Vertiv PD3-004 3-Phase 0U Rack-Mount Power Distribution Unit
Overview
The Vertiv PD3-004 is a vertically mounted, 0U three-phase rack PDU engineered for dense data center and equipment room environments where you need managed power distribution without sacrificing a single rack unit of usable space. Part of Vertiv's Vertiv ITA2 power distribution line, the PD3-004 accepts a three-phase AC 120/208V input via an IEC 60309 connector — the industrial-grade twist-lock standard common in colocation facilities and enterprise machine rooms — and distributes power to two NEMA L15-30R receptacles. If you're building out or expanding a rack PDU infrastructure in a three-phase environment, the PD3-004 fits vertically in the side channel of a standard rack and keeps your U-count fully available for compute, storage, and networking gear.
Key Features
- Three-Phase 120/208V Input: Three-phase input at 120/208V AC means you're drawing more efficiently from your facility's three-phase power feed compared to single-phase alternatives — important when provisioning high-density racks where single-phase circuits would demand a larger wire gauge and higher current per leg to deliver equivalent total wattage.
- IEC 60309 Input Connector: The IEC 60309 inlet (the industrial twist-lock connector standard in data centers and colo environments) provides a secure, vibration-resistant connection that won't loosen under rack movement or cable pull — unlike standard NEMA connectors that can work loose over time in busy equipment rooms.
- NEMA L15-30R Outlet Configuration: Two NEMA L15-30R receptacles at the output side handle 30A locking connections, making this PDU compatible with high-draw three-phase equipment that terminates in the L15-30 standard. If your servers or UPS bypass connections use L15-30P plugs, no adapters required.
- 0U Vertical Form Factor: Mounting vertically in the rack's cable management channel means the PD3-004 occupies zero rack units — all 42U or 48U of your rack remains available for revenue-generating equipment. This matters when rack space costs more than floor space in colocation deployments.
- Web, SNMP, and Telnet Management: Onboard management via Web interface, SNMP, and Telnet lets your NOC monitor outlet-level status and integrate power data into existing SNMP-capable NMS platforms — without deploying a separate power management appliance. SNMP in particular means you can set thresholds and receive traps when power conditions drift.
- Managed Protocol Stack (Web/SNMP/Telnet): The combination of a browser-based interface for local administration and SNMP for integration into enterprise monitoring stacks (SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios, etc.) means IT teams don't need to physically access the PDU to check load or respond to alerts — critical in remote or colocation environments where a truck roll is expensive.
Integration and Compatibility
The PD3-004 is designed for rack environments fed by three-phase 120/208V power infrastructure — typical in North American data centers, colocation facilities, and enterprise server rooms with delta or wye-configured three-phase distribution. The IEC 60309 input connector is the standard termination point in most colo cage environments. SNMP support means integration into standard network management and monitoring platforms is straightforward — configure your MIB, set community strings, and the PDU reports into the same dashboard as your switches and servers. For facilities teams managing power density and PUE, the managed interface provides the outlet-level visibility needed to identify underutilized circuits and rebalance loads across phases. Pair this unit with compatible UPS and power conditioning equipment upstream to complete a managed power chain from the facility feed to the rack edge. Before specifying, confirm your facility's three-phase panel has an available L15-30 or IEC 60309-terminated circuit at the correct voltage — mismatch here is the most common commissioning error on three-phase PDU deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input connector does the Vertiv PD3-004 use?
A: The PD3-004 uses an IEC 60309 input connector, the industrial twist-lock standard widely used in data centers and colocation facilities for three-phase power distribution.
Q: What outlets does the PD3-004 provide?
A: The PD3-004 provides two NEMA L15-30R receptacles — 30A locking three-phase outlets compatible with equipment that terminates in L15-30P plugs.
Q: Does the PD3-004 support remote monitoring?
A: Yes. The PD3-004 supports remote management via Web interface, SNMP, and Telnet, allowing integration into enterprise network management systems for load monitoring and alerting.
Q: How does the PD3-004 mount in a rack?
A: The PD3-004 mounts vertically in a standard rack, occupying 0U of rack unit space — it installs in the side channel of the rack, leaving all rack units available for other equipment.
Q: What input voltage does the PD3-004 require?
A: The PD3-004 requires a three-phase AC 120/208V input feed. Confirm your facility's panel provides this voltage before installation — single-phase feeds are not compatible.
Q: Is the PD3-004 part of the Vertiv ITA2 product family?
A: Yes. The PD3-004 is part of Vertiv's ITA2 series of intelligent three-phase pod PDUs, designed for managed power distribution in high-density rack environments.
The PD3-004 is one of those units I'd spec for a colocation deployment where every rack unit has a dollar value attached to it — the 0U vertical form factor is the spec that clinches it for dense environments. Three-phase input at 120/208V via IEC 60309 is standard for any serious colo cage, and the PD3-004 (sometimes searched as PD3 004) fits that infrastructure directly without adapter chains.
Technical Highlights:
- Three-Phase 120/208V Input: Draws from a three-phase feed, distributing load across phases more efficiently than single-phase PDUs — reduces current per conductor and lowers thermal stress on branch circuits in high-density racks.
- NEMA L15-30R Outlets: Two 30A locking receptacles provide a secure termination point for high-draw three-phase equipment — the locking mechanism is particularly important in vibration-prone or high-traffic equipment rooms where standard plugs can work loose.
- Web/SNMP/Telnet Management: SNMP integration means you can pull power data into SolarWinds, PRTG, or any standard NMS alongside network device metrics — no separate power management console needed and no physical access required for routine monitoring.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify your facility's branch circuit terminates in IEC 60309 at the correct voltage before the unit ships — retrofitting the whip after delivery adds lead time and cost that's easily avoided at the planning stage.
- Two NEMA L15-30R outlets is a low outlet count by modern PDU standards — this unit is best suited for environments with a small number of high-draw three-phase loads per rack, not for dense blade or multi-server deployments that need 20+ outlets per PDU.
The PD3-004 is a solid fit for colocation cages or enterprise machine rooms running a small number of high-draw three-phase loads per rack, where the vertical 0U profile keeps rack real estate fully available and SNMP monitoring integrates directly into an existing NOC stack.
