Middle Atlantic Rackmount 19IN Black W/3 - R5BZ20-15

Middle Atlantic R5BZ20-15 Rackmount Plug-In Outlet Center

Overview

The Middle Atlantic R5BZ20-15 is a 20-amp rackmount outlet center designed for AV, security, and IT equipment racks where clean, distributed power matters. With a 1.5 ft (0.5 m) cord and TAA-compliant construction, it slots into standard 19-inch rack environments and draws from a 20A circuit — the correct fit when your rack load demands more headroom than a standard 15A strip can reliably deliver. If you're specifying power distribution for a surveillance head-end, a networked AV rack, or a closet-mounted security panel enclosure, the R5BZ20-15 (often searched as R5BZ20 15) belongs on the short list.

Middle Atlantic is a Legrand AV brand with a deep catalog of Middle Atlantic rack power and enclosure solutions built specifically for professional integrators. This unit fits within their R5BZ plug-in outlet center family — a line focused on clean installation geometry and reliable circuit capacity inside standard rack enclosures.

Key Features

• 20-Amp Circuit Rating: A 15A outlet strip maxes out around 1,800W of continuous load before you're pushing the 80% rule. The R5BZ20-15's 20A rating raises that ceiling to roughly 1,920W continuous — meaningful when your rack holds a mix of NVRs, managed switches, and encoders that together push 1,600–1,800W combined draw. Spec your outlet center to the circuit breaker, not the other way around.
• 1.5 ft (0.5 m) Cord: The short cord is intentional, not a cost cut. In a properly structured rack with a dedicated PDU mounting position, a 0.5 m whip routes cleanly to a nearby 20A receptacle without draping excess cable through airflow paths. If your power receptacle is more than a foot from the rack, factor in a 20A extension or reconsider PDU placement before ordering.
• TAA Compliant: Sourced in accordance with the Trade Agreements Act — a hard requirement for federal government installations, GSA Schedule procurements, and many state/local contracts. If your project has a Buy American or TAA clause, the R5BZ20-15 satisfies it. Commercial-only deployments without contract restrictions don't need to weigh this, but it costs nothing here and future-proofs government-eligible bids.
• 19-Inch Rack Form Factor: Designed for standard EIA 19-inch rack enclosures. Integrates cleanly into rackmount enclosures and cabinets without adapter hardware — mount, plug in, route cables.

Integration & Compatibility

The R5BZ20-15 is a passive power distribution unit — it requires a 20A wall outlet or power circuit at the rack location. No configuration, no firmware, no network integration required. Compatible with any standard 19-inch rack. Pair it with a power conditioner or UPS upstream if your deployment requires surge protection or battery backup — this unit handles distribution, not conditioning. For security rack builds, it complements PoE network switches and NVRs that draw consistent 24/7 loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Middle Atlantic R5BZ20-15 TAA compliant?

A: Yes. The R5BZ20-15 is TAA compliant, making it eligible for federal, state, and local government procurement contracts that require Trade Agreements Act compliance.

Q: What circuit is required for the R5BZ20-15?

A: The R5BZ20-15 is rated for a 20-amp circuit. You'll need a dedicated 20A outlet at or near the rack — the included cord is 1.5 ft (0.5 m), so plan rack and outlet placement accordingly.

Q: Will the R5BZ20-15 fit a standard 19-inch rack?

A: Yes, it is designed for standard 19-inch EIA rack enclosures and installs without adapter hardware.

Q: How long is the power cord on the R5BZ20-15?

A: The cord is 1.5 ft (0.5 m). This short whip is intentional for clean rack cable management when the power receptacle is located directly adjacent to the rack.

Q: Can the R5BZ20-15 be used on a 15A circuit?

A: No. The R5BZ20-15 requires a 20A circuit and uses a 20A plug configuration. Attempting to use it on a 15A circuit via an adapter violates electrical code and creates a fire risk — use the appropriately rated circuit.

Karl Wilson

The R5BZ20-15 gets specified when an integrator finally does the math on rack power draw and realizes the 15A strip they've been defaulting to is sitting at 90%+ load on a surveillance head-end with a 16-channel NVR, a managed PoE switch, and a couple of encoders. The 20A rating on this unit gives you real headroom — and the TAA compliance means you don't have to swap it out when a government contract comes through.

Technical Highlights:

• 20A Rating: Raises continuous safe load ceiling to roughly 1,920W (at 80% rule) versus ~1,440W on a 15A strip — that delta matters on fully loaded security racks running 24/7.
• 1.5 ft Cord: Forces clean cable geometry; if your receptacle isn't within 18 inches of the rack's PDU mounting position, you'll need to address that in the rack layout before the unit arrives on site.
• TAA Compliance: Satisfies procurement requirements for government and institutional bids — no substitution needed mid-project when contract terms surface a TAA clause.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm the rack location has a dedicated 20A circuit before spec'ing this unit — the short cord is not compatible with a distant receptacle, and running a 20A extension defeats the cable management intent.
• This is a distribution unit only: it provides no surge protection, no filtering, and no battery backup. If the deployment requires any of those, place a conditioner or UPS upstream on the same circuit.

Best fit for security head-end racks, government-contract AV closets, and any 19-inch enclosure build where the circuit is already 20A and TAA compliance is a procurement requirement — not an afterthought.