Metered & Switched Vertical PDU

Vertical PDU – Power distribution for 19“ racks without height units

Vertical power distribution units (PDUs) are specially designed for mounting on the rear or side wall of a rack. Unlike classic 19” PDUs, they do not require any height units (HU), thus creating more space for active components such as servers, switches, or storage systems.

Thanks to their vertical installation, these PDUs improve cable management, provide greater clarity and thus contribute to optimising maintenance and operational reliability.

Our space-saving vertical PDUs not only offer a convenient switching function for each output, but also precise input-side measurement of power consumption. This makes monitoring and targeted switching of individual consumers particularly efficient and safe in IT and AV environments.

Thanks to the integrated slot nuts on the rear, the PDUs can be quickly and easily installed in racks with fixed angles: ideal for applications where time and flexibility are crucial.

Application scenarios for a metered & switched vertical PDU

Vertical PDUs are not only used in traditional data centers, but wherever efficient, space-saving, and intelligent power distribution is required:

• IT server racks, control rooms, or data centers

• Edge computing and mobile TV productions (OB vans)

• AV racks: conference rooms, lecture halls, and smart homes

• Broadcasting, TV studios, and cinemas

• Maritime applications: superyachts, cruise ships, offshore installations

Configuration options

Our vertical PDUs can be configured in a variety of ways to optimally meet your specific requirements:

• Colored front foils: Available in red or blue. Other colors available on request

• Residual current monitoring (type B): For detecting fault currents, particularly important in critical installations (on request).

• Flexible mounting options: Fixed angles and/or tool-free mounting with our slot nuts (Zero-U).

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Technical details

All GUDE PDUs are based on a modern, future-proof platform with comprehensive interface support:

• Web interface (HTTPS / SSL)

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 (including traps for event management)

• MQTT/S for modern IoT and cloud connections

• Telnet, Radius, MQTT 3.1.1

• Modbus TCP for industrial control networks

• REST API and JSON export for cross-system integrations

• Monitoring functions: Current, voltage, frequency, energy consumption, power-on status (< 1% accuracy)

Metered and switched PDU: What does this mean in simple terms?

Switched PDU

A switched PDU has a switching function that allows connected devices to be switched on and off individually at each outlet. This enables the devices to be isolated and switched on and off in order to identify any problems that may arise. In addition, switching off individual sockets reduces electricity costs if a connected device is not needed.

An integrated watchdog enables automated and case-specific switching sequences (self-healing function). The quality of the integrated switching relays plays a key role in the trouble-free operation of the PDU. Ideally, so-called high inrush relays are used here.

Metered PDU

A metered PDU has a measuring function that can be used to measure the consumption of the connected devices in the individual sockets. The measurement data can be accessed remotely to determine the current consumption. Depending on the model, the functions vary, but in general, metered PDUs measure the following electrical quantities: voltage, current, phase angle, power factor, frequency, active power, apparent power, and reactive power.

In addition to electrical quantities, a metered PDU can also measure fault current, which is important for operational safety. Users can use advanced functions to set limit values in order to detect thresholds. These thresholds automatically send an alarm, for example by e-mail, to the user to inform them of any exceedances at an early stage. There are three types of current measurement:

Unit-metered PDU (input side)

A unit-metered PDU monitors the power of all devices connected to the PDU’s power supply, i.e., at the input or per bank. Unit-metered PDUs are always used in data centers or IT environments to monitor and measure total power consumption.

Outlet-metered PDU (output side)

An outlet-metered PDU monitors the power at each individual outlet on the power distribution unit. There, the outlet-metered PDU monitors the power consumption of all individual connected devices and detects trends in power consumption. This allows administrators to see whether they can reduce energy costs and comply with energy guidelines.

Inline-metered PDU (intermediate)

An inline-metered PDU measures power consumption between the power source and the connected devices. Inline-metered PDUs monitor and manage both individual devices and groups of devices to make power consumption visible.