APC by Schneider Electric MDC42SX5KVAT 42U Micro Data Center 5kVA 208V
Overview
The MDC42SX5KVAT is APC by Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Micro Data Center — a factory pre-assembled, 42U enclosure delivering 5kVA at 208V/60Hz in a 1991mm x 600mm x 1070mm footprint. It ships as a single integrated unit, eliminating the multi-week rack-and-stack process that typically eats up deployment schedules on edge or satellite data center projects. If your site needs a self-contained power and compute enclosure without a dedicated data center build-out, this is the configuration to evaluate. Explore the broader APC by Schneider Electric power and infrastructure catalog for complementary UPS and cooling solutions.
Key Features
- 42U Usable Rack Space: A full 42U of equipment mounting in a 600mm-wide, 1070mm-deep cabinet — enough vertical space to house compute, storage, networking, and patch panels in a single enclosure. No supplemental rack needed for most edge deployments.
- 5kVA / 208V Power Capacity: At 5kVA on a 208V feed, this unit supports demanding server and networking loads that would exceed a standard 120V branch circuit. Size the upstream circuit accordingly — 208V single-phase or three-phase tap depending on site infrastructure.
- 60Hz AC Input: Calibrated for North American grid frequency, making the MDC42SX5KVAT a direct fit for US facilities without frequency conversion hardware.
- Pre-Assembled from Factory: APC ships this as a pre-integrated system. That matters operationally — your team installs, not assembles. Reduces skilled-labor hours on-site and shortens time-to-live for edge compute rollouts.
- 600mm Width / 1070mm Depth Form Factor: The 600mm cabinet width fits standard raised-floor tile grids and most IT closet doorways. At 1070mm deep, confirm your room depth before ordering — tight telecom closets with swing-room constraints have caught buyers off guard on similar configurations.
- EcoStruxure Platform Integration: As part of APC's EcoStruxure Micro Data Center line, this enclosure is designed to integrate with APC's monitoring and management ecosystem — useful for facilities teams tracking power, environment, and physical security across distributed sites from a single pane of glass.
Integration and Compatibility
The MDC42SX5KVAT fits deployments where a conventional data center build is not feasible — manufacturing floors, remote branch offices, healthcare imaging suites, and retail back-of-house server rooms. The 208V input requirement means this unit targets sites already provisioned for two-phase or three-phase commercial power, not standard single-phase 120V office circuits. Pair it with rack PDUs and power distribution sized to the 208V feed, and factor in supplemental cooling — enclosed micro DC cabinets trap heat aggressively at sustained 5kVA loads. For surveillance-heavy edge nodes, this pairs with network video recorders and compute hardware that benefits from integrated enclosure security. Budget planning for this configuration should include a UPS and power planning review to confirm upstream circuit capacity matches the 5kVA draw under peak load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does pre-assembled mean for the MDC42SX5KVAT?
A: APC ships the MDC42SX5KVAT as a factory-integrated unit — the 42U enclosure, power distribution, and structural components arrive assembled and tested. Your team positions and connects the unit rather than building it from components on-site.
Q: What power feed does the MDC42SX5KVAT require?
A: The MDC42SX5KVAT is rated for 208V / 60Hz input. This is a commercial two-phase voltage, not standard 120V. Confirm your facility has a 208V circuit available before ordering.
Q: What is the footprint of the MDC42SX5KVAT?
A: The cabinet measures 1991mm tall x 600mm wide x 1070mm deep (approximately 78.4in H x 23.6in W x 42.1in D). Verify doorway clearance and floor depth before delivery.
Q: How many rack units does the MDC42SX5KVAT provide?
A: The enclosure provides 42U of usable rack space — enough to mount servers, networking, storage, and patch infrastructure in a single self-contained cabinet.
Q: Is the MDC42SX5KVAT suitable for edge or satellite data center deployments?
A: Yes. The pre-assembled form factor and integrated power management make it a practical option for edge compute nodes, remote offices, and sites where a full data center build-out is not viable.
The MDC42SX5KVAT is a deployment accelerator more than it is a simple rack purchase. At 5kVA on a 208V feed with 42U of integrated space and a factory pre-assembled build, this unit collapses weeks of rack-and-stack labor into a single drop-ship and connect event — which is the real value argument when you're commissioning edge nodes across multiple sites simultaneously.
Technical Highlights:
- 5kVA at 208V: Handles server and active networking loads that outstrip standard 120V branch circuits — critical for dense compute or multi-NVR surveillance nodes that run sustained draw around the clock.
- 42U Enclosure Depth (1070mm): The 1070mm cabinet depth accommodates full-depth 1U and 2U servers without the rear-door cable management headaches common in shallower enclosures. Most modern 1U servers run 700–900mm deep, so this spec matters.
- 600mm Width: Standard 600mm form fits raised-floor tile grids and most IT closet openings — a practical detail that avoids site-prep rework on retrofit edge deployments.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 208V input is non-negotiable — coordinate with facilities before the unit ships. Discovering a 120V-only circuit on delivery day means the cabinet sits on the loading dock while an electrician is scheduled.
- Enclosed micro DC enclosures at 5kVA sustained load generate significant heat. The MDC42SX5KVAT requires supplemental cooling planning — do not assume ambient room HVAC is sufficient at full rack utilization.
This configuration is best matched to edge surveillance nodes and remote branch compute rooms where 42U of pre-integrated, 208V-ready infrastructure needs to go live fast with minimal on-site skilled labor.
