Vertiv Rpdu Rack Transfer Switch Switched Outlet Level Monitoring 30A 120V 2.8KW H - VA7N32A0

Vertiv VA7N32A0 Horizontal Rack Transfer Switch PDU with Switched Outlet Monitoring

Overview

The Vertiv VA7N32A0 is a 0U horizontal rack power distribution unit designed for data center and server room environments where both outlet-level switching control and real-time power monitoring are non-negotiable operational requirements. Rated at 30A/120V (2.8kW maximum load) and fed by a NEMA L5-30P twist-lock input, the VA7N32A0 delivers 12 NEMA 5-20R output receptacles that can be individually switched — giving you the ability to remotely power-cycle hung servers, sequence startup loads, or de-energize specific ports without touching the rack. This is not a basic metered strip; the combination of switching and monitoring at the outlet level puts it in a category suited for managed hosting environments, remote colocation, and high-density compute deployments where hands-on access is expensive or simply unavailable.

Explore the full Vertiv power management catalog alongside complementary rack PDU options to size the right unit for your deployment.

Key Features

• Per-Outlet Switching (12 x NEMA 5-20R): Each of the 12 outlets can be individually powered on, off, or cycled via the network interface — critical in colocation environments where a remote reboot request otherwise means a $150 hands-and-eyes ticket. Outlet-level control also enables load sequencing on startup to prevent inrush current spikes from tripping the branch breaker.
• 30A / 120V / 2.8kW Input (NEMA L5-30P): The L5-30P twist-lock connector mates directly with 30A branch circuits — the standard high-density feed found in most modern data center floor deployments. At 2.8kW usable capacity, this unit can sustain a densely loaded 1U server row without approaching the 80% continuous-load safety threshold on a 30A circuit (roughly 2.88kW safe working limit).
• Current, Power, and Voltage Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of all three electrical parameters — not just current draw — lets you detect power factor anomalies and voltage sag that pure amperage meters miss. On a shared floor PDU, catching voltage drop early prevents cascading equipment shutdowns during peak loading periods.
• 0U Horizontal Mounting: The horizontal form factor mounts in a standard 1U rack space, preserving vertical U-space for compute hardware. Unlike vertical 0U designs that run along the rack rail, horizontal mounting keeps the power inlet accessible at the top or bottom of the rack and is easier to cable-manage in open-frame deployments.
• LED Display: The onboard LED provides at-a-glance electrical status without requiring a laptop or network session — useful during initial commissioning or when troubleshooting in noisy data halls where waiting for a web page to load is impractical.
• Comprehensive Protocol Stack — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, RADIUS, LDAP, TACACS+, Modbus TCP: The network management port supports the full enterprise authentication and monitoring protocol stack. SNMP v3 with authentication and privacy encryption satisfies most SOC 2 and PCI-DSS monitoring requirements. TACACS+ and RADIUS integration means PDU access credentials can be managed through the same AAA infrastructure as your network gear — no separate local account sprawl. Modbus TCP opens the unit to BMS/DCIM integration without requiring SNMP.
• IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack with DHCP, NTP, Syslog, SMTP: Dual-stack networking future-proofs the unit for IPv6-only segments. NTP synchronization ensures log timestamps are accurate across distributed sites — essential for incident correlation. Syslog and SMTP alerting push events to your existing NOC tooling without requiring polling.
• 3-Meter Input Cable: The 3m (approximately 10 ft) cable provides enough reach to connect to a floor-mounted PDU or overhead busway without extension cords — important for maintaining clean cable management and avoiding potential fire code violations in raised-floor environments.
• Serial, Ethernet, and USB Ports: One RS-232 serial port supports out-of-band management or integration with environmental sensors. The single RJ-45 Ethernet port handles all IP management traffic. The USB port is available for firmware updates or local configuration without requiring network access — useful during initial deployment on isolated management VLANs.
• Single-Phase, 50/60 Hz: Compatible with both North American 60 Hz and international 50 Hz facility power where 120V single-phase circuits are in use, providing flexibility across mixed-frequency data center environments.

Integration and Compatibility

The VA7N32A0 integrates into existing DCIM and infrastructure management platforms via SNMP v1/v2c/v3 and Modbus TCP — the two most common southbound protocols used by tools like Vertiv Trellis, Nlyte, and Sunbird dcTrack. LDAP and RADIUS/TACACS+ mean the unit participates in centralized identity management, eliminating local-only credential stores that create audit gaps. HTTP/HTTPS access provides a browser-based interface for environments where SNMP polling is not deployed. For alerting, SMTP and Syslog endpoints deliver threshold-crossing events to your NOC ticketing or SIEM platform in real time. Pair this PDU with a compatible rack enclosure and structured power cable management to complete a clean, auditable installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug type does the VA7N32A0 use?

A: The VA7N32A0 uses a NEMA L5-30P twist-lock input plug, designed for 30A/120V branch circuits. This is the standard high-density single-phase feed found in most commercial data center environments.

Q: Can I control individual outlets remotely on the VA7N32A0?

A: Yes. The VA7N32A0 is a switched PDU with per-outlet control across all 12 NEMA 5-20R receptacles. Each outlet can be powered on, off, or cycled independently via the network management interface.

Q: What monitoring parameters does the VA7N32A0 support?

A: The VA7N32A0 monitors current, power (watts), and voltage in real time. This three-parameter visibility allows detection of voltage sag and power factor anomalies beyond what current-only monitoring provides.

Q: What network management protocols does the VA7N32A0 support?

A: Supported protocols include SNMP (v1, v2c, and v3), HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, RADIUS, LDAP, TACACS+, Modbus TCP, DHCP, IPv4, IPv6, NTP, Syslog, and SMTP — covering enterprise authentication, monitoring, and alerting requirements.

Q: How is the VA7N32A0 mounted in a rack?

A: The VA7N32A0 is a horizontal 0U unit that occupies a standard 1U rack position. It does not consume tool-less vertical rail space, preserving U-space for compute equipment.

Q: What is the maximum load capacity of the VA7N32A0?

A: The VA7N32A0 is rated at 30A/120V with a maximum load of 2.8kW. Following the 80% continuous-load guideline, the safe sustained operating load is approximately 2.4kW (24A).

Jerry Tildsen

The VA7N32A0 sits in the overlap between basic metered PDUs and full-blown intelligent PDU platforms — and that overlap is exactly where most managed hosting and mid-market colocation deployments actually land. The 12-outlet switched configuration with per-outlet current, power, and voltage monitoring gives NOC teams the controls they need for remote power cycling and capacity tracking without the per-port cost premium of enterprise intelligent PDUs.

Technical Highlights:

• SNMP v3 with TACACS+/RADIUS: AAA integration means PDU credentials stay inside your existing identity management system — no orphaned local accounts to audit. SNMP v3 with encryption satisfies most compliance frameworks' monitoring and access logging requirements.
• Modbus TCP Support: Modbus TCP southbound integration is frequently overlooked in PDU comparisons but matters significantly when connecting to BMS or DCIM platforms that don't speak SNMP — Modbus is the native protocol for a large segment of facilities management tooling.
• 30A NEMA L5-30P Input with 3m Cable: The twist-lock input and 3-meter cable length are practical spec choices — L5-30P mates with standard high-density 30A branch circuits, and 3m provides enough slack to reach floor or overhead distribution without extension workarounds that introduce connection points and fire code questions.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 80% continuous-load rule on a 30A circuit gives you approximately 2.4kW (24A) sustained capacity — size your connected load budgets accordingly and avoid loading all 12 NEMA 5-20R outlets to full 20A draw simultaneously.
• Watch out: the unit runs on 100–120V single-phase only. If your facility uses 208V or 240V circuits, or if you are deploying in an international environment outside the 120V tier, this unit is the wrong fit — you will need a different PDU family.

This unit is well-positioned for managed hosting environments and remote colocation cages where outlet-level remote power cycling, SNMP v3 compliance monitoring, and TACACS+/RADIUS authentication are all required under the same SLA — situations where a metered-only PDU falls short and a full intelligent PDU is cost-overengineered for the workload.