Vertiv 38128 Metered Rack PDU — 30A 208V 10-Outlet rPDU
Overview
The Vertiv VRELCN100-103C13TL6 (part number 38128) is a metered, standard-class rack power distribution unit built for data center operators who need real-time power visibility at the unit level without the overhead of networked or switched PDU infrastructure. Rated at 30A/208V with a 4.9kW load capacity and feeding ten IEC C13 receptacles, this is a workhorse unit for 1U-dense server rows where overload prevention during deployments matters and remote management doesn't.
Part of the Vertiv PowerIT rPDU line, the 38128 targets IT teams commissioning rack environments where every dollar not spent on network cards or remote access licenses is a dollar kept in the deployment budget. If your operators are physically present at the rack — commissioning, rebalancing load, or swapping gear — local metering at ±2% accuracy is often all you need.
Key Features
- 30A/208V Input, 4.9kW Capacity: The L6-30P twistlock input draws from standard 208V 3-phase or single-phase circuits common in enterprise data centers. At 4.9kW usable capacity, you can fully populate all ten C13 outlets with 1U servers drawing up to ~490W average without approaching the breaker threshold — real headroom for mixed workloads on a single feed.
- Local Digital RMS Scrolling Meter (±2% Accuracy): The onboard LED display scrolls through Amps, Volts, Watts, and Power Factor in real time. This is the primary reason to choose a metered PDU over a basic unit — you can verify load balance the moment a server comes online, without logging into a management system. The ±2% accuracy across a full-scale 60Hz sine wave input is tight enough for operational decisions, if not billing-grade metering.
- Ten IEC C13 Outlets in Banks of Five: Ten C13 receptacles arranged in two banks of five means you can feed standard IEC C14 server PSUs, UPS outputs, and most rack-mount appliances directly. The 15A per receptacle bank limit keeps individual circuit loads manageable — plan your PSU distribution across both banks to avoid saturating one breaker pair.
- Four 15A Thermal Breakers: Rather than a single breaker, the 38128 uses four independent 15A thermal breakers — two per five-outlet bank — providing per-group overcurrent protection. If one bank trips, the other five outlets stay live. This limits blast radius during an overload event compared to a single-breaker design.
- 10-Foot Power Cord with NEMA L6-30P Twistlock: The 10ft cord (10/3 gauge wire) gives adequate slack for most in-rack or top-of-rack PDU mount positions to reach the floor or overhead whips. The L6-30P twistlock locks out accidental disconnects — standard on 208V data center circuits and required by most facilities teams for this amperage class.
- Dual-Orientation Mounting (Horizontal or Vertical): The 17-inch, 1U chassis supports both horizontal rackmount and vertical (0U) deployment via included SLB-4 brackets and 19-inch panel mount brackets. Vertical deployment along a rail frees up 1U of rack space per PDU — meaningful in dense racks where every unit slot counts.
- TAA Compliant, Buy American Act COTS Compliant, USA-Manufactured: Domestic manufacture with TAA and BAA COTS compliance means this unit qualifies for federal and defense procurement without a country-of-origin exemption review. For government data center programs, that's a non-negotiable procurement gate that rules out most offshore-manufactured PDUs at this price tier.
- Heavy Steel Powder-Coat Chassis, 100% Factory-Tested: The steel construction with black powder-coat finish holds up in high-density rack environments where PDUs get touched repeatedly during server swaps. Every unit ships after a full functional test — you're not the first to power it on.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty: Vertiv backs the 38128 with a 5-year limited warranty — longer than the 3-year standard on most competitive units at this class. On infrastructure that runs 24/7, an extra two years of warranty coverage reduces lifecycle risk in environments where replacing a PDU mid-lease is disruptive.
Integration and Compatibility
The ten IEC C13 outlets feed standard C14 inlets on 1U/2U server PSUs, KVM switches, patch panel power injectors, and most rack-mount networking gear. Vertiv's rack PDU lineup spans metered, switched, and outlet-level metered tiers — the 38128 sits at the metered standard tier, appropriate when aggregate unit-level monitoring satisfies operational requirements and per-outlet switching or metering isn't needed.
This unit does not provide network connectivity, SNMP, or remote access — if your operations center needs to pull power data remotely or cut power to individual outlets, step up to a networked or switched PDU variant. For data center power infrastructure planning that includes branch circuit monitoring, Vertiv's Geist-branded and Avocent-integrated tiers provide that capability within the same product family ecosystem.
The L6-30P input requires a 30A 208V circuit with a twistlock receptacle — confirm your PDU whip or in-row power panel is provisioned accordingly before ordering. Most colocation facilities provide L6-30P feeds as standard for 208V cabinet power, but verify the circuit amperage matches: a 20A breaker feeding an L6-30 receptacle won't support full load on this unit. Pairing with a compatible UPS system upstream ensures protected power delivery to all ten outlets.
RoHS compliance and UL/c-UL listing (Accessory 1950) satisfy standard data center facility requirements for rack power equipment in North American and Canadian deployments. The 10–45°C operating range covers typical data center environments (ASHRAE A1/A2 classes) but is not rated for edge or outdoor enclosures running above 45°C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What plug and circuit type does the Vertiv 38128 require?
A: The 38128 uses a NEMA L6-30P twistlock plug and requires a 30A, 208V circuit. It is not compatible with standard 120V NEMA 5-15 or 5-20 outlets. Confirm your rack or cabinet is provisioned with a 208V L6-30 receptacle before installation.
Q: How many outlets does the 38128 provide and what type are they?
A: The 38128 provides ten IEC C13 receptacles, arranged in two banks of five. Each bank is protected by two 15A thermal breakers, with a maximum output of 15A per receptacle bank. IEC C13 feeds standard C14 inlets on most 1U/2U servers and rack-mount appliances.
Q: Can the 38128 be mounted both horizontally and vertically?
A: Yes. The 17-inch chassis supports horizontal 1U rackmount installation using included 19-inch panel mount brackets, as well as vertical (0U) deployment along a rack rail using the included SLB-4 brackets. Vertical mounting frees up rack unit space in dense deployments.
Q: What power metrics does the local display show?
A: The onboard LED display provides a scrolling readout of Amps, Volts, Watts, and Power Factor (A, V, W, PF) at the aggregate unit level. Accuracy is ±2% with a full-scale 60Hz sine wave input. This is local-only — the 38128 has no network interface or remote monitoring capability.
Q: Is the Vertiv 38128 TAA compliant for government procurement?
A: Yes. The 38128 is manufactured in the USA and is both TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, making it eligible for federal and government data center procurement programs.
Q: What is the warranty on the 38128?
A: Vertiv provides a 5-year limited warranty on the 38128.
The 38128 is one of those rack PDUs that earns its place by doing exactly what the spec sheet says and nothing more — which is precisely what you want in a metered standard unit. The four independent 15A thermal breakers are the spec I'd call out first for anyone commissioning a high-density row: instead of one breaker that takes down all ten outlets when a misbehaving server PSU draws too hard, you lose a bank of five at most. That's the difference between a brief interruption on half the rack and a full-rack outage.
Technical Highlights:
- ±2% RMS Metering Accuracy: The scrolling LED display reads Amps, Volts, Watts, and Power Factor at ±2% — tight enough to verify load balance during commissioning without pulling up an energy management system. Most operators use this to confirm they haven't accidentally loaded one phase of a 3-phase circuit past 80% before buttoning up the rack.
- Four Independent 15A Thermal Breakers: Each bank of five C13 outlets sits behind two 15A breakers, limiting any single overcurrent event to five outlets rather than all ten. Thermal breakers reset manually — no replacement fuse required, which matters at 3am when spares may not be on hand.
- TAA + Buy American Act COTS Compliance, USA-Manufactured: For federal data center integrators and DoD facility operators, domestic manufacture with TAA and BAA COTS compliance eliminates the country-of-origin review that adds weeks to procurement timelines on non-compliant units.
Deployment Considerations:
- The L6-30P twistlock requires a dedicated 30A 208V circuit — verify your in-row power panel or overhead whip is provisioned to this spec before the unit ships. A common mistake is ordering for a 208V environment but finding only L6-20 receptacles at the cabinet, which won't accept the L6-30P plug without an adapter (and adapters eat into your safety margin).
- The 38128 has no network port, no SNMP agent, and no remote access capability whatsoever — aggregate local metering only. If your NOC needs to pull power data remotely or automate outlet cycling, this unit is not the right tier; it's the right unit only when a technician is physically present to read the display.
The 38128 is the right call for colocation customers provisioning standard 208V 30A cabinets who need load visibility during server commissioning and rebalancing without paying for network management infrastructure they won't use — government data center builds with BAA compliance requirements are a particularly clean fit.
