Vertiv I10087 Metered Upgradeable Vertical Rack PDU
Overview
The Vertiv I10087 is a vertical metered rack power distribution unit built for high-density data center and IT closet environments where you need real-time power visibility without sacrificing the option to upgrade monitoring later. Carrying the full model number MN01D4B1-24D203-3TL21A0A10-S, this unit delivers 30A of 3-phase WYE input across 24 NEMA 5-20R receptacles at up to 8.6kW — giving you the outlet density and load capacity to service a fully populated rack without a second PDU. What sets the PowerIT line apart is the hot-swap upgradeable architecture: you can add an Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD) in the field to convert from metered to fully monitored without replacing the unit.
Manufactured in the USA and TAA Compliant (as well as Buy American Act COTS Compliant), the I10087 is a straightforward fit for federal, defense, and government IT environments where domestic-origin requirements are non-negotiable. Every unit ships 100% factory-tested. For a broader look at Vertiv's rack power and infrastructure line, the PowerIT family covers a wide range of input configurations and outlet counts.
Key Features
- 30A, 3-Phase WYE at 8.6kW: The single L21-30P input feeds all 24 outlets across three phases — 8 receptacles per phase — so your load balancing is built into the wiring design. At 8.6kW capacity (120V), this unit handles a fully loaded rack without throttling. If you're feeding dual-corded servers, plan your phase allocation carefully before provisioning.
- 24x NEMA 5-20R Duplex Receptacles: All 24 outlets are standard 5-20R, which covers the vast majority of 1U and 2U server PSUs, KVM switches, and network gear. With 4 receptacles per 20A breaker and 6 breakers total, a single circuit fault trips at most 4 outlets — the rest of the rack stays powered.
- 6x 20A Single-Pole Magnetic Breakers: Magnetic breakers respond faster to overloads than thermal equivalents and don't drift with ambient temperature — important in a hot aisle where the PDU may regularly see elevated temps. Each breaker independently protects 4 outlets, giving you granular fault isolation without a full rack outage.
- Three-Level Power Monitoring (Metered): The local LED display gives you aggregate unit-level metrics (kWh, W, VA, PF), per-phase readings (A, B, C — kWh, W, VA, PF, V, A), and per-circuit/breaker current — all ANSI C12.1 and IEC 62053-21 compliant at 1% accuracy for phase measurements and 2% for circuit/breaker current. That's enough precision to catch phase imbalance before it becomes a UPS problem.
- Hot-Swap IMD Upgrade Path: The metered-to-monitored upgrade requires only snapping in a compatible IMD — no rewiring, no rack downtime. If your initial deployment doesn't justify network-level PDU monitoring, you can defer that investment and add it when the environment scales or the business case appears.
- 10ft / 3m Power Cord, Bottom Front Entry: The 10/5 wire gauge cord exits from the bottom front of the chassis, routing naturally to a raised-floor or under-rack power strip. The 10-foot run gives you comfortable reach to most standard rack power feeds without extension hardware.
- 66.25-inch Vertical Form Factor (2in x 2.25in cross-section): The slim 2-inch-wide profile mounts in the vertical channel of a standard rack, freeing all horizontal U-space for equipment. Center-to-center mounting at 61.25in or 64.75in is tool-less, which matters when you're provisioning a row of racks and counting minutes per unit.
- Maximum Operating Temperature 60°C / 140°F: That's a high thermal ceiling — most competing units rate to 45–50°C. In hot-aisle/cold-aisle environments where ambient temps near the PDU can spike, the I10087 won't derate or require derating calculations at normal operating conditions.
- Internal RMS Voltage and Current Sensors: Both sensors are built in, not bolt-on. This matters for monitoring accuracy — external clamp-style sensors introduce measurement error that the factory-calibrated internal sensors avoid.
- UL & c-UL Listed (62368-1), RoHS, FCC Part 15 Class A: The 62368-1 listing is the current harmonized AV/IT equipment safety standard (replacing the older 60950-1), covering both US and Canadian markets. RoHS compliance keeps this unit viable for EU-destined deployments, and FCC Part 15 Class A addresses conducted/radiated emissions in commercial equipment rooms.
Integration & Compatibility
The I10087 connects directly to any 30A, 3-phase WYE branch circuit terminated with a NEMA L21-30P receptacle — a standard outlet in purpose-built data centers and larger IT rooms. The 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets accept any standard C13-to-5-20P or 5-15P-to-5-20P server power cable, as well as 5-20P-terminated PDU whips. If your existing infrastructure uses a different input — such as a 3-phase delta or a single-phase 30A feed — this unit is not a fit without a transformer. For environments running rack PDUs across a mix of outlet types, Vertiv's PowerIT line includes variants with IEC C13/C19 outlets for international or dual-voltage environments.
For planning your rack power budget, pairing the I10087 with a compatible UPS upstream protects against utility fluctuations and gives you runtime during outages. The L21-30P plug feeds from most major UPS vendors' 30A 3-phase output receptacles. Consult your UPS vendor's output panel configuration before ordering.
If you need guidance on calculating rack power density and outlet allocation, the rack power planning guide walks through load balancing across phases and breaker sizing for mixed-equipment racks. For environments also managing structured cabling, see the cable management category for vertical and horizontal organizers that pair with this PDU's vertical mount profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Vertiv I10087 TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The I10087 is manufactured in the USA, TAA Compliant, and Buy American Act COTS Compliant — qualifying for federal, defense, and government procurement where domestic-origin requirements apply.
Q: What is the warranty on the I10087?
A: Vertiv covers the I10087 with a 5-year limited warranty.
Q: Can the I10087 be upgraded from metered to monitored after installation?
A: Yes. The PowerIT Upgradeable hot-swap design allows you to add a compatible Interchangeable Monitoring Device (IMD) in the field to convert the unit to monitored capability without replacing the PDU or taking the rack offline.
Q: What plug type does the I10087 require at the power source?
A: The I10087 uses a NEMA L21-30P Twistlock plug on a 10ft / 3m, 10/5 wire gauge cord. Your upstream power source must provide a matching L21-30P receptacle on a 30A, 3-phase WYE branch circuit.
Q: How many outlets does the I10087 provide, and how are they protected?
A: The I10087 has 24 NEMA 5-20R duplex outlets, grouped 4 per breaker across 6 independent 20A single-pole magnetic breakers. A fault on one breaker affects only its 4 outlets — the remaining 20 outlets stay live.
Q: What is the monitoring accuracy of the I10087's power measurements?
A: Phase-level measurements (kWh, W, VA, PF, V, A) are ANSI C12.1 and IEC 62053-21 compliant at 1% accuracy. Circuit/breaker current measurements are independently tested and verified at 2% accuracy.
The I10087 is the unit I recommend when an architect wants to defer the monitored PDU cost but needs to leave the door open — the hot-swap IMD slot means you're not locked into a forklift upgrade when the environment grows. The 1% accuracy on phase monitoring (ANSI C12.1 / IEC 62053-21) is worth calling out specifically: most facilities teams don't realize that PDU monitoring accuracy varies widely, and at 8.6kW loads that 1% delta matters for capacity planning dashboards.
Technical Highlights:
- 6x 20A Magnetic Breakers: Magnetic trip elements don't thermally drift in hot aisles the way thermal-magnetic breakers can — at an ambient ceiling of 60°C, that consistency matters for repeatable overload protection across the full operating range.
- 3-Phase WYE, 8 Outlets Per Phase: The factory-balanced outlet grouping (8 per phase, 4 per breaker) makes phase load balancing deterministic during rack provisioning — you know exactly which outlets belong to each phase before you plug in a single server.
- Tool-less Vertical Mount, 61.25in / 64.75in Spacing: The two center-to-center options cover both standard 0U vertical mounting channels in most major cabinet brands. No drilling, no custom hardware — this matters when you're staging 20+ racks on a raised floor and every minute of rack build time adds up.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify your upstream distribution panel provides an L21-30P Twistlock receptacle on a 30A, 3-phase WYE branch — the I10087 won't work with single-phase 30A feeds (L5-30P, L6-30P) or 3-phase delta configurations without a transformer.
- The 24 outlets are all NEMA 5-20R at 120V — if your equipment inventory includes any 208V dual-voltage PSUs that require C13 or C19 IEC outlets, this PDU does not serve those loads; select a different PowerIT variant with IEC receptacles instead.
For a colocation row build or enterprise data center refresh where procurement needs TAA compliance and facilities teams want the option to add network-level PDU monitoring in a future budget cycle, the I10087 is the right unit to spec — not a near-term workaround, but a deliberate architecture decision.
