rack, that's 20 PDUs behind a single switch port and management address — real operational savings at scale, not a marketing number.
• 40 Mixed IEC Outlets (C13/C15/C19/C21): The inclusion of C19 and C21 receptacles in the lower outlet bank means you can support high-draw storage arrays and dense compute without a second PDU. That flexibility matters as rack densities climb and C19 devices become more common in mixed workloads.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your facility panel has a dedicated 30A/208V single-phase circuit available before ordering. The L6-30P input is correct for this configuration, but a shared or undersized circuit will cause nuisance trips under sustained load near the 24A continuous limit.
• This is a bank-metered unit — no per-outlet switching, no per-outlet power data. If your operations team needs remote outlet cycling for unresponsive servers or requires per-server power draw data for chargeback reporting, this is the wrong tier; move to a switched or outlet-metered variant before purchasing.

The APDU11151ME fits best in a high-density colocation row or enterprise data hall where circuit-level monitoring is the priority, IP address conservation across dozens of PDUs is a real constraint, and the operations team does not need per-outlet control. It is not the right choice for remote-hands-light environments where outlet cycling substitutes for on-site access.