Vertiv 38320 Metered Vertical Rack PDU 20A 120V 20-Outlet
Overview
The Vertiv NSVBC200-102S20TL (part number 38320) is a vertically mounted, metered rack power distribution unit built for IT environments where catching an overload before it takes down a server is worth more than any insurance policy. At 20A/120V with a 1.9kW load capacity and 20 NEMA 5-20R receptacles spread across a 66-inch chassis, this unit is sized for fully populated 2-post or 4-post racks running mixed server, switch, and storage loads. The local digital RMS scrolling meter — accurate to ±2% — puts real-time amps, volts, watts, and power factor directly on the unit face, so you can confirm actual consumption the moment a new device drops in rather than guessing from nameplate ratings. This is part of the broader Vertiv power distribution lineup, which covers metered, monitored, and switched rPDU configurations across a range of voltages and current ratings.
Key Features
- Local Metered Monitoring (A, V, W, PF): The RMS scrolling power meter gives you live aggregate readings at ±2% accuracy without logging into anything. When you're swapping gear or commissioning a new cabinet, instant load visibility prevents the kind of nuisance trips that take down adjacent equipment. This is unit-level (Level 1 aggregate) — you see total draw, not per-outlet.
- 20 NEMA 5-20R Receptacles on a Single 20A Breaker: Every outlet runs on one 20A thermal breaker, which means full 1.9kW is available to the rack without breaker staging. Center-to-center spacing of 2.8 inches keeps standard rack plugs from fighting each other — a detail that matters when you're running 20 devices with brick-style adapters.
- L5-20P Twistlock Input Plug on a 10ft/12AWG Cord: The locking L5-20P plug on a 10-foot, 12 AWG cord connects securely to PDUs, wall outlets, or UPS output receptacles without relying on friction alone. The 12 AWG wire gauge is appropriately sized for sustained 20A draws — undersized cords at continuous load are a real-world fire hazard that this spec addresses directly.
- 66-Inch Vertical Form Factor: At 66.25 × 1.61 × 1.61 inches, this unit installs vertically in the rear of a standard 42U rack via plastic mounting clips (1 bottom, 2 top), keeping every outlet accessible without sacrificing U-space that rack-mount horizontal PDUs consume. Explore rack PDU options if you need horizontal or shorter-chassis alternatives.
- 20A Thermal Breaker with Manual Switch: Thermal breakers trip on sustained overcurrent rather than instantaneous spikes, which reduces nuisance trips from inrush current during simultaneous boot sequences. The manual switch lets you kill all outlet power without unplugging the unit — useful during scheduled maintenance windows.
- TAA Compliant, Buy American Act COTS Compliant, Made in USA: Government and federal agency deployments often require TAA and BAA compliance as a contract condition. The 38320 ships from domestic production, which removes the certification paperwork that imported units require. Pair with a compatible UPS that is similarly TAA-compliant to keep the full power chain procurement-clean.
- RoHS Compliant, UL & c-UL Listed 60950: UL 60950 listing covers IT equipment power distribution safety standards — required by most data center facility managers and verified by third-party testing. RoHS compliance matters for organizations with environmental procurement policies or EU-bound deployments.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: Vertiv backs the NSVBC200-102S20TL with a 5-year limited warranty, longer than the 2–3 year coverage typical on commodity PDUs. For a passive device that's expected to run continuously for the life of the rack, warranty duration is a legitimate selection criterion.
- Operating Temperature 10–45°C (50–113°F): Standard data center and IDF closet range. If your installation environment runs hot — enclosed telecom cabinets, outdoor-rated enclosures, or uncontrolled machine rooms — verify ambient temperature stays below 45°C before spec'ing this unit. Review your metered PDU selection if you need extended-temp ratings.
Integration and Compatibility
The 38320 accepts a standard NEMA L5-20P source — any 20A/120V UPS output, dedicated circuit, or transfer switch with a compatible receptacle works directly. The 20 NEMA 5-20R outlets are universally compatible with standard North American IT equipment power cords; no adapter required for typical 1U or 2U servers, network switches, storage arrays, or KVM units. Because monitoring is local-only (no network interface, no SNMP, no remote management), integration into DCIM platforms or remote monitoring systems requires an external metered monitoring layer at the UPS or upstream circuit level. If remote outlet switching, per-outlet metering, or SNMP/Modbus integration is a requirement, step up to Vertiv's switched or monitored rPDU families. For basic load visibility with maximum reliability and zero network attack surface, the NSVBC200-102S20TL is appropriately specified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the warranty on the Vertiv 38320?
A: The 38320 carries a 5-year limited warranty from Vertiv, covering the NSVBC200-102S20TL unit.
Q: Is the 38320 TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The NSVBC200-102S20TL is manufactured in the USA and is both TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, making it eligible for federal and government contracts that require domestic sourcing.
Q: Does the 38320 support remote monitoring or SNMP?
A: No. The 38320 is a metered Standard unit with local-only monitoring — a digital RMS scrolling display showing amps, volts, watts, and power factor at the unit face. There is no network interface, no SNMP, and no remote management capability. For remote monitoring, consider Vertiv's monitored or switched rPDU families.
Q: What plug type does the 38320 use, and how long is the power cord?
A: The 38320 ships with a 10-foot, 12 AWG power cord terminated in a NEMA L5-20P twistlock plug, designed to connect to 20A/120V UPS units, wall outlets, or transfer switches with matching receptacles.
Q: How many outlets does the 38320 have, and what type?
A: The 38320 has 20 NEMA 5-20R receptacles, all on a single 20A thermal breaker. Each outlet supports up to 20A at 120V individually, subject to the 20A total unit capacity.
Q: Will the 38320 fit in a standard 42U rack?
A: Yes. At 66.25 inches long and 1.61 × 1.61 inches in cross-section, the 38320 mounts vertically in the rear rail of a standard 42U rack using the included plastic mounting clips (1 bottom, 2 top). It occupies no U-space since it installs in the rack's zero-U vertical channel.
The 38320 sits in a specific and well-defined sweet spot: a 20A/120V rack that needs load visibility at the cabinet level but doesn't justify the cost or complexity of a networked PDU. The ±2% RMS scrolling meter on the NSVBC200-102S20TL is what separates this from a basic PDU — you can walk up to a fully loaded rack and confirm actual draw in seconds, which is exactly what you need when commissioning or troubleshooting without pulling up a DCIM dashboard.
Technical Highlights:
- Single 20A Thermal Breaker for All 20 Outlets: All 20 NEMA 5-20R receptacles run off one 20A breaker. This simplifies load planning — you watch one number — but it also means a breaker trip kills every outlet simultaneously. Plan your load distribution across redundant PDUs if uptime is non-negotiable.
- 12 AWG, 10ft Power Cord with L5-20P Twistlock: The 12 AWG wire gauge is correctly sized for continuous 20A service (NEC 80% rule puts continuous load limit at 16A on a 20A circuit, but the cord itself handles the full rated current). The locking plug prevents accidental disconnection in environments with cable traffic.
- Zero-U Vertical Mount at 66 Inches: The 66.25-inch chassis covers virtually the full height of a standard 42U rack and clips to the rear vertical rail — no rack units consumed. At 9 lbs shipped, a single installer can position and clip it without a lift assist.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 38320 is local-monitoring only — no RJ-45, no SNMP, no integration with DCIM or BMS platforms. If your facility team needs remote load alerts or per-outlet data, this unit won't deliver that; step to Vertiv's monitored rPDU tier instead.
- Operating temperature tops out at 45°C (113°F). In enclosed telecom cabinets or machine rooms without active cooling, verify ambient stays within range — thermal breakers can become more sensitive as ambient rises, potentially tripping below rated load.
The NSVBC200-102S20TL is the right call for colocation deployments, IDF closets, and enterprise server rooms where a facilities team needs quick load confirmation during moves-adds-changes without introducing a network-connected device into the power infrastructure. TAA and BAA compliance also makes it a straightforward pick for federal agency rack builds where sourcing documentation matters.
