Vertiv 27928 Basic 20A Horizontal Rackmount Power Distribution Unit
Overview
The Vertiv BRF100-1025 (part number 27928) is a no-frills, workhorse rackmount PDU built for IT environments that need reliable, code-compliant power distribution without the cost overhead of switched or metered units. Rated at 20A / 120V (1.9kW capacity), it delivers power to up to 10 NEMA 5-20R receptacles from a single 20A circuit — purpose-built for standard 5-20P branch circuits common in data centers, server rooms, and telecom closets. It ships from USA manufacturing, carries TAA and Buy American Act COTS compliance, and backs every unit with a 5-year limited warranty from Vertiv.
This unit fits the rackmount power distribution category squarely — a horizontal 1U form factor that occupies one rack space while keeping outlets accessible and organized. Every unit is 100% factory-tested before it ships, which matters when you're commissioning a rack remotely or on a tight schedule. Browse the full Vertiv power and infrastructure line for complementary PDU configurations and UPS options.
Key Features
- 20A / 1.9kW capacity on a single 20A branch circuit: Draws from a NEMA 5-20P plug — the standard 20A outlet found in most raised-floor and above-ceiling branch circuits. At 1.9kW continuous, it handles a fully loaded 1U server or a mix of networking gear without approaching the 80% NEC derate. Plan your per-rack load around this ceiling before stacking multiple PDUs on the same circuit.
- 10x NEMA 5-20R duplex receptacles: Ten outlets organized in duplex pairs give you enough ports for a typical 1U-to-4U server plus adjacent networking or KVM gear in a single rack bay. Each receptacle is rated to pass the full 20A — useful when a high-draw appliance like a UPS bypass load or a dense blade chassis claims a single outlet.
- 20A thermal breaker over-current protection: A thermal breaker (not a fuse) trips on sustained overload and resets manually — no hunting for spare fuses during a late-night rack event. The single breaker covers all 10 outlets, so a downstream short will kill the whole PDU; factor that into your redundancy architecture if uptime is critical.
- 10ft / 12AWG power cord with NEMA 5-20P plug: The 12/3 wire gauge handles the full 20A load without resistive heating, and 10 feet is enough reach for most mid-cabinet to floor-level outlet runs. If your branch circuit outlet is more than 10 feet away, plan for a longer whip or relocate the PDU — extension cords on 20A circuits are a code violation in most jurisdictions.
- Green power-on LED indicator: A single front-panel LED confirms the unit is energized at a glance during rack walks. Simple and functional — no display overhead, no network port to manage.
- 19-inch / 483mm horizontal rackmount with adjustable brackets: Mounts in any standard EIA-310 19-inch rack or cabinet. Adjustable mounting brackets accommodate varying rail depths, which helps in older cabinets where rail spacing doesn't conform to modern four-post standards. The 1.72in x 17in x 4.50in chassis occupies a true 1U slot.
- TAA compliant, Buy American Act COTS compliant, USA manufactured: Qualifies for federal, state, and municipal procurement programs subject to TAA and BAA requirements. If your project involves a government end-user or a contractor with federal compliance obligations, this clears the sourcing gate without a waiver.
- RoHS compliant, UL and c-UL Listed to 60950: UL 60950 listing covers IT equipment power distribution — the relevant safety standard for server room deployments. c-UL extends that listing to Canadian installations. RoHS compliance is required for EU-bound equipment and increasingly expected in enterprise procurement specs even for domestic deployments.
- 10–45°C operating range: Rated down to 50°F and up to 113°F — covers standard data center and telecom closet environments. Not rated for outdoor or unconditioned space; if your rack runs hotter than 45°C ambient, look at a PDU with a wider thermal spec.
- 5-year limited warranty: Vertiv's standard five-year coverage on the BRF100-1025 is longer than most competitive basic PDUs, which typically ship with one- to three-year terms. Meaningful for budget planning in multi-year lease deployments.
Integration and Compatibility
The Vertiv 27928 is a passive power distribution unit — no network interface, no management software, and no driver installation required. It integrates into any rack environment that provides a NEMA 5-20P outlet on a 20A branch circuit. Compatible with standard server racks and cabinets using EIA-310 19-inch rail spacing. The adjustable mounting brackets handle both shallow and deep four-post configurations. For deployments requiring per-outlet switching, current monitoring, or remote power cycling, evaluate the metered or switched tiers within the Vertiv PowerIT rPDU family — the BRF100-1025 deliberately omits those features to minimize cost and failure surface in non-managed environments.
If your rack includes a UPS, confirm the UPS output receptacle is NEMA 5-20R or that an appropriate adapter is in spec — the 5-20P plug will not seat in a standard 5-15R outlet without an adapter, and adapters introduce a code compliance question worth resolving before commissioning. See our UPS selection guide for compatible upstream power protection options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Vertiv BRF100-1025 TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The BRF100-1025 is manufactured in the USA and carries both TAA compliance and Buy American Act COTS compliance, making it eligible for federal, state, and municipal procurement programs with domestic sourcing requirements.
Q: What plug type does the 27928 use, and will it fit a standard 20A wall outlet?
A: The unit ships with a NEMA 5-20P plug, which fits NEMA 5-20R receptacles — the standard 20A, 120V outlet found on dedicated 20A branch circuits. It will not plug directly into a standard 15A (NEMA 5-15R) outlet without an adapter; a dedicated 20A circuit is required.
Q: What is the warranty on the BRF100-1025?
A: Vertiv covers the BRF100-1025 with a 5-year limited warranty, which is the standard coverage for their PowerIT rPDU Basic line.
Q: Can I mount the 27928 in a two-post relay rack?
A: The unit is designed for 19-inch EIA-310 four-post racks and cabinets with adjustable mounting brackets. Two-post relay rack compatibility depends on whether the rack provides standard 19-inch mounting holes at the correct spacing — the brackets are adjustable, but a two-post open-frame rack may require a rack shelf or additional mounting hardware depending on rail configuration.
Q: How many outlets does the BRF100-1025 provide, and what is the receptacle type?
A: Ten NEMA 5-20R duplex receptacles, all rated at 20A / 120V. All 10 outlets share a single 20A thermal breaker.
Q: Does the BRF100-1025 have surge protection?
A: No. The BRF100-1025 is a basic (non-surge) PDU — it provides over-current protection via a 20A thermal breaker only. It does not include surge suppression or line conditioning. If surge protection is required, select a unit from the Vertiv surge-protected PDU tier.
The Vertiv 27928 is the PDU I spec when the rack environment has a dedicated 20A / 120V branch circuit and zero budget for features that won't get used — no SNMP, no current monitoring, no switched outlets. The 1.9kW continuous load ceiling at 120V is the honest constraint to plan around: at the NEC 80% derate, you're working with 1.52kW of usable capacity, which covers most 1U or 2U server-plus-switch combinations but can get tight on a fully loaded 2U compute node with a GPU or a high-density PoE switch.
Technical Highlights:
- 20A thermal breaker: Resets manually after a trip — no fuse sourcing, no spares inventory. Critical advantage at 2 AM when a downstream short kills the rack and you need power back in two minutes, not twenty.
- 12AWG / 10ft power cord: 12/3 wire gauge is correctly sized for sustained 20A draw — no derating concerns. Ten feet clears most in-cabinet PDU-to-floor-outlet runs without requiring a whip extension.
- TAA + Buy American Act COTS compliant: USA manufacturing qualifies this for government and defense contractor deployments where foreign-sourced power distribution triggers procurement reviews. Not a checkbox — an actual sourcing gate cleared.
Deployment Considerations:
- All 10 outlets share the single 20A breaker — there is no per-circuit outlet grouping. If one device causes a sustained overload or a hard short, the entire PDU loses power. In high-availability racks, pair with a second PDU on a separate circuit and use dual-corded equipment.
- The 5-20P plug will not seat in a NEMA 5-15R receptacle. Confirm your branch circuit terminates in a 5-20R outlet before ordering — this is the most common commissioning mistake on this unit.
The BRF100-1025 is the right call for a federal or municipal project rack where TAA compliance is a hard requirement, the circuit is a dedicated 20A drop, and management overhead on the PDU itself adds no value — telecom closets, edge compute nodes, and government-spec server rooms are the home environment for this unit.
