Vertiv VP6N40A1 Monitored Outlet-Level 3-Phase Vertical PDU, 35A 208V Delta, 10kW, 36-Outlet
Overview
The Vertiv VP6N40A1 is a 0U vertical rack PDU designed for high-density data center and server room deployments where per-outlet power visibility is non-negotiable. Rated at 35A on a 208V delta three-phase input, it delivers up to 10kW of distributed power across 36 mixed C13 and C19 outlets — enough to feed a dense cabinet of 1U servers alongside GPU nodes or storage arrays that demand C19 feeds. This is a monitored unit: current, voltage, and power are tracked at the outlet level, not just at the circuit head, which means you can actually act on load data before a breaker trips rather than after. If your cabinet has hot aisles and you're trying to balance phases or catch a single runaway appliance before it takes down the row, outlet-level monitoring is the spec that justifies the price delta over a basic metered unit.
At 0U vertical mounting, the VP6N40A1 mounts inside the rack rail space, preserving every rack unit for compute and storage. The 3-meter cord gives you enough reach to route cleanly to a ceiling or floor PDU distribution point without a cable mess. The LCD display provides local readout without requiring a laptop — useful during initial commissioning or a late-night troubleshooting call.
Key Features
- 35A / 208V Delta Three-Phase Input, 10kW Output: Three-phase distribution means each outlet draws from a balanced phase leg — you get more usable capacity per circuit and avoid the single-phase bottleneck that limits 20A/30A units. At 10kW, this PDU is sized for mid-to-high-density cabinets running 4–8kW of active load with thermal headroom to spare.
- 36 Mixed C13 and C19 Outlets: The combination of C13 (standard 1U/2U server) and C19 (high-draw GPU servers, large UPS, dense storage) outlets means you're not forced to choose between a C13-only or C19-only PDU. One unit covers a heterogeneous cabinet without adapters introducing extra failure points.
- Outlet-Level Current, Voltage, and Power Monitoring: Per-outlet monitoring is what separates this unit from a metered PDU. You can set thresholds on individual outlets and receive alerts before a device draws enough to trip a breaker. Useful for capacity planning — know exactly which port is powering what load, not just the aggregate circuit reading.
- Dual RJ-45 Ethernet Ports with Daisy Chain: Two network ports let you wire this PDU into your management network and daisy-chain to an adjacent PDU without consuming an extra switch port per unit. In row-dense deployments, that can save 12–16 switch ports per rack row.
- Protocol Stack: SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, RADIUS, LDAP, TACACS+, Modbus TCP, Syslog, NTP: This isn't a proprietary management appliance — it speaks the protocols your NOC already uses. SNMP v3 provides encrypted polling for DCIM platforms. RADIUS/LDAP/TACACS+ integration means PDU access is governed by your existing directory infrastructure, not a local password list. Modbus TCP opens integration with building management systems that don't speak SNMP.
- IPv4 and IPv6 Dual-Stack: Native IPv6 support matters in environments migrating off RFC1918 space or in government/enterprise networks requiring IPv6 compliance. No firmware upgrade or workaround needed.
- LCD Display with Reset Button and LED Indicators: The local LCD gives you a current readout without a network connection — essential during initial rack build when the management network isn't live yet. The reset button lets you recover from a locked-out firmware state without shipping the unit back.
- 50/60 Hz Input Frequency: Dual-frequency acceptance means this unit deploys in both North American (60 Hz) and international (50 Hz) facilities without a hardware swap — relevant for global data center operators standardizing on a single PDU SKU.
- 0U Vertical Form Factor, 3m Cord: Zero rack unit consumption is the standard expectation for vertical PDUs, but the 3-meter cord length is worth confirming against your floor-to-ceiling distribution point. Many competitors ship 2.5m — the extra 0.5m eliminates forced cord routing compromises in taller cabinets.
Integration and Compatibility
The VP6N40A1 integrates with DCIM platforms, BMS systems, and NOC toolchains via SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, and HTTP/HTTPS REST interfaces. LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ support allows role-based access control tied to your existing directory — individual technicians get scoped permissions rather than a shared admin password. NTP synchronization keeps event timestamps accurate for log correlation. Syslog forwarding routes alerts to your SIEM or log aggregator. For facilities using Vertiv's Trellis or third-party DCIM solutions that support standard SNMP MIBs, the VP6N40A1 drops into existing monitoring frameworks without custom integration work. The daisy-chain Ethernet capability reduces network infrastructure overhead in multi-PDU rack configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What outlet types does the VP6N40A1 provide, and how many of each?
A: The VP6N40A1 provides 36 total AC outlets in a combination of C13 and C19 couplers. The exact split between C13 and C19 positions is defined by the physical unit — verify with the Vertiv spec sheet for the precise outlet layout before planning high-density GPU or storage placements that require C19 feeds.
Q: Does the VP6N40A1 support per-outlet monitoring or only branch-level monitoring?
A: The VP6N40A1 is an outlet-level monitored PDU, meaning current, voltage, and power are tracked at each individual outlet — not just at the input or branch level. This allows threshold-based alerting on specific devices and accurate load reporting per port.
Q: What network protocols does the VP6N40A1 support for DCIM and NOC integration?
A: Supported protocols include SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, HTTP, SSH, SMTP, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Modbus TCP, Syslog, NTP, DHCP, RSTP, and both IPv4 and IPv6. This covers integration with virtually all enterprise DCIM, BMS, and SIEM platforms without additional middleware.
Q: Can multiple VP6N40A1 units be daisy-chained on a single network port?
A: Yes. The VP6N40A1 has two RJ-45 Ethernet ports that support daisy-chain topology, allowing you to connect multiple PDUs in a chain and reduce the number of switch ports consumed in a multi-PDU rack configuration.
Q: What is the maximum load capacity of the VP6N40A1?
A: The VP6N40A1 is rated for 35A input at 200–240V (nominal 208V delta, three-phase), with a maximum output of 10.0kW. Input frequency is 50 or 60 Hz. Derate to 80% of nameplate (28A) for continuous load per NEC guidelines — effective continuous capacity is approximately 8kW.
Q: Does the VP6N40A1 have a local display for on-site readings?
A: Yes. The VP6N40A1 includes an LCD display for local current, voltage, and power readout, along with LED indicators and a reset button — all accessible without a network connection during initial commissioning or emergency recovery.
The VP6N40A1 is the unit I'd specify when a customer needs outlet-level visibility on a 35A, 208V three-phase feed and doesn't want to compromise rack space to get it. The 0U vertical form factor is table stakes for high-density deployments, but what separates this from a basic metered PDU is the per-outlet current, voltage, and power monitoring — you're not waiting for a branch breaker to tell you something's wrong, you're catching the anomaly at the device level before it cascades.
Technical Highlights:
- 35A / 208V Delta, 10kW: Three-phase input distributes load across phase legs, reducing the risk of single-phase oversubscription in mixed-server cabinets. At 80% continuous derate, you have approximately 8kW of reliable capacity — enough for a fully populated 42U cabinet of modern 1U servers with room for growth.
- Dual RJ-45 with Daisy Chain: Two network ports mean you can chain PDUs across a row and land all management traffic on a single switch port per rack, rather than one port per PDU. In a 10-rack row, that's potentially 10 switch ports recovered.
- SNMP v3 + RADIUS/LDAP/TACACS+: Encrypted SNMP polling plus directory-integrated authentication means this PDU fits inside your existing security posture — no shared local passwords floating around a data center floor, and no proprietary management plane to maintain separately.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify the C13/C19 outlet layout map against your cabinet's device mix before finalizing the order — the 36-outlet count includes both coupler types, and slot positions are fixed. If your cabinet runs predominantly C19-demand GPU servers, confirm sufficient C19 positions are in accessible locations before racking.
- The 3-meter cord is longer than many competing units at 2.5m, which is an advantage in taller cabinets — but confirm your distribution point distance before assuming it fits. Overhead busway drops in 600mm tile grids can push the distance requirement past 3m in some layouts.
This PDU is a strong fit for colocation operators provisioning customer cabinets at 208V three-phase, and for enterprise IT teams deploying AI/ML infrastructure where per-GPU power draw tracking is a billing or capacity management requirement. The protocol depth — Modbus TCP included — also makes it viable in hybrid IT/OT environments where the building management system needs to poll PDU load data alongside HVAC and UPS telemetry.
