APC by Schneider Electric Rack PDU 2G Metered-by-outlet Zerou 5.7KW 208V (21) C13 & (3) - AP8461

APC by Schneider Electric AP8461 Metered-by-Outlet Zero-U Rack PDU

Overview

The APC by Schneider Electric AP8461 is a 2G metered-by-outlet, zero-U rack power distribution unit built for data center and server room environments where granular current visibility at the outlet level is not optional — it's how you prevent overloads and allocate capacity without guesswork. Running at 208V with a 20A NEMA L21-20P input, the AP8461 delivers 5.7kW of total capacity across 24 receptacles, giving rack engineers real per-outlet load data through a front-facing LCD display rather than relying on aggregate breaker readings that can't pinpoint which device is drawing what.

This is a rack PDU designed for three-phase or high-density single-circuit installations where the 208V infrastructure is already in place. If your facility is wired for 208V and you need outlet-level accountability across a fully loaded 2U or 4U switch stack, a dense NVR shelf, or a mixed compute and storage bay, the AP8461 fits that requirement directly.

Key Features

• 24-Outlet Capacity (21x C13, 3x C19): The mix of 21 IEC C13 and 3 IEC C19 receptacles matches the actual port profile of most rack builds — servers, switches, and 1U appliances land on C13; high-draw PDUs, UPS bypass units, and GPU compute nodes go to C19. You're not re-patching or adding adapters to accommodate a dense rack.
• Metered-by-Outlet Monitoring: Per-outlet current metering means you know exactly which device is drawing power at any moment. This is the spec that separates metered-by-outlet units from basic metered PDUs that only read the inlet — critical when you're tracking SLA-bound loads or doing capacity planning across a shared cage.
• LCD Display: The onboard LCD surfaces current draw without requiring a network connection or management software. During provisioning, troubleshooting, or a network outage, you still have visibility directly at the unit — a practical advantage over purely SNMP-dependent monitoring setups.
• 208V / 20A Input via NEMA L21-20P: The NEMA L21-20P connector is the standard three-phase locking plug for 208V circuits in data center environments. At 20A input and 5.7kW total capacity, this PDU is sized for a heavily loaded rack without requiring a dedicated 30A circuit — practical for facilities with standard 20A 208V branch circuits already provisioned.
• Zero-U Form Factor: Mounts vertically in the rack's side channel without consuming a single rack unit. In a fully loaded 42U or 48U rack, reclaiming even 1U matters — zero-U keeps the entire equipment bay available for revenue-generating hardware.
• 1.83m (6 ft) Power Cord: The 1.83m lead reaches standard floor-mount or overhead PDU whips without extension cords or cable management workarounds in most raised-floor and overhead busway installations.
• -5°C to 45°C Operating Range: Rated for operation across the full ASHRAE A1 and A2 envelope. Whether the CRAC unit is undersized during a summer peak or the room runs warm during a maintenance window, the AP8461 stays within spec.
• RoHS, REACH, UL, cUL, FCC, ICES-003, VCCI Certified: Covers the compliance requirements for North American and international deployments — relevant when procurement requires RoHS for environmental mandates or UL listing for insurance and facilities sign-off.

Integration & Compatibility

The AP8461 connects to existing APC by Schneider Electric UPS and power management infrastructure and is compatible with APC's EcoStruxure IT ecosystem for centralized monitoring when paired with a network management card. The NEMA L21-20P input is the correct plug type for 208V three-phase branch circuits — verify your PDU whip or in-row distribution panel uses matching L21-20 receptacles before ordering. For environments requiring remote outlet switching in addition to metering, review the switched-by-outlet variants in the APC rack PDU lineup; the AP8461 meters but does not switch individual outlets remotely. For full outlet-level remote control, a different SKU in the 2G family would be the correct fit.

Facilities running mixed 120V and 208V racks should confirm branch circuit voltage at the whip before deploying — the AP8461 is 208V only and will not operate on a 120V feed. Consult your rack power planning guide if you're sizing PDUs across a mixed-voltage environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug does the AP8461 use?

A: The AP8461 uses a NEMA L21-20P input connector, which is the standard three-phase locking plug for 208V, 20A branch circuits in data center environments. Verify your power whip or distribution panel has a matching L21-20 receptacle before deploying.

Q: Does the AP8461 allow remote outlet switching?

A: No. The AP8461 is a metered-by-outlet PDU — it provides per-outlet current monitoring and an LCD display, but does not support remote outlet switching. If individual outlet on/off control via network is required, you'll need to evaluate the switched-by-outlet variants in the APC 2G PDU family.

Q: What is the maximum power capacity of the AP8461?

A: The AP8461 delivers up to 5.7kW total at 208V with a 20A maximum input current. Maximum per-phase draw is also 20A. This sizing fits a heavily loaded rack on a standard 208V 20A branch circuit.

Q: What outlet types does the AP8461 provide?

A: The AP8461 has 24 total outlets: 21 IEC C13 receptacles for standard server and networking equipment, and 3 IEC C19 receptacles for higher-draw devices such as high-density compute nodes or large UPS units.

Q: What certifications does the AP8461 carry?

A: The AP8461 is certified to UL, cUL, FCC, ICES-003, VCCI, and REACH standards, and is RoHS compliant. This covers the primary compliance requirements for North American commercial and data center deployments.

Q: What is the operating temperature range of the AP8461?

A: The AP8461 operates from -5°C to 45°C (23°F to 113°F), covering the full ASHRAE A1/A2 envelope for most commercial data center and server room environments.

Jerry Tildsen

The AP8461 is the unit I spec when a customer needs outlet-level current accountability at 208V without burning a rack unit — the zero-U form factor and per-outlet metering combination is exactly right for dense NVR or compute shelves where you're trying to prove compliance with power SLAs or avoid nuisance tripping on a shared circuit. The 5.7kW / 20A ceiling covers most fully loaded 1U server racks on a single 208V branch circuit without requiring an upgrade to 30A infrastructure.

Technical Highlights:

• Per-Outlet Metering: Unlike inlet-only metered PDUs that give you one aggregate number, the AP8461 meters each of the 24 outlets individually — you can see exactly which device is pulling what, which makes capacity planning and fault isolation dramatically faster in shared cages.
• 24-Outlet Mix (21x C13 / 3x C19): The 3:1 ratio of C13 to C19 is close to what most mixed racks actually need — standard 1U servers and switches on C13, and the occasional high-draw node or large UPS on C19. No IEC adapter chains needed.
• LCD Local Display: The onboard LCD means you're not blind during a network outage or initial commissioning — current readings are available at the unit face at all times, independent of any management card or software connection.

Deployment Considerations:

• The NEMA L21-20P plug is non-negotiable — confirm your in-row PDU whip or overhead busway tap has a matching L21-20 receptacle before the unit ships to the data center. Retrofitting the wrong receptacle type on a live circuit adds delay and cost.
• The AP8461 is 208V only. If your facility has a mix of 120V and 208V racks, double-check branch circuit labeling at the panel before installation — plugging a 208V PDU into a misidentified 120V circuit will trip the breaker at minimum, and damage connected equipment at worst.

For colocation facilities managing mixed tenant racks or enterprise data centers tracking per-server power allocation for chargeback, the AP8461 is the practical answer — per-outlet metering at 208V with zero rack unit consumption and a local display that doesn't depend on network availability.