Vertiv VP4N20A5 Monitored Vertical Rack PDU, 20A 208V 3.3kW, 26 Locking IEC C13 Outlets

Overview

The Vertiv VP4N20A5 is a single-phase, monitored vertical rack PDU rated at 20A and 208V (3.3kW) — designed for dense data center and server-room deployments where you need real-time visibility into power draw without adding a separate monitoring layer. It mounts vertically in standard cabinets, keeping valuable U-space available for active equipment, and terminates with a NEMA L6-20P plug for 200–240V single-phase circuits. If you're provisioning racks that require individual outlet-level power accountability, per-outlet current metering, and integration with enterprise DCIM or SNMP management platforms, the VP4N20A5 is built for exactly that role.

Key Features

• 26 Locking IEC C13 Outlets: The locking C13 connectors prevent accidental disconnection under vibration or cable movement — a genuine operational concern in high-density racks where cable management is tight. Twenty of these are called out as primary locking positions; having 26 total means you can populate a fully loaded 1U-per-outlet cabinet without a second PDU in most configurations.
• Monitored Unit-Level Metering (Current, Voltage, Power, Temperature): The VP4N20A5 tracks current, voltage, power, and temperature in real time via the built-in LED display. This gives ops teams the data needed to identify overloaded circuits before a breaker trips — not after. Temperature monitoring is particularly useful in high-density aisles where localized hotspots can form even when room ambient is fine.
• NEMA L6-20P Input Plug, 200–240V / 50–60Hz: The L6-20P is a locking twist-lock plug rated for 20A on 208V circuits — the standard in US data center environments running three-phase power distribution. The 200–240V input range covers both 208V (US three-phase derived) and 230V (international single-phase), so the same unit works across global deployments without a step-down transformer.
• Dual RJ-45 Ethernet Ports for Daisy-Chaining: Two Ethernet ports support daisy-chaining multiple PDUs from a single IP address, which reduces the number of IP addresses and network ports consumed per rack. In a 40-PDU deployment, this difference is meaningful for both address management and switch port budget.
• Broad Protocol Support — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Modbus TCP: Enterprise security protocols (LDAP directory auth, RADIUS/TACACS+ AAA, SNMPv3 with encryption) are all present. SNMPv3 means encrypted polling — required by many enterprise security policies. Modbus TCP opens integration with BMS (Building Management Systems) and DCIM platforms that don't speak SNMP natively. RSTP support prevents network loops when chaining units.
• IPv4 and IPv6 Dual-Stack Networking: Native IPv6 support future-proofs the deployment for environments already running or transitioning to IPv6 addressing — particularly relevant for government and education facilities with IPv6 mandates.
• USB Port for Local Management: The onboard USB port provides a local console path for initial configuration or recovery when the network path is unavailable — a practical detail that saves a trip to the data center with a laptop and serial cable.
• Reset Button and LED Indicators: Hardware reset without requiring network access and visual status LEDs reduce mean-time-to-diagnose during incidents. When a unit is behaving unexpectedly, the reset button is faster than a remote power cycle through the management stack.
• 3-Meter (10-ft) Power Cord: The 3m cord length is long enough to reach a floor-level or overhead PDU whip without extension cords in most cabinet configurations — though verify your specific cabinet depth and power whip position before ordering.
• Vertical Form Factor, Black Finish: Vertical mounting keeps the PDU along the rail in a standard 0U position, preserving every rack unit for servers, switches, and storage. The black finish is standard for most modern cabinet aesthetics.

Integration and Compatibility

The VP4N20A5 supports DHCP for zero-touch IP provisioning and NTP for synchronized timestamps across log entries — both important when correlating power events with system logs. SMTP support enables direct email alerting without requiring a separate SNMP trap receiver. The Modbus TCP interface makes it compatible with a wide range of DCIM platforms beyond traditional SNMP-based tools. For teams standardizing on rack power distribution across mixed environments, the dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 and multi-protocol support reduce the number of edge cases that require custom integration work. Pair with a Vertiv UPS or power conditioning unit upstream to complete the power chain. For structured cabling and cabinet infrastructure, review the network cabinets and racks category for compatible vertical-mount enclosures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug and voltage does the VP4N20A5 use?

A: The VP4N20A5 uses a NEMA L6-20P locking plug rated for 20A on 200–240V single-phase circuits (50/60 Hz). In the US, this typically connects to a 208V circuit derived from three-phase distribution. Verify your facility's receptacle type matches L6-20P before ordering.

Q: How many outlets does the VP4N20A5 have, and what type are they?

A: It has 26 IEC C13 outlets, all with locking connectors to prevent accidental disconnection. Twenty of these are specifically designated as locking positions in the primary outlet bank.

Q: Does the VP4N20A5 support SNMP monitoring and enterprise authentication?

A: Yes. It supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 (with encryption), plus HTTPS, SSH, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, and Modbus TCP. This covers most enterprise security and network management requirements, including encrypted polling and directory-based authentication.

Q: Can multiple VP4N20A5 units share a single IP address?

A: Yes. The dual RJ-45 Ethernet ports support daisy-chaining, allowing multiple units to be managed under a single IP address. This reduces IP address consumption and switch port usage in large deployments.

Q: What parameters does the VP4N20A5 monitor?

A: The unit monitors current, voltage, power (watts), and temperature in real time, displayed via the built-in LED readout and accessible remotely via any supported protocol (SNMP, HTTPS, Modbus TCP, etc.).

Q: Does the VP4N20A5 support IPv6?

A: Yes. It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 (dual-stack), making it compatible with environments that have migrated or are transitioning to IPv6 addressing.

Karl Wilson

The VP4N20A5 is one of those PDUs that earns its place in a rack not just for what it does, but for what it prevents. The combination of SNMPv3 encrypted polling, RADIUS/TACACS+ authentication, and per-unit temperature monitoring means you're getting a power management device that actually fits inside an enterprise security policy — not one you have to carve exceptions around. I pay close attention to the dual RJ-45 daisy-chain capability on this unit: in a 20-rack row, that's potentially 40 fewer IP addresses and switch ports consumed just for PDU management.

Technical Highlights:

• 26 Locking IEC C13 Outlets at 20A/208V: 3.3kW total capacity distributed across 26 positions gives you solid headroom for 1U and 2U servers drawing 100–200W each — a standard mixed-density rack load — with room to grow before hitting the circuit limit.
• SNMPv3 + Modbus TCP Dual Protocol: SNMPv3 handles encrypted DCIM polling; Modbus TCP opens the door to BMS integration for facilities teams who manage power at the building level, not just the rack level. Having both on the same unit eliminates the need for protocol translation middleware.
• Current, Voltage, Power, and Temperature Monitoring: Four real-time telemetry streams from a single 0U device. Temperature sensing at the PDU level catches localized hotspots that room-level sensors miss entirely — this is the spec that saves you from a surprise thermal shutdown at 2 AM.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your facility feeds 200–240V single-phase on an L6-20P receptacle before racking this unit — it will not work on a standard 120V NEMA 5-20 circuit. Most US data centers running three-phase PDPs will have L6-20P whips available, but branch-office server closets often do not.
• The 3-meter cord is generous but fixed — if your power whip terminates more than roughly 9 feet from the cabinet's PDU mount rail, plan for a longer whip extension at the facility level rather than at the PDU.

For colocation providers managing multi-tenant racks, enterprise IT teams deploying standardized cabinet builds, or any environment where a security auditor will ask 'who accessed that outlet and when' — the VP4N20A5 delivers the monitoring depth and authentication controls to answer those questions without bolting on additional hardware.