APC by Schneider Electric AP9571A Basic 1U Rack Power Distribution Unit
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric AP9571A is a 1U rackmount basic power distribution unit rated for 30A at 208V, designed for data center rows, server rooms, and security equipment racks where you need reliable, organized AC power distribution without the overhead of managed or metered features. It accepts a NEMA L6-30P input and distributes power across 10 IEC 60320 C13 receptacles — enough to feed a dense mix of servers, switches, NVRs, and storage nodes from a single input circuit. The 3.66m (12 ft) input cord gives you genuine flexibility in positioning the PDU relative to the floor PDU or UPS feed, avoiding the cable-length compromises that plague rack layouts when equipment is deeper in the row. If you're sourcing APC by Schneider Electric power distribution for a structured rack deployment, the AP9571A sits at the entry point of the lineup — straightforward, reliable, no software, no complexity.
Key Features
- 30A / 208V Input via NEMA L6-30P: The L6-30P twist-lock input is the standard connection for 208V 30A branch circuits in North American data centers. With a 24A maximum continuous draw (80% of 30A, per NEC best practice), you have real headroom — roughly 5kW of usable capacity, which is enough for a fully loaded half-rack of 1U servers or a mixed NVR/storage rack without derating concerns.
- 10 x IEC 60320 C13 Receptacles: C13 outlets cover the vast majority of rack equipment — servers, switches, NVRs, storage arrays, and most enterprise gear all ship with C13/C14 power cords. Ten outlets on a single 1U unit keeps your rack cabling organized and eliminates the need for secondary outlet strips that consume additional U-space or hang awkwardly outside the rack.
- 1U Form Factor (44mm H × 445mm W × 77mm D): At exactly 1U tall, 445mm wide, and only 77mm deep, the AP9571A fits standard 19-inch rails without consuming side clearance. The 77mm depth is deliberately shallow — it sits behind equipment without obstructing airflow channels or conflicting with cable managers in zero-U positions.
- 3.66m (12 ft) Input Cord: Longer than the 6ft cords common on entry-level PDUs, the 3.66m cord reaches floor PDUs positioned at the bottom of a tall rack or connects across aisle to overhead busway without extension cables. This matters in rows where branch circuit connections are not immediately adjacent to the target rack.
- Operating Range: -15°C to 45°C, 5–95% RH: The extended temperature tolerance means the AP9571A can be deployed in lightly conditioned spaces — edge racks, wiring closets, or remote sites without precision CRAC cooling — without derating. The 5–95% non-condensing humidity envelope handles most real-world closet environments.
- Basic (Non-Managed) Architecture: No network card, no SNMP, no software dependencies. For environments where per-outlet switching or remote monitoring is not required, eliminating that complexity removes an attack surface, a firmware maintenance obligation, and a cost premium. Power flows as long as the branch circuit is live — no controller to fail, no IP to configure.
Integration & Compatibility
The AP9571A integrates directly into any rack infrastructure fed by a 208V 30A branch circuit with a NEMA L6-30P receptacle — standard in most data center floor PDUs, RPPs, and UPS bypass panels. The 10 C13 outlets pair with C14 inlet equipment across the full range of rack-mount hardware: Dell/HP/Lenovo servers, Cisco/Juniper switches, APC/Eaton UPS bypass modules, and NVR appliances from Axis, Hanwha, Bosch, and others commonly deployed in network video recorder racks. For environments requiring per-outlet metering or remote switching, APC's Switched and Metered PDU families share the same physical footprint and input standard, allowing a like-for-like swap if requirements change. Complement this PDU with a UPS battery backup upstream to provide runtime during brief outages — the AP9571A's pass-through design means it adds no impedance between the UPS output and the load. Review your rack power planning before committing outlet count — 10 C13 positions is generous for a mixed rack, but high-density blade or GPU configurations may require dual-PDU layouts. For complete rack builds, pair with a server rack cabinet that supports zero-U or 1U PDU mounting on the vertical rail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum continuous load I should run on the AP9571A?
A: The AP9571A is rated 30A at 208V, but NEC 80% continuous load rule limits safe continuous operation to 24A. At 208V, that's approximately 4,992W (roughly 5kW) of usable capacity across all 10 outlets combined.
Q: Does the AP9571A support remote monitoring or per-outlet switching?
A: No. The AP9571A is a basic (non-managed) PDU — it has no network interface, no SNMP, no remote control, and no per-outlet metering. Power is distributed passively. If you need monitoring or switching, APC's Metered or Switched PDU variants use the same form factor and input standard.
Q: What input plug does the AP9571A require?
A: The AP9571A uses a NEMA L6-30P twist-lock plug, which is the standard for 208V 30A single-phase circuits in North American data centers. Verify your branch circuit panel or floor PDU provides an L6-30P receptacle before ordering.
Q: Can the AP9571A be mounted horizontally in a standard 19-inch rack?
A: Yes. The unit is 1U tall (44mm) and 445mm wide, dimensioned for standard 19-inch rack rails. Its 77mm depth keeps it well behind the rack front panel without obstructing cable management.
Q: What types of equipment can plug into the AP9571A's outlets?
A: All 10 outlets are IEC 60320 C13, which accept C14 power cords — the connector found on virtually all 1U servers, rack switches, NVR appliances, storage units, and most enterprise rack equipment. Standard C13-to-C14 cords are not included and must be sourced separately.
Q: What environments is the AP9571A rated for?
A: Operating temperature range is -15°C to 45°C with 5–95% non-condensing relative humidity. This covers standard data center conditions and most wiring closets without additional environmental controls.
The AP9571A comes up frequently when we're racking out NVR clusters or mixed surveillance infrastructure — specifically because the 24A continuous limit at 208V gives you genuine headroom for a fully loaded NVR row without a second PDU. It's a passive unit, which in a security rack context is actually an advantage: nothing to configure, nothing to update, nothing to fail that isn't the branch circuit itself.
Technical Highlights:
- 24A Continuous / 30A Rated: Running at 80% derate is not just an NEC formality — it prevents nuisance tripping on inrush from multiple NVRs or storage spindles starting simultaneously. At 208V × 24A you have ~5kW available, enough for 8–10 populated 1U NVR nodes.
- 10 × C13 Outlets in 1U: Dense outlet count relative to rack height consumed. Most competing 1U basic PDUs max at 8 outlets; the extra two positions matter when you're populating a mixed rack with NVRs, a PoE switch, and a backup storage target.
- 3.66m Input Cord: In a tall 42U rack with the floor PDU connection at the base, a short 6ft cord forces the PDU to mount low — pushing NVRs into uncomfortable positions relative to cable runs. The 3.66m cord lets you mount the AP9571A at the optimal U position for cable management.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm your upstream circuit is a dedicated 208V 30A branch with an L6-30P receptacle before the rack ships. Swapping a wired receptacle after equipment is in place is a significant change-order on most structured cabling jobs.
- The AP9571A has no surge suppression — it is a distribution unit, not a protection device. Upstream UPS or surge protection is required for any equipment you cannot afford to lose to a transient. Do not rely on the PDU itself for power conditioning.
Best fit: high-density security racks in managed data center environments or purpose-built surveillance server rooms where 208V infrastructure is already in place, remote access to per-outlet switching is not a requirement, and simplicity of the power path is a positive rather than a limitation.
