Vertiv 12068 Metered Rackmount PDU 20A 208V 8-Outlet
Overview
The Vertiv 12068 (model VHVLCN082-102I44TL6) is a metered standard rackmount PDU designed for data center and server room deployments where real-time power visibility is a non-negotiable operational requirement. Rated at 20A/208V with a 3.3kW load capacity, it delivers eight outlets — four IEC C13 and four IEC C19 — in a compact 17-inch chassis that installs horizontally or vertically in any standard rack or cabinet. The local LED scrolling display shows amperage, voltage, wattage, and power factor in real time, giving technicians instant feedback without logging into a management interface or pulling out a clamp meter. If you're deploying or relocating dense server hardware and need to stay inside your circuit's headroom, that display pays for itself on day one.
Every unit leaves the factory 100% tested. The 12068 ships on a 10-foot 12/3-gauge power cord terminated with a NEMA L6-20P twistlock plug — ready to connect directly to a 208V 20A circuit without any additional hardware. TAA compliance and Buy American Act COTS compliance make this a fit for federal and government-contracted deployments where sourcing provenance matters. Explore the full Vertiv power distribution lineup if you need managed or switched variants with remote monitoring capabilities.
Key Features
- Local LED Scrolling Power Meter (±2% accuracy): Displays amps, volts, watts, and power factor in real time directly on the unit. That ±2% accuracy on a digital RMS meter means you can trust the reading when you're trying to verify load before adding another blade server — no need for a separate meter or remote login. Tracks aggregate total unit load.
- Eight Outlets Across Two Connector Types: Four IEC C13 outlets (banks of 2, up to 15A per bank at 208V) handle standard 1U/2U servers and network gear, while four IEC C19 outlets (individual, up to 20A each at 208V) accommodate high-draw equipment like blade chassis, high-density switches, or larger UPS bypass loads. Mixing both types on one PDU eliminates the need for C19-to-C13 adapters in mixed-hardware racks.
- 20A/208V Circuit Rating with 3.3kW Load Capacity: At 208V this PDU can support 3.3kW of continuous load before hitting the NEC 80% derating threshold of 16A. For a typical 1U server drawing 300–400W, that's eight to ten devices at healthy margins — or fewer high-draw GPU or storage nodes. Know your rack's actual draw before assuming full utilization.
- 17-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Rackmount, 1U Profile: The 17.0in × 1.72in × 1.85in chassis fits standard 19-inch racks via included 19-inch panel mount brackets and SLB-4 side-mount brackets. The dual-orientation capability means you can run it horizontally in a 1U slot or vertically along the side rail to preserve front rack space — a meaningful option in dense edge deployments where every U counts.
- 10-Foot Power Cord with NEMA L6-20P Twistlock: The 12/3-gauge cord length handles most rack-to-PDU distances without extension risks, and the twistlock plug prevents accidental disconnection under vibration or cable pull — a real concern in environments with cable trays and frequent moves. No pigtail adapters or field terminations needed.
- Heavy Steel Powder-Coat Construction: The black powder-coat steel chassis handles data center ambient conditions (10–45°C / 50–113°F operating range) without warping or corrosion issues. At 6 lbs (2.72 kg), it's manageable for a single-person rack installation.
- TAA Compliant, Buy American Act COTS Compliant, Made in USA: For federal, defense, and government-adjacent deployments where domestic sourcing is required by contract, this PDU satisfies both TAA and BAA COTS requirements without any special procurement process. Verify your agency's specific COTS language before committing at scale.
- UL and c-UL Listed (60950), RoHS Compliant: UL listing under 60950 (IT equipment safety) covers both US and Canadian markets. RoHS compliance removes hazardous materials concerns for facilities with environmental mandates or EU-destined deployments.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: Vertiv's standard five-year limited warranty on the 12068 provides longer coverage than most PDU competitors at this price tier — relevant when you're speccing long-lifecycle data center infrastructure where replacement cycles extend past the typical three-year hardware refresh.
Integration and Compatibility
The 12068 connects to any 208V 20A circuit via NEMA L6-20P receptacle — common on APC, Eaton, and Vertiv UPS bypass outputs as well as dedicated 208V breaker panels. IEC C13 outlets accept standard C14 server power cords; IEC C19 outlets accept C20 cords used by high-power blade servers, PDU tap boxes, and larger storage arrays. There is no network port or remote monitoring interface on this unit — power visibility is local-only via the LED display. If your deployment requires SNMP traps, web dashboard access, or per-outlet switching, step up to a managed or switched variant in the rackmount PDU category. For guidance on calculating circuit utilization and matching PDU capacity to rack load, a power planning guide can help you size correctly across multiple racks. Pair with a compatible Vertiv or third-party UPS upstream to protect the full circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What plug type does the Vertiv 12068 use, and what circuit does it require?
A: The 12068 ships with a NEMA L6-20P twistlock plug on a 10-foot 12/3-gauge cord. It requires a dedicated 208V 20A circuit. The L6-20P is a locking connector — verify your PDU panel or UPS bypass output has a matching L6-20R receptacle before ordering.
Q: Does the 12068 support remote power monitoring or SNMP?
A: No. The VHVLCN082-102I44TL6 is a metered standard PDU with local-only monitoring via its LED scrolling display, which shows amps, volts, watts, and power factor. There is no network interface, SNMP agent, or web UI. For remote monitoring, you would need a managed variant from Vertiv's PowerIT rPDU line.
Q: What is the warranty on the Vertiv 12068?
A: Vertiv provides a 5-year limited warranty on the 12068 (VHVLCN082-102I44TL6).
Q: Is the Vertiv 12068 TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The 12068 is manufactured in the USA and is both TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, making it suitable for federal and government-contracted deployments with domestic sourcing requirements.
Q: Can the 12068 be mounted both horizontally and vertically?
A: Yes. The 17-inch chassis supports both horizontal (1U rackmount) and vertical (side-rail) installation. It includes 19-inch panel mount brackets and SLB-4 brackets to accommodate both configurations in standard racks and cabinets.
Q: What is the maximum load the 12068 can handle?
A: The 12068 is rated at 20A/208V with a 3.3kW load capacity. Per NEC 80% continuous load guidelines, plan for a maximum continuous draw of approximately 16A (2.64kW) in typical installations. The C13 outlets are rated 15A per bank of two; C19 outlets are individually rated at 20A.
When I spec a metered PDU for a mixed-density rack, the first thing I look at is outlet mix and per-outlet current limits — and the Vertiv 12068 gets that balance right for a lot of common configurations. Four C13 outlets in banks of two at 15A per bank covers your 1U server and networking population; four individual C19 outlets at 20A each handle the blade chassis and high-draw storage nodes without adapter chains. The onboard digital RMS meter at ±2% accuracy means when a technician tells you a rack is at 14A, you can trust that number without pulling out a Fluke — that's operationally meaningful during a hot-aisle commissioning walk.
Technical Highlights:
- ±2% RMS Meter Accuracy: Digital RMS scrolling display reads A, V, W, and PF continuously at aggregate unit level — sufficient for load verification during moves and adds without a secondary instrument. Not a substitute for per-outlet monitoring in high-criticality environments.
- Dual Outlet Types (C13/C19 Mix): Banks-of-two C13 at 15A per bank and individual C19 at 20A each means one PDU handles a mixed rack (servers + blade or storage) without per-outlet adapters — reduces cable clutter and potential failure points.
- TAA + Buy American Act COTS Compliance: Manufactured in the USA, which satisfies federal procurement requirements that block many foreign-sourced PDUs. The 5-year limited warranty extends beyond typical 3-year data center hardware cycles.
Deployment Considerations:
- The L6-20P plug requires a matching L6-20R receptacle at the UPS bypass or panel — confirm this before the PDU ships to site. A mismatch discovered in the rack room wastes a truck roll.
- There is no network interface on this unit. If your NOC needs remote load visibility or you're building a DCIM-integrated environment, this PDU won't feed your monitoring stack — you need a managed variant. The 12068 is strictly local-display metering.
The 12068 is the right call for federal or government-adjacent colocation builds where TAA compliance is contractually required, rack density is moderate-to-high with a mix of C13 and C19 loads, and local load verification during commissioning is sufficient — without paying for managed firmware and network ports that the operations model doesn't need.
