Vertiv Rpdu Rack Transfer Switch Monitored Outlet Level 30A 120V 2.8KW Horizontal - VA6N32A0

Vertiv VA6N32A0 Monitored Outlet-Level Rack Transfer Switch PDU

The Vertiv VA6N32A0 is a horizontal, single-phase rack PDU built around an integrated transfer switch — meaning it provides automatic failover between two input power sources while giving you per-outlet monitoring of current, voltage, and power. At 30A / 120V with a 2.8 kW capacity and a NEMA L5-30P input plug, the VA6N32A0 is sized for high-density 1U server rows and compute racks where loss of a single power feed — even momentarily — is not an option.

Overview

Traditional monitored PDUs give you branch-circuit visibility. The VA6N32A0 goes further: the built-in rack transfer switch constantly monitors both input feeds and switches the load to the healthy source if the primary drops. Paired with outlet-level monitoring, you get real-time current, voltage, and wattage data per outlet — not just at the input breaker — so you can see exactly which device is drawing what, flag thermal runaway early, and prove SLA compliance to your operations team. The LCD display on the front panel lets technicians read load data without pulling up a browser, a practical detail on crowded data center floors. For power distribution and UPS solutions, this represents a meaningful step up from a passive strip.

Key Features

• Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) with Outlet-Level Monitoring: The core value of the VA6N32A0 is dual-feed redundancy. If your primary UPS circuit fails, the transfer switch cuts over to the secondary feed — typically in under 8ms — without cycling any connected loads. Combine that with per-outlet current, voltage, and power readings and you have a complete power-chain audit trail from the PDU input all the way to the device NIC.
• 12 x NEMA 5-20R Outlets, 30A Input (L5-30P): Twelve 20A-rated outlets on a 30A feed means you can drive a fully populated 1U server row without hitting the 80% continuous-load ceiling on any single outlet. The L5-30P twist-lock input plug mates with the standard 30A circuits found on most raised-floor and hot-aisle containment deployments — no adapter required if your panels are already spec'd for it.
• Single-Phase, 100–120V, 2.8 kW Capacity: At 2.8 kW max on 120V single-phase, this unit is appropriate for North American compute and storage racks in the light-to-mid density range. It is not a 208V or three-phase unit — scope it accordingly. A single 2.8 kW PDU typically handles four to six 1U servers at typical idle draw, or two to three GPU nodes under load.
• LCD Display with LED Indicators: The integrated LCD shows real-time load data locally. LED indicators provide at-a-glance status on outlet state and alarm conditions. For remote hands or after-hours response, this reduces the diagnostic window from minutes to seconds — the technician walks the row, reads the panel, and isolates the overloaded circuit without touching a laptop.
• 3-Meter Input Cable: The 3m (approximately 10 ft) input cord reaches from a mid-rack PDU mount to a floor-level PDU input, a zero-U cable manager, or an overhead busway tap without requiring a cord extender. Measure your cabinet depth before ordering if your power entry is at the top of a 52U cage.
• SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP: The network management stack here is enterprise-grade. SNMPv3 with RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication means the PDU integrates directly into your existing AAA infrastructure — no local-only credentials that get forgotten. LDAP support extends this to Active Directory environments. HTTPS and SSH encrypt all management traffic. This is the protocol set your security team will expect before they approve the device on the network segment.
• IPv4/IPv6, DHCP, NTP, SMTP, Syslog, Modbus TCP: Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 means no re-addressing when the network migrates. NTP sync keeps event timestamps accurate for correlation with SIEM tools. SMTP alerting and Syslog export let the PDU push threshold alerts to your monitoring platform without polling. Modbus TCP opens integration with BMS (Building Management Systems) and DCIM platforms that speak industrial protocols — relevant in colocation and edge deployments.
• Serial, Ethernet (RJ-45), and USB Management Ports: One serial port, one RJ-45 Ethernet port, and one USB port cover all standard out-of-band management scenarios. The serial port is your console-of-last-resort when IP connectivity is down. USB supports local firmware updates without network access — important when managing devices in air-gapped or isolated network segments.
• Horizontal 0U Mounting: The horizontal form factor installs in a standard 1U rack space, keeping the PDU visible and accessible rather than buried in a zero-U side channel. For cabinets where side-mount rails are already consumed by cable management, the horizontal option is often the only viable configuration.

Integration & Compatibility

The VA6N32A0 supports network integration via a full enterprise protocol stack. SNMP v1/v2c/v3 MIB support allows integration with SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios, Zabbix, and most DCIM platforms. Modbus TCP extends compatibility to Vertiv's own Trellis DCIM platform and third-party BMS controllers. LDAP and RADIUS authentication means the device can participate in role-based access control schemes already governing the rest of your data center infrastructure. The RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) support indicates the management network port is switch-aware — it won't create broadcast loops if connected to a managed access layer switch. Pair this unit with a compatible UPS on each feed to complete the dual-path power architecture the ATS is designed to support. Review the Vertiv power management catalog for matching input circuit ratings and cord configurations if deploying multiple units across a row.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between this unit and a standard monitored PDU — does the VA6N32A0 actually switch between two power sources?

A: Yes. The VA6N32A0 includes an integrated automatic transfer switch (ATS) that monitors two input feeds simultaneously. If the primary feed fails or drops below threshold, it automatically transfers the connected load to the secondary feed. A standard monitored PDU has only one input and provides monitoring but no redundancy switching.

Q: What input plug does the VA6N32A0 use, and what circuit type does it require?

A: The VA6N32A0 uses a NEMA L5-30P twist-lock input plug rated for 30A at 100–120V. This requires a 30A single-phase circuit, which is standard on most raised-floor data center power panels configured for North American voltages. It is not compatible with 208V or 240V circuits.

Q: Can the VA6N32A0 integrate with Active Directory or RADIUS authentication servers?

A: Yes. The unit supports LDAP (for Active Directory integration), RADIUS, and TACACS+ authentication protocols. This allows it to participate in your existing AAA infrastructure for role-based access control rather than relying on local-only credentials.

Q: Does the VA6N32A0 support IPv6 and encrypted management protocols?

A: Yes. The management interface supports both IPv4 and IPv6 (dual-stack), HTTPS for encrypted web access, and SSH for encrypted CLI access. SNMPv3 is also supported for encrypted and authenticated SNMP polling.

Q: How many outlets does the VA6N32A0 have and what type are they?

A: The VA6N32A0 provides 12 NEMA 5-20R outlets. These are standard 20A-rated receptacles compatible with the C13/C19 to NEMA 5-20P cords commonly used with 1U and 2U servers.

Q: What monitoring data is available per outlet on the VA6N32A0?

A: Outlet-level monitoring covers current (amps), power (watts), and voltage per outlet. This data is accessible via the local LCD display, the HTTPS web interface, SNMP polling, and Syslog/SMTP alerting — giving you both local and remote visibility into per-device power consumption.

James Everett

The VA6N32A0 is the unit I reach for when a customer has dual-feed infrastructure but is still running single-input PDUs — they're paying for redundancy at the UPS and panel level but losing it at the last six inches of the power chain. The integrated ATS in this unit closes that gap, and the outlet-level monitoring of current, voltage, and power means you're not flying blind once it's racked.

Technical Highlights:

• Integrated ATS on 30A/120V: The transfer switch is built into the PDU housing — no external ATS chassis, no additional 1U, no separate management IP. At 2.8 kW capacity with a NEMA L5-30P input, this fits the typical 30A branch circuit spec on North American raised-floor deployments.
• SNMPv3 + RADIUS/TACACS+/LDAP: Most rack PDUs in this class ship with SNMPv1/v2c and local auth only. Having SNMPv3 with RADIUS, TACACS+, and LDAP on the same management card means the security team can enforce the same AAA policies they apply to switches and routers — a genuine differentiator for regulated environments.
• Modbus TCP alongside SNMP: The Modbus TCP support is what lets this unit talk to DCIM and BMS controllers that don't speak SNMP. Vertiv's Trellis platform, EcoStruxure, and most industrial BMS systems can poll it natively — one PDU, two protocol worlds.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 3m input cord is ample for most mid-cabinet horizontal installs, but verify your power entry point location before racking — overhead busway taps at the top of a 52U cabinet may need a longer cord or a cable extension.
• The 12 NEMA 5-20R outlets are rated at 20A each, but the total feed is 30A (2.8 kW at 120V). Apply the 80% continuous-load rule: plan for no more than 24A aggregate draw. If your load calculations push above that, you need a higher-capacity PDU, not a second unit on the same circuit.

This unit is specifically well-suited for enterprise colocation deployments and edge data center racks where both feeds are present but redundancy management at the outlet level hasn't been formalized — the VA6N32A0 handles the ATS switching, the per-outlet audit trail, and the SNMP/DCIM integration in a single horizontal unit.