Vertiv 13357 Basic Surge Vertical Rack PDU
Overview
The Vertiv VSSAN104-101R15 (part number 13357) is a vertical rackmount power distribution unit built for IT cabinets that lack facility-level surge suppression — or any rack where you want a secondary protection layer without adding metering complexity. Rated at 15A/120V/1.4kW with ten individually-rotated NEMA 5-15R outlets, it handles a standard single-phase 15A circuit and distributes it cleanly down the length of a 2U-equivalent vertical chassis. If you're building out a mid-density rack for IP security systems, networking gear, or edge compute, this is the Vertiv PowerIT rPDU family entry point worth considering alongside the broader Vertiv power and infrastructure catalog.
Key Features
- 720-Joule Surge Rating with Super MOV Technology: 720J absorbed energy capacity combined with Super MOV surge suppression and a 340V maximum clamping voltage — meaning transient spikes above that threshold get clamped before they reach connected equipment. For racks housing NVRs, switches, or IP cameras in environments without a UPS-grade suppressor upstream, this is a meaningful protection tier. Browse rack power distribution units to compare output configurations.
- 10 x NEMA 5-15R Outlets at 2.95-inch Spacing: Ten individually-rotated outlets spaced 2.95 inches center-to-center means most standard power bricks clear each other without blocking adjacent ports — a detail that matters when you're cabling 8–10 devices into a single vertical strip.
- 15A Thermal Breaker Overcurrent Protection: The integrated thermal breaker trips the circuit before wiring or connected gear takes damage from an overload. Unlike a fuse, it's resettable — no replacement parts required after a trip event.
- 39-inch Vertical Chassis (38.50 × 1.61 × 1.61 in): Fits standard 39U or taller open-frame and enclosed cabinets. The plastic mounting clips (one top, one bottom) snap into vertical rack channels without tools, keeping installation time under 5 minutes. Pair with a rackmount cabinet from the same infrastructure family if you're building out a new enclosure.
- 10ft / 14/3 AWG Power Cord with NEMA 5-15P: The 10-foot cord reaches floor-level PDU strips or ceiling-entry power drops without an extension. 14/3 AWG wire gauge is rated for the full 15A draw — no derating at load.
- Single Green Power LED + Red Surge Indicator: The green LED confirms the unit is energized; the red surge indicator fires if the MOV network has absorbed a transient. Two discrete indicators so you know at a glance whether the surge circuitry is intact — not just whether the unit has power.
- TAA and Buy American Act COTS Compliant, UL/c-UL Listed: Manufactured in the USA. TAA compliance makes this unit eligible for federal and government-adjacent deployments without a waiver. UL 60950 listing satisfies most IT equipment safety requirements. RoHS compliant for facilities with environmental procurement requirements.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty + $5,000 Connected Equipment Warranty: Vertiv backs the 13357 with a five-year limited product warranty and a separate $5,000 connected equipment warranty — providing downstream coverage if a surge event damages connected gear despite the protection circuitry. Review your deployment's power protection planning to confirm this tier fits your equipment value and risk profile.
Integration and Compatibility
The VSSAN104-101R15 is a non-switched, non-monitored Basic tier unit — no network management, no remote outlet control, no current metering. It integrates into any standard NEMA 5-15P circuit with zero configuration. For deployments requiring per-outlet switching, power monitoring, or remote reboot capability, step up to Vertiv's Switched or Monitored rPDU families. Operating range of 10–45°C (50–113°F) covers conditioned data center and IDF closet environments; it is not rated for unconditioned or outdoor installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Vertiv 13357 (VSSAN104-101R15) TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The unit is manufactured in the USA and is TAA Compliant and Buy American Act COTS Compliant per the specification sheet.
Q: What is the joule rating and clamping voltage on the 13357?
A: The 13357 is rated at 720 joules with a maximum clamping voltage of 340V, using Super MOV surge suppression technology.
Q: Does the 13357 have network monitoring or remote outlet switching?
A: No. This is a Basic tier rPDU with no network management, metering, or switching. For those features, Vertiv offers Switched and Monitored rPDU variants in the PowerIT family.
Q: What is the warranty on the Vertiv 13357?
A: Vertiv provides a 5-year limited product warranty plus a $5,000 connected equipment warranty for equipment damaged by a surge event despite the unit's protection circuitry.
Q: How many outlets does the VSSAN104-101R15 have, and what type?
A: Ten NEMA 5-15R outlets, individually rotated, spaced 2.95 inches center-to-center, each rated at 15A/120V maximum output.
Q: What is the operating temperature range for the 13357?
A: The continuous operating temperature range is 10–45°C (50–113°F), suitable for conditioned data center and IDF environments.
When I spec the 13357 into a rack, the detail I highlight first is the $5,000 connected equipment warranty — that's not a marketing add-on, it's Vertiv putting a dollar figure on confidence in the 340V clamping circuit. For a Basic surge PDU at this price point, that downstream coverage changes the risk calculus meaningfully for anyone deploying NVRs or managed switches without a UPS upstream.
Technical Highlights:
- 720J / 340V clamp: Super MOV network absorbs up to 720 joules and clamps transients at 340V — sufficient for standard utility-grid spikes in commercial buildings. Not a substitute for a UPS on life-safety or recording-critical equipment, but a solid first line in a layered protection scheme.
- Discrete surge indicator LED: The separate red surge LED tells you whether the MOV network is still intact after an event. A lot of basic PDUs only show power-on status — this one flags degraded protection before the next transient hits.
- TAA / Buy American Act COTS compliant: USA-manufactured and TAA-documented, which clears the unit for GSA schedules, DHS, and state/local government procurement without a country-of-origin waiver request.
Deployment Considerations:
- At 15A/1.4kW total capacity, map your connected load before installing — a rack of PoE switches and an NVR can approach that ceiling quickly. The thermal breaker resets, but nuisance trips during peak load mean you've undersized the circuit, not the PDU.
- No network port, no metering, no switching — if your operations team needs remote power cycling or per-outlet current data for an SNMP dashboard, this unit won't deliver it. Size up to a Monitored or Switched variant from the same PowerIT family.
The 13357 is the right call for a government-adjacent IDF or secondary rack where the primary goal is clean outlet distribution with surge protection, TAA compliance is a procurement requirement, and you're not running the kind of load that justifies paying for monitoring overhead.
