Vertiv 38563 Metered Standard rPDU 30A 208V 8-Outlet
Overview
The Vertiv VRELCN080-103C13TL6 — sold under part number 38563 — is a metered standard rackmount PDU designed for IT rack deployments where load visibility matters during provisioning and maintenance. Rated at 30A/208V/4.9kW with eight IEC C13 outlets, it fits dense 1U rackmount environments in data centers, network closets, and edge deployments where administrators need real-time power data without managing a networked PDU infrastructure. The local digital RMS scrolling display shows amperage, voltage, watts, and power factor at a glance — no software, no SNMP, no network port required. Browse the full Vertiv power distribution catalog for the complete rPDU lineup.
Key Features
- 30A/208V Input, 4.9kW Load Capacity: Sized for high-density server or storage rows running dual-corded equipment. At 4.9kW continuous, this unit can carry a loaded 2U server with headroom — without dipping into trip territory on a shared circuit. Pair with a rackmount PDU strategy that matches your UPS output breaker ratings.
- Eight IEC C13 Outlets in Banks of Four: Eight outlets split into two banks of four, each bank protected by its own 15A thermal breaker. This means a single load fault trips only half the unit, keeping the other four outlets live — a meaningful protection boundary when distributing power across mixed equipment in a rack.
- Local RMS Scrolling Power Meter ±2% Accuracy: The onboard LED display scrolls through real-time amps, volts, watts, and power factor with ±2% accuracy at full-scale 60Hz sine wave input. When you are commissioning a rack or moving equipment, you get instant load feedback without pulling up a management interface or connecting a laptop.
- Four 15A Thermal Breakers for Overcurrent Protection: Thermal breakers — not fuses — mean a tripped circuit resets without replacing a component. With four independent breakers each covering two outlets, a device fault or inrush surge is isolated to a small subset of the load.
- NEMA L6-30P Twistlock Input Plug, 10ft Cord: The L6-30P plug connects to standard 30A/208V PDU branch circuits or UPS output receptacles. The 10ft 10/3 AWG cord gives enough reach from the top of a standard 42U cabinet to a floor-level UPS or power strip without extensions.
- Flexible 17in Horizontal/Vertical Mounting: The 17-inch chassis mounts horizontally (occupying 1U) or vertically along a cabinet rail using included 19in panel mount brackets and SLB-4 brackets. Vertical mounting frees up U-space for additional equipment — relevant in fully loaded cabinets.
- Heavy Steel Powder Coat Construction, Black Finish: The steel chassis with black powder coat finish is built for long-term rack life. At 6 lbs shipped weight, installation is manageable solo. Dimensions are 17.00in × 1.72in × 1.61in — thin enough for tight 1U horizontal slots.
- TAA Compliant, Buy American Act COTS Compliant, USA Origin: Manufactured in the USA and certified TAA and Buy American Act COTS compliant. This matters for federal, defense, and government-funded IT deployments where domestic sourcing requirements apply. RoHS and UL/c-UL Listed (Accessory 1950) round out the compliance profile.
- 50/60Hz Operation, 200–240V Input Range: Operates across 200–240V input at 50 or 60Hz — useful in mixed-frequency environments or international deployments where 50Hz grids are the norm.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: Vertiv backs the 38563 with a five-year limited warranty — longer than the typical two- or three-year coverage on comparable units, which extends the useful lifecycle calculation for capital planning purposes.
Integration and Compatibility
The 38563 is compatible with any rack or cabinet accepting 17-inch PDUs, including standard 19-inch EIA enclosures. The L6-30P input connects directly to UPS units and PDU panels with matching 30A/208V output receptacles — common in APC, Eaton, and Vertiv UPS product lines. For deployments requiring rack power management beyond local metering, Vertiv's networked rPDU families share form factor and mounting options, allowing side-by-side deployment or upgrade without cabinet reconfiguration. No software installation, drivers, or IP addressing are required for the local metering function — the display is self-contained and active as soon as the unit is energized. See also UPS systems for upstream power protection sizing guidance. For environments needing remote outlet switching or per-outlet metering, consider stepping up within the Vertiv rPDU line to a switched or outlet-metered variant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the input plug type and cord length on the Vertiv 38563?
A: The 38563 uses a NEMA L6-30P twistlock input plug on a 10ft, 10/3 AWG power cord. It connects to 30A/208V circuits — common on UPS output panels and dedicated PDU branch circuits.
Q: How many outlets does the 38563 provide and what type are they?
A: The unit provides eight IEC C13 receptacles, arranged in two banks of four. Each bank is protected by a dedicated 15A thermal breaker, so a fault on one bank does not affect the other four outlets.
Q: Is the Vertiv 38563 TAA compliant for government procurement?
A: Yes. The 38563 is TAA Compliant, Buy American Act COTS Compliant, and manufactured in the USA — qualifying it for federal and government-funded IT procurement programs with domestic sourcing requirements.
Q: What does the local display on the 38563 show?
A: The onboard LED RMS scrolling power meter displays real-time amperage (A), voltage (V), watts (W), and power factor (PF) at the aggregate unit level, with ±2% accuracy on a full-scale 60Hz sine wave input. No network connection or software is needed.
Q: Can the 38563 mount both horizontally and vertically in a rack?
A: Yes. The 17-inch chassis supports horizontal (1U) and vertical rackmount configurations. The unit ships with 19in panel mount brackets and SLB-4 brackets to support both orientations in standard EIA 19-inch cabinets.
Q: What is the warranty on the Vertiv 38563?
A: Vertiv provides a 5-year limited warranty on the 38563 — verified from the manufacturer's product documentation.
The 38563 occupies a specific and useful niche: a 30A/208V metered PDU with a real local display, thermal breakers you can reset without tools, and a five-year warranty — at a form factor that fits 1U horizontal or runs vertical to preserve U-space. For teams that don't need SNMP or remote switching but do need instant load visibility during rack builds and equipment moves, this unit eliminates the guesswork without the overhead of a managed PDU.
Technical Highlights:
- ±2% RMS metering accuracy: The scrolling LED display reads A, V, W, and PF with ±2% accuracy at full-scale 60Hz — accurate enough to verify load balance before cutting over to production, not just a rough indicator.
- Thermal breaker overcurrent protection: Four 15A thermal breakers in two-outlet pairs reset manually without fuse replacement. A hard fault on one outlet pair doesn't strand the rest of the bank — and certainly not the other bank.
- TAA/BAA COTS compliance: USA-manufactured with TAA and Buy American Act COTS certifications. This is often a hard procurement gate on federal contracts and SLED deployments — not a nice-to-have.
Deployment Considerations:
- The L6-30P input requires a 30A/208V circuit or UPS output — verify your upstream UPS or PDU panel has a matching receptacle before ordering. Most Vertiv and APC 208V UPS units in the 5–10kVA range ship with L6-30 outputs, but confirm your specific model.
- With 15A per receptacle bank and eight C13 outlets total, this unit is not sized for high-draw C19-class devices (large PSUs, high-density GPU servers). If your load mix includes C19 equipment, look at a C19-capable variant within the Vertiv rPDU family.
The 38563 is a practical fit for edge data rooms, branch office server closets, and co-location cage builds where local power visibility is required but a managed PDU adds unnecessary complexity and cost. It's also a reliable choice on government and municipal IT deployments where TAA compliance is non-negotiable.
