APC by Schneider Electric Rack PDU 2G Metered Zerou 32A 230V (36) C13 & (6) C19 - AP8853

APC by Schneider Electric AP8853 Rack PDU 2G Metered Zero-U 32A 230V

Overview

The AP8853 is a 2nd-generation metered, zero-U rack PDU designed for high-density 230V equipment deployments where knowing exactly how much current each circuit is drawing is the difference between a stable rack and a tripped breaker at 2 a.m. With a 32A IEC 309 input, 7,400VA load capacity, and 42 total outlets — (36) C13 and (6) C19 — this unit handles a full rack of servers, switches, or storage nodes without requiring outlet aggregation workarounds. The zero-U vertical form factor mounts flush against the interior rail of a standard 600mm or wider rack, so it consumes none of your usable rack units while keeping all outlet faces accessible.

Unlike basic strip PDUs, the AP8853 provides local current metering at the unit level, giving rack-level visibility into load without deploying a separate current transformer or relying on UPS aggregate readings. That data matters when you're managing power capacity across a multi-rack row and need to balance loads before adding hardware — not after a circuit trips.

Key Features

• 32A / 7,400VA Load Capacity: The IEC 309 32A 2P+E input and 7,400VA rated capacity mean you can populate this PDU with a full complement of 1U servers or network gear and still have headroom. At 230V, 32A gives you roughly 7.36kW of usable capacity — enough for a densely loaded compute or storage rack without hitting the wall ahead of the breaker.
• (36) C13 + (6) C19 Outlets — 42 Total: The C13/C19 split covers the full range of rack equipment. C13 handles 1U servers, switches, and KVMs; C19 feeds the heavier loads — high-density servers, high-wattage storage arrays, and large UPS bypass paths. Having six C19 outlets on a single PDU eliminates the need for a secondary strip just to power a few high-draw nodes.
• Zero-U Vertical Form Factor: At 70.5 inches tall by just 2.2 inches wide and 1.72 inches deep, the AP8853 installs vertically in the rack's internal side channel. You reclaim every rack unit for actual equipment. The profile is narrow enough to coexist with cable managers on the same vertical rail.
• IEC 309 Input Connector: The industrial-grade IEC 309 32A 2P+E inlet requires a matching 32A feed from the floor PDU or panelboard. This is a positive locking connector — accidental disconnection under load is not a concern. Confirm your facility has IEC 309 32A receptacles provisioned before ordering; adapters exist but add resistance and are not recommended for sustained high-load use.
• 9.84 ft (3m) Input Cord: The factory-attached 3-meter cord reaches from a floor-level or overhead busway connection to a mid-height rack position without extension cords. In a standard two-post or four-post 42U rack, 3 meters is typically adequate for under-floor feeds. Overhead busway installations in taller enclosures should measure before assuming fit.
• 230V Nominal / 220–240V Acceptable Range: Designed for international 230V infrastructure with a 220–240V acceptance window, the AP8853 operates correctly on standard European, Middle Eastern, and Asia-Pacific single-phase feeds. It is NOT designed for North American 120V single-phase or 208V split-phase without a compatible 200–208V feed (the spec confirms 200V and 208V as nominal input options alongside 230V — confirm feed voltage before deployment).
• Wide Operating Temperature Range (–5°C to 45°C / 23–113°F): The 45°C upper limit is well above typical data center hot-aisle temperatures. Even in poorly cooled comms rooms or edge deployments without precision cooling, the AP8853 won't thermal-throttle or shut down due to ambient heat alone.
• Operating Altitude to 10,000 ft (3,000m): Deployments at elevation — mountain data centers, high-altitude government sites, mining operations — can run the AP8853 without derating concerns up to 3,000 meters. Storage altitude extends to 15,000 meters for shipping to extreme-altitude destinations.

Integration and Compatibility

The AP8853 integrates into APC's broader APC by Schneider Electric power management ecosystem and fits within standard rack PDU deployments alongside APC's InfraStruxure and NetShelter enclosures. The IEC 309 input is a global standard — compatible with any facility infrastructure that provides a matched 32A 2P+E receptacle regardless of manufacturer. C13 and C19 outlets accept all compliant IEC 320 power cords, making it compatible with server hardware from any vendor.

For environments requiring outlet-level switching or outlet-level metering (per-outlet current and energy data), consider a higher-tier PDU variant in the AP8800 family that includes outlet-level measurement. The AP8853 provides unit-level current metering — sufficient for rack-level capacity planning but not for per-server power allocation or chargeback billing by device. If your power management strategy requires per-device kWh tracking, you'll want to step up to an outlet-metered model.

For complete rack power redundancy, pair this PDU with a compatible APC UPS system upstream or deploy dual PDUs with an automatic transfer switch feeding from redundant A/B circuits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug does the AP8853 use, and do I need a special receptacle?

A: The AP8853 uses an IEC 309 32A 2P+E (two-pole plus earth) input connector. This is an industrial locking connector — your facility must have a matching IEC 309 32A receptacle provisioned. Standard schuko or CEE 7/5 outlets will not fit. Confirm your panel or floor PDU has the correct receptacle before ordering.

Q: Does the AP8853 provide per-outlet metering or only unit-level metering?

A: The AP8853 is a unit-level metered PDU — it measures total current draw across the entire PDU, not per-outlet. If you need per-outlet current or energy data for chargeback billing or per-server power allocation, you'll need a switched/outlet-metered PDU variant from the AP8800 series.

Q: Can the AP8853 be used with a 208V feed in a North American data center?

A: The AP8853 lists 200V and 208V as nominal input voltages alongside 230V, with an acceptable input range of 220–240VAC. A 200–208V feed falls within the nominal range but is below the 220V minimum of the acceptable range — verify your specific facility feed voltage and consult APC application notes before deploying on a 208V circuit.

Q: How is the AP8853 mounted in a rack?

A: The AP8853 is a zero-U PDU, meaning it mounts vertically in the side channel of the rack enclosure — not in a rack unit slot. At 70.5 inches tall, it spans most of a standard 42U rack height. Mounting hardware and method depend on the rack enclosure; verify compatibility with your specific enclosure model.

Q: What is the total outlet count and what equipment can I connect?

A: The AP8853 provides 42 total outlets: (36) IEC 320 C13 and (6) IEC 320 C19. C13 outlets support standard 1U servers, network switches, KVM units, and similar gear. C19 outlets handle higher-wattage equipment such as dense storage arrays, high-end servers, or devices requiring the larger C20 plug format via a C19-to-C20 cord.

Q: What is the weight of the AP8853?

A: The AP8853 weighs 15.24 lbs (6.93 kg). Factor this into rack load calculations, especially in high-density deployments with multiple PDUs per cabinet.

Marty Allison

The AP8853 hits the spec that matters most in dense 230V rack builds: a genuine 32A / 7,400VA capacity from a locking IEC 309 inlet, with 42 outlets split 36 C13 / 6 C19 — all without consuming a single rack unit. I reach for this model specifically when a rack is projected to run above 4kW sustained and the facility already has IEC 309 32A receptacles provisioned at the cabinet position.

Technical Highlights:

• 42-Outlet C13/C19 Split: Six C19 outlets handle the high-draw nodes (dense storage, GPU servers, aggregation switches) while 36 C13 outlets cover the rest of the 1U stack — no secondary strip needed, no cord adapters daisy-chaining load through an undersized PDU.
• Zero-U 70.5-Inch Profile: At 2.2 inches wide and 1.72 inches deep, the AP8853 installs in the vertical side channel and disappears into the rail — the full 42U face stays available for equipment and cable management.
• –5°C to 45°C Operating Range: The 45°C ceiling matters for telecom closets and edge racks without precision cooling. Most comms room environments stay well below this even under hot-aisle conditions, so thermal derating is not a planning concern under normal operation.

Deployment Considerations:

• IEC 309 32A 2P+E is not a plug you can adapt around at full load — provision the correct receptacle at the panel or floor PDU before the rack ships. A 32A C-form or BS EN 60309 receptacle must be in place.
• Unit-level metering gives you one current reading for the whole PDU. If you're running a chargeback model or need per-server power data for capacity planning at device granularity, this model is not the right fit — move to an outlet-metered variant in the same family.

The AP8853 is the right call for international 230V colocation builds, European enterprise data halls, and high-density edge deployments where zero-U space preservation and a solid 32A feed capacity matter more than per-outlet intelligence.