A power distribution unit (PDU) takes a single power feed and distributes it to the equipment in a rack or row. The right PDU does more than provide outlets: it lets you meter energy use, balance load across circuits, switch individual outlets remotely, and see when a rack is approaching its limit before it trips. Choosing the correct PDU type is the difference between a rack you can manage from your desk and one you have to visit every time something changes.
NPS supplies rack PDUs and power distribution units from Eaton, APC by Schneider Electric, and Socomec, in single-phase and three-phase formats. Because NPS is vendor-agnostic, we specify the PDU that matches your rack, your load, and the level of monitoring and control you need, from a single cabinet to a full data centre.
Types of Rack PDU
NPS supplies every rack PDU type, so the level of metering and control matches how critical the rack is:
- Basic PDUs: Reliable rack power distribution with no metering, for non-critical loads and simple deployments.
- Metered PDUs: Local or network display of total load, so you can balance circuits and avoid overloading a rack.
- Monitored (networked) PDUs: Remote, per-PDU load monitoring over the network, feeding into your power management and monitoring platform.
- Switched PDUs: Remote on and off control of individual outlets for reboots and staged power-up, without a site visit.
- Managed (switched and metered) PDUs: Per-outlet metering and switching together, the highest level of visibility and control for critical racks.
Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
Where a rack must stay powered through the loss of a single supply, an automatic transfer switch (ATS) feeds it from two independent sources and switches between them automatically if one fails. NPS supplies rack-mount ATS units alongside PDUs so single-corded equipment can benefit from dual-path power. Paired with a UPS, an ATS removes the power feed as a single point of failure.
Rack PDUs and the Rest of Your Rack
Power distribution works best when it is planned with everything else in the rack:
- Racks and cabinets: The right PDU form factor, vertical zero-U or horizontal rack-mount, depends on the cabinet and the space around the equipment.
- UPS systems: PDUs distribute the protected power a UPS provides, so the two are sized together.
- Power management and monitoring: Networked and managed PDUs report into the same platform that watches your UPS and environment.
Where Rack PDUs Matter
NPS delivers power distribution across the sectors that depend on dense, well-managed racks:
- Communications: Exchanges and network sites where remote outlet switching avoids a truck roll for every reboot.
- Government: Council data rooms and public infrastructure where metered power supports capacity planning and reporting.
- Mining: Remote switchrooms and communications racks that must be managed from afar.
- Manufacturing: Plant-floor cabinets and control rooms where clean, distributed power keeps production running.
- Healthcare: Hospital communications rooms and medical IT racks where uptime is tied to patient care.
Power Distribution Services from NPS
NPS provides the services that turn a box of PDUs into a working, managed power distribution system:
- Turnkey Power Solutions: Design and integration of PDUs, UPS, and monitoring as a single coordinated system.
- Installation and Commissioning: Rack PDUs installed, labelled, and commissioned by qualified technicians, then tested against your load and circuit plan.
- Power Quality Audit: Assessment of load balance, circuit capacity, and where existing distribution is close to its limits.
Why Choose NPS for Power Distribution
- Over 30 years supplying and supporting critical power across Australia and New Zealand
- Vendor-agnostic advice across Eaton, APC, and Socomec, so the PDU fits your rack rather than one vendor’s catalogue
- Every rack PDU type from basic to fully managed, in single-phase and three-phase
- Power distribution specified alongside the UPS systems, racks, and monitoring it works with
- National coverage across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with field technicians available across all Australian states
