APC by Schneider Electric APDU9981EU3X968 Switched 0U Rack PDU 11kW 230V
Overview
The APDU9981EU3X968 is a zero-rack-unit (0U) switched power distribution unit designed for high-density rack environments running 230V three-phase infrastructure. Delivering 11kW of load capacity across 24 individually switchable outlets — (21) IEC 60320 C13 and (3) IEC 60320 C19 — this PDU gives operations teams remote per-outlet control without consuming a single rack unit of usable equipment space. It ships with a 1.82m input cord terminated in an IEC 60309 16A 3P+N+PE plug, sized for standard European three-phase 16A distribution circuits at 400V input.
For data centers, server rooms, and rack power distribution deployments where remote reboot capability and granular load visibility matter, the APDU9981EU3X968 pairs switched-outlet control with dual-stack network management (SNMP and Redfish) over a 10/100/1000BASE-T interface — giving you protocol options whether your infrastructure management layer runs traditional NMS tooling or modern Redfish-compliant orchestration.
Key Features
- 11kW / 16A Load Capacity at 230V: Handles up to 11,000 VA across 24 outlets — enough headroom for a fully populated 1U/2U server rack without approaching the 16A input circuit limit. Running at 80% of rated current (12.8A practical ceiling) leaves buffer for inrush during simultaneous boot sequences.
- 24 Switched Outlets (21×C13 + 3×C19): C13 slots cover standard 1U/2U server PSUs and network gear; the three C19 outlets handle higher-draw devices like GPU servers, storage arrays, or UPS bypass loads. Per-outlet switching means you can remotely reboot a hung server without touching the rack or cycling power to adjacent equipment.
- 0U Vertical Mounting: The vertical side-mount profile keeps all 42U (or equivalent) of usable rack depth available for revenue-generating equipment. For dense deployments where every rack unit counts, eliminating a 1U or 2U horizontal PDU footprint is a real operational advantage.
- SNMP + Redfish Network Management: Dual-protocol support over Gigabit Ethernet means this unit fits both legacy NMS environments (SNMP v1/v2c/v3) and modern Redfish-based data center orchestration platforms. You're not locked into a proprietary management stack or forced to replace your monitoring tooling to gain visibility.
- IEC 60309 16A 3P+N+PE Input Plug: The industrial-grade input connector is the standard for European three-phase distribution panels and PDU whips — direct compatibility with typical raised-floor and in-rack power infrastructure. No adapters, no field-wiring surprises at commissioning.
- 400V Three-Phase Input: Three-phase input at 400V (line-to-neutral 230V per phase) is the delivery mechanism for European and international data center power distribution. Each outlet presents 230V to connected equipment — correct for standard IEC-standard servers and networking gear without step-down transformers.
- 1.82m Input Cord: The cord length positions the PDU to reach floor-level or overhead PDU whip terminations in standard 600mm or 800mm deep cabinets. Verify your rack's power feed entry point before ordering — 1.82m covers most configurations but may be marginal in deeper or unusually routed installations.
- 10/100/1000BASE-T Network Port: Full Gigabit connectivity to your management network. In environments where management VLANs carry significant monitoring traffic, having a Gigabit uplink avoids the bottleneck that 10/100 ports introduce when polling dozens of PDUs in parallel.
- UL / cUL Listed + VDE Certified: UL listing covers North American deployments; VDE certification covers European markets. FCC Part 15 Class A and EN 55022 Class A address conducted and radiated emissions compliance for IT environments — relevant if your facility must meet electromagnetic compatibility standards.
- 5–95% RH Operating Range, 0–10,000 ft Altitude: The humidity and altitude envelope covers most data center and server room environments, including facilities at moderate elevation. Not rated for condensing humidity or industrial outdoor environments — confirm your mechanical plant maintains non-condensing conditions.
Integration and Compatibility
The APDU9981EU3X968 integrates into data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platforms and NMS tools via SNMP, and into Redfish-compliant orchestration environments via its dual-protocol management stack. The 10/100/1000BASE-T management port connects to your management VLAN using standard Cat5e/Cat6 patch cabling. APC's EcoStruxure IT platform and APC Network Management Cards are the native management ecosystem, though the Redfish interface broadens compatibility with third-party DCIM and automation tooling.
For UPS and power infrastructure planning, this PDU draws from a 16A three-phase circuit — coordinate with your facilities team on available panel capacity before deploying multiple units in a single cabinet. Combining two PDUs in an A+B feed configuration provides outlet-level redundancy for dual-PSU servers, which is the standard resilience pattern for mission-critical racks.
The C13/C19 outlet mix is compatible with the vast majority of 1U–4U rack servers, blade chassis, and networking equipment shipping IEC standard power supplies. The three C19 outlets support higher-draw devices up to their local circuit limits — match your connected device PSU ratings against the PDU's 16A total input budget before finalizing outlet assignments.
What's in the Box
- 1× APC Rack PDU 9000 Switched 0U (APDU9981EU3X968) with 1.82m input cord
- 1× Installation guide
- 1× Rack mounting brackets
- 1× Safety guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input plug does the APDU9981EU3X968 use, and what circuit does it require?
A: It uses an IEC 60309 16A 3P+N+PE plug — the standard European three-phase industrial connector. It requires a 400V three-phase circuit rated at 16A. The practical operating ceiling is 80% of that rating (12.8A) for continuous loads.
Q: Is the APDU9981EU3X968 rack-mountable in a standard 19-inch rack?
A: It is a 0U unit designed for vertical side-mounting inside the rack cabinet, not horizontal rack-rail mounting. It ships with rack mounting brackets for side installation and does not consume any rack units (0U form factor).
Q: What network management protocols does the APDU9981EU3X968 support?
A: It supports SNMP and Redfish over a 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port. This dual-protocol support covers both traditional NMS platforms (SNMP-based) and modern Redfish-compliant data center orchestration environments.
Q: How many outlets does the APDU9981EU3X968 provide, and what types?
A: It provides 24 switched outlets: (21) IEC 60320 C13 and (3) IEC 60320 C19. All outlets are individually switchable for remote per-outlet power control and reboot capability.
Q: What certifications does the APDU9981EU3X968 carry?
A: It holds UL and cUL listings (North America), VDE certification (Europe/Germany), and FCC Part 15 Class A compliance. It also meets EN 55022 Class A, EN 55024, EN 61000-3-2, and EN 61000-3-3 EMC standards.
Q: What is the total load capacity of the APDU9981EU3X968?
A: The rated load capacity is 11,000 VA (11kW) at 230V output, with a 16A maximum input current. Plan actual deployment loads at no more than 80% of rated capacity (approximately 8.8kW continuous) to maintain safe operating margins.
The APDU9981EU3X968 is purpose-built for European three-phase rack environments where remote outlet-level control and zero rack-unit footprint are non-negotiable. The 11kW / 16A rating at 400V three-phase input covers a fully populated mixed-load rack — servers on C13, high-draw compute or storage on the three C19 outlets — with enough headroom to stay comfortably under the 80% continuous load ceiling. What makes this unit operationally relevant is the combination of per-outlet switching and dual SNMP/Redfish management on a Gigabit port: you can remotely reboot a hung node without touching the rack or cycling adjacent equipment, and you can do it from whatever management platform your team already runs.
Technical Highlights:
- 0U Vertical Form Factor: Side-mounts inside the cabinet with the included brackets — preserves every rack unit for equipment. In a 42U cabinet shared between compute and networking, recovering even 1U translates directly to deployable capacity.
- SNMP + Redfish Dual Management: SNMP covers legacy NMS and traditional DCIM integrations; Redfish covers modern orchestration and automation stacks. You're not forced to choose one protocol or maintain a separate management appliance to bridge the two.
- 24 Switched Outlets (21×C13 + 3×C19): The outlet mix handles the realistic load profile of a populated rack — standard IEC server PSUs on C13, higher-draw GPU or storage devices on C19 — without requiring a secondary PDU for outlet-type mismatches.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 1.82m input cord is adequate for most 600–800mm deep cabinets with overhead or underfloor power feeds, but measure your specific cable route before commissioning — short by even 20cm and you're rewiring the whip or sourcing an extension, neither of which is a good day-of-install discovery.
- This unit is rated for 16A input max; the IEC 60309 plug mates to a 16A three-phase circuit. If your facility panel runs 32A whips, you'll need the appropriate step-down outlet or a different PDU model — do not attempt to adapt the plug.
Deploy the APDU9981EU3X968 in European colocation or enterprise data center cabinets where facilities infrastructure is already provisioned for 400V three-phase 16A feeds and the operations team needs remote reboot capability without dispatching hands to the floor. It's particularly well-suited to mixed-load racks combining 1U servers, network switches, and one or two high-draw appliances where the C13/C19 outlet split maps cleanly to the installed equipment.
