Vertiv I10176L Metered Upgradeable Vertical Rack PDU
Overview
The Vertiv I10176L is a 20A, 208V metered vertical rack PDU built for data centers and high-density IT environments where real-time power visibility and upgrade flexibility matter. Rated at 3.3kW and measuring 66.25 inches tall, it mounts vertically in standard server racks and delivers power to 26 locking receptacles — 20 x IEC C13 and 6 x IEC C19 — while continuously monitoring input current from a local LED display. If your power management requirements grow, the hot-swap Vertiv PowerIT Upgradeable architecture lets you convert this metered unit to a fully monitored rPDU by inserting an Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD), without pulling the unit from the rack.
Every I10176L ships factory-tested for reliability and functionality, carries a 5-year limited warranty, and is manufactured in the USA — TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, which satisfies federal procurement requirements outright.
Key Features
- 26 Locking Receptacles (20x C13, 6x C19): U-Lock IEC connectors on every outlet prevent accidental disconnects under vibration or cable tension — essential in high-density racks where a yanked cord can take down production workloads. The C19 outlets handle high-draw devices like blade servers and storage arrays pulling up to 16A per outlet, while the C13 count covers typical 1U servers and switches.
- Real-Time Input Current Monitoring via Local LED Display: The scrolling digital display gives you live kWh, W, VA, Power Factor, Voltage, and Current readings at the rack — no network connection required. Measurement is compliant with ANSI C12.1 and IEC 62053-21 at 1% accuracy class, so the numbers you're reading are actionable, not estimates.
- Hot-Swap IMD Upgrade Path: The Upgradeable sub-category designation means this unit isn't a dead end. When you're ready for remote monitoring, SNMP alerting, or outlet-level data, snap in the appropriate IMD and promote the unit to a monitored rPDU — no rewiring, no downtime, no PDU replacement. That's a meaningful capex hedge if you're pre-deploying in racks ahead of full DCIM buildout.
- 20A / 208V / 3.3kW Power Configuration with L6-20P Twistlock Input: The NEMA L6-20P twistlock plug locks to the PDU input at the panel, eliminating the most common source of unplanned outages in colocation and enterprise data centers. At 3.3kW capacity, this PDU comfortably handles mixed loads in a 42U to 45U rack without hitting the 80% derate threshold on most breaker configurations.
- 10ft / 3m Power Cord, Bottom Front Entry: The 10-foot cord with bottom-front entry gives you routing flexibility in both open-frame and enclosed cabinets. Most raised-floor and overhead busway installations can reach the PDU without extension cords or tight bends that stress connectors.
- Orange U-Lock Color-Coded Circuit ID: All 26 outlets are color-coded orange, identifying them as a single circuit at a glance. In a multi-circuit rack with multiple PDUs, color coding cuts troubleshooting time and reduces human error during maintenance windows.
- Heavy Steel Powder Coat Construction, 66.25in x 2.0in x 2.0in: The 2-inch square cross section fits within standard rack power distribution channel space, and the heavy steel chassis at 15 lbs ships ready to mount without additional hardware complications. Toolless mounting hardware centers at 61.25in and 64.75in for standard rack rail compatibility.
- TAA Compliant, Made in USA, UL and c-UL Listed (62368-1): Federal agencies, defense contractors, and any project subject to the Trade Agreements Act or Buy American Act can deploy the I10176L without an exception request. UL 62368-1 listing covers audio/video and IT equipment safety — the relevant standard for data center PDUs replacing the older UL 60950-1.
- Operating Temp up to 60°C / 140°F: Most data center hot aisles run 35–45°C at the rack inlet. A 60°C ceiling gives you real thermal headroom even in poorly cooled edge deployments or dense colocation environments running aggressive hot-aisle containment.
- RoHS and FCC Part 15 Class A Compliant: RoHS compliance covers restricted-substance requirements for European deployments or any project with EU supply chain obligations. FCC Part 15 Class A is the commercial/industrial standard — emissions won't interfere with sensitive lab or broadcast equipment nearby.
Integration and Compatibility
The I10176L integrates into any vertical rack PDU deployment using standard 208V single-phase infrastructure. The L6-20P twistlock plug connects to NEMA L6-20R receptacles on PDPs, RPPs, or UPS bypass panels — the standard termination for 208V 20A circuits in North American data centers. The 200–240V input range accommodates international voltage variation, useful in colocation facilities that source power at slightly different nominal voltages.
For teams planning DCIM integration or remote power management, the IMD upgrade path connects this unit into Vertiv's monitoring ecosystem without replacing the PDU chassis — check current IMD compatibility with Vertiv's PowerIT platform documentation. For broader network infrastructure planning including UPS and environmental monitoring, this PDU fits naturally into a Vertiv end-to-end power chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the I10176L TAA compliant and eligible for federal procurement?
A: Yes. The I10176L is manufactured in the USA and is both TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, making it eligible for federal, defense, and government procurement without exception processing.
Q: Can the I10176L be upgraded to a monitored rPDU later?
A: Yes. The Upgradeable sub-category means you can insert a compatible Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD) to convert this metered unit to a monitored rPDU with remote access capabilities — no rewiring or rack downtime required.
Q: What outlets does the I10176L provide, and are they locking?
A: The I10176L provides 20 locking IEC C13 outlets and 6 locking IEC C19 outlets (26 total). All use U-Lock connectors that prevent accidental disconnects.
Q: What is the warranty on the I10176L?
A: Vertiv covers the I10176L with a 5-year limited warranty.
Q: What plug type does the I10176L use, and what panel receptacle does it require?
A: The I10176L uses a NEMA L6-20P twistlock plug, which connects to NEMA L6-20R receptacles — standard on 208V 20A circuits from PDPs, RPPs, and UPS output panels in North American data centers.
Q: What power measurements does the I10176L display locally?
A: The local scrolling LED display shows kWh, W, VA, Power Factor, Voltage, and Current at 1% accuracy, compliant with ANSI C12.1 and IEC 62053-21.
The I10176L is the PDU I'd spec for a federal or defense data center buildout where TAA compliance is a hard gate and power monitoring requirements may expand after initial deployment. The hot-swap IMD architecture is the detail that changes the procurement calculus — you're not locked into a metered-only unit for its lifecycle, and you don't have to overspec with a full monitored PDU on day one when budget is constrained.
Technical Highlights:
- 1% Measurement Accuracy (ANSI C12.1 / IEC 62053-21): At 20A capacity, a 1% current reading error is 0.2A — tight enough to set meaningful load alerts and trust the numbers when capacity planning across a multi-rack deployment.
- 26 Locking Outlets (20x C13 + 6x C19) on a Single 20A Circuit: The C19 count handles six high-draw devices simultaneously — useful in blade chassis or storage buildouts where you need multiple C19s without daisy-chaining a second PDU circuit.
- 60°C Max Operating Temperature: That's a 15–25°C buffer above typical hot-aisle inlet temps, which matters in edge or colocation deployments where cooling is shared and not always consistent.
Deployment Considerations:
- The L6-20P twistlock input requires a NEMA L6-20R receptacle at the panel — verify your PDP or UPS output strip uses L6-20R before ordering. Mixing L5 (120V) and L6 (208V) circuits in a rack is a common wiring error; the keyed twistlock helps but confirm the voltage label on the panel circuit before energizing.
- The 2.0in x 2.0in chassis fits standard vertical PDU channels, but at 66.25 inches it's sized for 42U+ cabinets — measure your open rack or cabinet vertical clearance before mounting, especially in shorter 36U enclosures.
For a colocation tenant pre-deploying racks ahead of full DCIM rollout, the I10176L hits the right balance: you get real-time local metering now and a clear upgrade path to remote monitoring later without replacing hardware — a practical approach when the monitoring budget follows the infrastructure budget by 12–18 months.
