Vertiv 11038 0U Three-Phase Basic Rack PDU
Overview
The Vertiv 11038 — model VHVBN248-102C13TL21 — is a three-phase, basic power distribution unit designed for high-density vertical rack deployments where upstream surge protection is already in place at the facility's main service entrance. Carrying a NEMA L21-20P input plug wired to 24 IEC 60320 C13 receptacles at 120/208V WYE, this unit is the straightforward, no-frills power strip your cabinet needs when you've already handled surge suppression upstream and don't want to pay twice for it. It fits neatly into zero-U vertical space — no rack units consumed, full 24-outlet coverage across the height of your cabinet.
Explore the broader Vertiv power infrastructure catalog to find companion UPS systems, rack enclosures, and managed PDU options that pair with this unit.
Key Features
- 24 x IEC 60320 C13 Outlets: A full complement of 24 C13 receptacles distributes power to every standard server, storage, or networking device in the rack — no adapters needed for the overwhelming majority of 1U and 2U equipment. Fewer adapters mean fewer failure points.
- Three-Phase NEMA L21-20P Input: The L21-20P twist-lock plug draws from a three-phase 120/208V WYE circuit at 20A — the standard feed for high-density data center cabinets. Three-phase distribution naturally balances load across all legs, reducing hotspots on your branch circuit panel compared to single-phase alternatives.
- 5,700W Power Rating: At 5,700W rated capacity, this unit can serve a fully populated cabinet of blade modules or 1U rack servers at realistic utilization levels. That ceiling gives you headroom over typical equipment draw without needing to step up to a 30A feed.
- 120 V AC – 208 V AC Input Range: The 120–208V AC input voltage range covers both nominal North American voltages in a single unit, which matters if your facility mixes 120V and 208V branch circuits or you anticipate infrastructure changes without wanting to re-procure PDUs.
- 0U Vertical Mounting: Zero-rack-unit vertical form factor means the 11038 mounts in the vertical channel of the cabinet — along the side rail — and surrenders none of your usable rack unit space to power distribution. In a fully loaded 42U or 48U cabinet, that's the difference between fitting your last 2U device and not.
- 66.3-Inch Length, 1.7-Inch Wide Profile: At 66.3 inches long and just 1.7 inches wide with a 1.6-inch depth, the unit spans a full-height cabinet and slips into the vertical channel without impeding cable management or airflow lanes on the sides of the rack.
- RoHS Environmental Compliance: RoHS-compliant construction satisfies procurement requirements for EU-bound shipments and state-level environmental mandates — relevant for government, healthcare, and education deployments with green procurement policies.
- USA Country of Origin: Manufactured in the United States, which addresses TAA-compliance considerations common in federal and government contracting environments where country-of-origin restrictions apply to IT infrastructure purchases.
Integration and Compatibility
The 11038 connects directly to three-phase 120/208V WYE branch circuits via its L21-20P twist-lock input — a standard receptacle type in data center PDPs and raised-floor power panels. The 24 C13 output receptacles are universally compatible with C14 input cords on servers, switches, storage arrays, and KVM units from all major vendors. This is a basic PDU with no metering, switching, or monitoring capabilities; if per-outlet or per-input current monitoring is required, step up to a Vertiv Geist metered or switched PDU in the same rack-mount family. For deployments that require network infrastructure power integration with per-port PoE switching, pair this unit with appropriate PoE-capable switches on the same cabinet runs. Review rack power distribution units in the full catalog for metered and monitored alternatives if remote management or load balancing visibility is a requirement. Facilities planning vertical PDU deployments should also reference a rack enclosure to confirm vertical channel dimensions match the 1.7-inch width and 1.6-inch depth profile of this unit before ordering.
What's in the Box
- 1 x VHVBN248-102C13TL21 24-Outlets PDU
- 1 x Vertical Mounting Bracket Kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Vertiv 11038 include surge protection?
A: No. The 11038 is a basic PDU without built-in surge protection. It is intended for installations where surge protection is already present at the main electrical service entrance upstream of the rack.
Q: What input plug does the 11038 use and what circuit does it require?
A: The 11038 uses a NEMA L21-20P twist-lock input plug. It requires a three-phase 120/208V WYE branch circuit rated at 20A.
Q: How many outlets does the 11038 provide and what type are they?
A: The unit provides 24 IEC 60320 C13 receptacles, compatible with the C14 power cords used by the vast majority of 1U and 2U rack-mount servers, switches, and storage devices.
Q: What is the warranty on the Vertiv 11038?
A: The 11038 carries a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty.
Q: Does the 11038 take up rack unit space?
A: No. It is a 0U vertical PDU, 66.3 inches long and 1.7 inches wide, designed to mount in the vertical channel of a standard rack enclosure without consuming any horizontal rack unit space.
Q: Is the Vertiv 11038 RoHS compliant?
A: Yes. The 11038 carries Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) environmental compliance certification and is manufactured in the United States.
The 11038 is the unit I recommend when a data center team has already engineered proper upstream surge suppression into their panel design and doesn't need to pay for a second layer at the PDU. With 24 C13 outlets on a three-phase 20A L21-20P feed at 120/208V WYE and a 5,700W rating, this unit has the capacity to handle a densely populated 42U cabinet running servers at realistic draw levels without triggering thermal derating.
Technical Highlights:
- 0U Vertical Profile (66.3 × 1.7 × 1.6 in): Slips into the side rail channel and reclaims every rack unit for actual equipment — critical when you're fighting for space in a fully loaded cabinet.
- Three-Phase WYE Distribution: The L21-20P input distributes load across all three phases naturally, reducing per-leg imbalance on your panel compared to stacking single-phase strips. Measurable reduction in branch circuit thermal stress over time.
- 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty: The 5-year coverage window outlasts most standard server refresh cycles, so you're not replacing the PDU mid-lease just because the hardware warranty expired.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm your cabinet's vertical channel is clear of cable bundles before installing — the 1.7-inch width is tight, and rear-mounted cable trays on some third-party enclosures can interfere with the mounting bracket kit.
- This is a basic unit: no metering, no switching, no remote monitoring. If a facilities team or NOC needs per-circuit current data for capacity planning, this is the wrong model — look at Vertiv Geist metered variants before ordering at scale.
This unit is the right call for colocation deployments where the colo provider manages facility-level surge suppression and the customer simply needs reliable, high-density C13 power distribution in a zero-U footprint without paying for monitoring features that the colo's DCIM already covers.
