Vertiv VP4N30AC Monitored Vertical PDU, 30A 208V Delta, 24 Locking IEC C13 Outlets
Overview
The Vertiv VP4N30AC is a rack-mounted, unit-level monitored power distribution unit built for three-phase 208V delta deployments in data centers and high-density server rooms. Rated at 30A input via NEMA L15-30P plug and delivering 8.6kW of distributed power across 24 locking IEC C13 outlets, this vertical PDU fits neatted into standard 0U rack space along the cabinet side rail — preserving every rack unit for compute or switching equipment. If your facility runs three-phase delta distribution and you need per-unit power visibility without committing to full outlet-level metering, the VP4N30AC hits that cost-versus-insight balance precisely.
Key Features
- 30A / 208V Delta Input (NEMA L15-30P): Draws from a standard three-phase 208V delta circuit at up to 30A — delivering 8.6kW of usable capacity. That's enough headroom for a full cabinet of 1U/2U servers without approaching the 80% NEC loading threshold, which matters when facilities management reviews your electrical draw.
- 24 Locking IEC C13 Outlets: Every outlet uses a locking retention mechanism, so power cords stay seated even during cable-management work or vibration events. In dense multi-tenant colocation rows where accidental disconnects carry SLA penalties, locking retention is practical insurance.
- Unit-Level Monitoring — Current, Power, and Voltage: The VP4N30AC reports real-time amperage, wattage, and voltage at the PDU level via its LED display and network interface. You get the data to catch load imbalance and trending overload before a breaker trips — without paying for per-outlet metering you may not need in homogeneous rack builds.
- LED Display: Local LED readout gives technicians instant on-unit status without needing a laptop or network access. Useful during initial commissioning and during incident response when the network may itself be impaired.
- Dual Ethernet (RJ-45) with Daisy Chain: Two RJ-45 ports support daisy-chaining multiple PDUs under a single IP — reducing switch port consumption in high-density deployments. Configure and monitor an entire cabinet's power infrastructure from one address.
- Broad Protocol Support: The management stack covers SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, HTTPS, SSH, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, RSTP, Syslog, NTP, IPv4, and IPv6. That means the VP4N30AC integrates natively into enterprise DCIM platforms, BMS systems, and network monitoring stacks without custom middleware.
- SNMPv3 and TACACS+ Authentication: SNMPv3 provides encrypted, authenticated polling — not just community-string exposure. Combined with TACACS+ and RADIUS support, access management ties directly into your existing AAA infrastructure rather than requiring a separate credential silo.
- 3-Meter Cord: The 3m (approximately 9.8 ft) input cord provides enough reach to route cleanly from the top or bottom of a standard cabinet to the floor PDU or overhead busway tap — avoiding the strained-cord installs that cause intermittent contact issues over time.
- USB Port: Single USB port supports firmware updates and local configuration tasks without requiring a network connection — useful during initial rack commissioning or when out-of-band management is unavailable.
- 50/60 Hz Compatibility: Accepts both 50Hz and 60Hz input, making the VP4N30AC deployable in North American facilities (60Hz) and international co-location sites (50Hz) without model swapping.
Integration and Compatibility
The VP4N30AC's protocol breadth is its integration story. SNMP v3 polling feeds directly into platforms like SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios, and most enterprise DCIM tools that speak standard MIBs. Modbus TCP opens integration with building management systems that may not speak SNMP. LDAP and RADIUS/TACACS+ mean user authentication follows your existing directory — no local account sprawl across dozens of PDUs. IPv6 readiness future-proofs the unit as data center networks migrate address space. The daisy-chain capability via dual RJ-45 is particularly relevant in power distribution deployments where you're managing multiple PDUs per cabinet — a single IP per rack pair cuts switch port requirements and simplifies DCIM discovery. For facilities running Vertiv's broader power and thermal catalog, the VP4N30AC fits the same management ecosystem as Vertiv's UPS and thermal monitoring products. Buyers evaluating rack PDU options should note the three-phase delta input requirement — this unit is not compatible with single-phase 120V or split-phase 208V circuits. Pair with a compatible managed network switch to enable the dual-port daisy chain and out-of-band management path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input plug does the VP4N30AC use?
A: The VP4N30AC ships with a NEMA L15-30P input plug, rated for 30A three-phase 208V delta circuits. Verify your facility's receptacle type before ordering.
Q: Can I monitor individual outlet power consumption on the VP4N30AC?
A: No. The VP4N30AC provides unit-level monitoring of current, power, and voltage — not per-outlet metering. If outlet-level granularity is required, consider a switched or outlet-metered PDU in the Vertiv Geist family.
Q: Does the VP4N30AC support daisy chaining, and how does it work?
A: Yes. The dual RJ-45 Ethernet ports allow multiple VP4N30AC units to be daisy-chained, enabling a group of PDUs to share a single IP address and reducing the number of switch ports consumed per cabinet.
Q: What network protocols does the VP4N30AC support for DCIM integration?
A: The unit supports SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, HTTPS, SSH, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, RSTP, Syslog, NTP, DHCP, IPv4, and IPv6 — covering the majority of enterprise DCIM, BMS, and monitoring platform integrations.
Q: Is the VP4N30AC compatible with single-phase power circuits?
A: No. The VP4N30AC requires a three-phase 208V delta input. It is not compatible with single-phase 120V or split-phase 208V circuits. Confirm your facility's distribution architecture before specifying.
Q: What is the total outlet count and outlet type?
A: The VP4N30AC provides 24 locking IEC C13 outlets and 6 additional AC outlets, for a total of 30 AC outlets. The locking C13 design prevents accidental cord disconnection.
The VP4N30AC hits the right spec for three-phase delta data center cabinets that need real-time power visibility without the cost and complexity of per-outlet metering. The 30A / 208V delta rating via NEMA L15-30P gives you 8.6kW of distributed capacity — plenty for a dense 1U/2U server cabinet while staying comfortably within the 80% NEC continuous-load threshold at typical utilization.
Technical Highlights:
- SNMPv3 + TACACS+/RADIUS: Authenticated, encrypted SNMP polling rather than plain community strings — pair with TACACS+ to tie PDU authentication directly into your existing AAA infrastructure. No separate local account management across a fleet of PDUs.
- Dual RJ-45 Daisy Chain: Chaining two PDUs per cabinet under one IP address cuts switch port consumption by 50% in high-density rows — a real factor when every access-layer port has a cost and a cable-management implication.
- Modbus TCP Support: Most enterprise PDUs stop at SNMP. Modbus TCP opens direct integration with BMS and SCADA platforms that facilities teams already run — eliminating the middleware layer some DCIM deployments otherwise require.
Deployment Considerations:
- The NEMA L15-30P plug requires a dedicated three-phase delta receptacle — confirm your floor-level or overhead busway tap before the unit ships. A mismatch here is a deployment stopper, not a workaround-able issue.
- Unit-level monitoring means you'll see total cabinet load trends but won't get per-server draw. If your capacity-planning workflow requires per-device attribution, spec a per-outlet-metered variant instead — retrofitting later means swapping the PDU entirely.
The VP4N30AC is the right specification for colocation operators and enterprise data center teams deploying homogeneous compute cabinets on three-phase delta circuits where aggregate power trending, AAA-integrated access control, and DCIM protocol breadth matter more than per-outlet granularity.
