Vertiv VA4N22A1 Monitored Rack Transfer Switch PDU — 20A, 120V, 1.9kW, Horizontal

Overview

The Vertiv VA4N22A1 is a horizontal, 0U rack PDU that combines dual-source transfer switching with unit-level current, voltage, and power monitoring in a single 1.9kW enclosure. Designed for single-phase 100–120V environments, it accepts a NEMA 5-20P input plug at up to 20A and distributes power across 20 NEMA 5-20R receptacles — giving you receptacle-density typically associated with higher-unit-count deployments without consuming a rack unit. If you're building out a high-availability server or network cabinet and want real-time power visibility plus automatic transfer capability, the VA4N22A1 is the chassis to evaluate.

Key Features

• 20 NEMA 5-20R Outlets: Twenty individually accessible receptacles on a single 20A/120V circuit deliver up to 1.9kW of distributed power. That's enough headroom for a densely loaded 1U-device row without crowding a second PDU into the same cabinet.
• Monitored at the Unit Level — Current, Voltage, Power: Real-time monitoring of all three electrical parameters means your team can detect load creep before a breaker trips. Unit-level granularity is the right fit for cabinets where you need aggregate visibility without the per-outlet cost premium.
• LCD Display: The onboard LCD surfaces current draw and voltage directly on the unit face — no SSH session or browser required for a quick walk-the-aisle capacity check during commissioning or troubleshooting.
• Automatic Transfer Switching: As a rack transfer switch, the VA4N22A1 monitors two input sources and switches automatically on source failure — eliminating the manual switchover step that puts availability at risk during utility events. For any cabinet running dual-corded equipment or attached to redundant UPS output, this is the functional core of the device.
• Broad Protocol Stack — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP, Syslog, Modbus TCP: The full enterprise authentication and monitoring stack is here. SNMP v3 with encryption and authentication integrates directly with network management platforms and DCIM tools. RADIUS and TACACS+ mean you can authenticate PDU access through your existing AAA infrastructure rather than managing local credentials.
• IPv4 and IPv6 Dual-Stack + DHCP: Native dual-stack IP removes the need for a translation layer in modern IPv6-addressed data center segments. DHCP support simplifies initial provisioning; assign a static after commissioning.
• NTP Time Sync: Syslog events timestamped via NTP are accurate enough to correlate against UPS logs and switch event logs during a power incident — critical for post-incident RCA.
• Serial + Ethernet + USB Ports: The single RJ-45 Ethernet port handles network management. The serial port (RJ-45) provides out-of-band console access when network connectivity is lost. The USB port enables local firmware updates or configuration transfers without network dependency.
• 3m (≈10 ft) Power Cord: A 3-meter input cord gives you enough reach to route from the PDU mounted in the rear of a mid-depth cabinet to a floor-level UPS output or wall circuit without extension hardware.
• 50/60 Hz Input Frequency: Dual-frequency acceptance means the same SKU can be deployed in US 60Hz facilities or international 50Hz data centers using compatible 120V infrastructure.
• Horizontal 0U Form Factor: Zero rack-unit consumption means the VA4N22A1 mounts in unused horizontal space — typically on a cable tray, behind a blanking panel area, or within the cabinet's internal mounting rails — preserving every rack unit for equipment.

Integration & Compatibility

The VA4N22A1 integrates into any SNMP-capable DCIM or NMS platform via SNMP v1/v2c/v3. Modbus TCP expands compatibility to building automation systems and facility-layer power management platforms that don't speak SNMP natively. HTTP/HTTPS provides a web UI for direct browser-based access; SSH secures CLI sessions. For multi-site deployments, the SMTP support enables email alerting on threshold breaches without requiring a dedicated monitoring agent on the same network segment. RSTP support means the management network port can participate in a redundant switching topology without causing broadcast storms. This is a single-phase 100–120V unit — confirm source voltage before deploying in 208V or 240V environments, as those require a different VA-series SKU.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug does the VA4N22A1 use and what circuit does it require?

A: The VA4N22A1 uses a NEMA 5-20P input plug and requires a dedicated 20A, 120V single-phase circuit. Input voltage range is 100–120V at 50 or 60 Hz.

Q: How many outlets does the VA4N22A1 have and what type are they?

A: It provides 20 NEMA 5-20R receptacles, all on the single 20A/120V input circuit with a maximum load of 1.9kW.

Q: Does the VA4N22A1 support SNMP v3?

A: Yes. The VA4N22A1 supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3, including encrypted and authenticated SNMP v3 sessions for secure integration with network management and DCIM platforms.

Q: What does the transfer switch function do in the VA4N22A1?

A: As a rack transfer switch, the VA4N22A1 monitors two input power sources and automatically switches connected loads to the available source if the primary source fails — providing continuity without manual intervention.

Q: Does the VA4N22A1 take up any rack units?

A: No. It is a 0U horizontal unit designed to mount within the cabinet without consuming rack unit space, preserving all rack positions for equipment.

Q: What network protocols does the VA4N22A1 support for remote management?

A: Supported protocols include SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, DHCP, IPv4, IPv6, LDAP, NTP, RADIUS, RSTP, SMTP, Syslog, TACACS+, and Modbus TCP.