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Which Power Strips does my rack enclosure require?

There are 4 main considerations in determining which power strip to use: AMP requirements, Number of Outlets required, Plug / Receptacle requirements, and redundancy requirements.

1. Number of Outlets required: The power strips we offer have either 11 or 12 power outlets. It may seem obvious that you need to have as many outlets as you have power cords, but it's key to take into account the power strips total AMP capability, and your redundancy needs.

2. AMP Requirements: We offer both 15 and 20 amp power strip models. It is important to calculate the total amperage your equipment will draw so as not to exceed the amperage capability of the power strip. Project managers for large data centers often work on a 80%-85% of capacity rule - that is they try not to plug in more in then 80%-85% of the power strips capacity.  Even though there are 11 or 12 plug outlets available on these power strips, if you are using equipment with heavy amperage draws, it would be prudent to leave some of the open receptacle unused.

3. Plug / Receptacle Requirements: You naturally would have require a power strip that matches your sever / network equipment and power drop standards. Most server and network equipment in the U.S. have either NEMA 5-15P standard plugs, or NEMA 5-20P standard plugs.  As you might expect these have to be plugged into NEMA 5-15R standard receptacles, or NEMA 5-20R standard receptacles. Please be sure that the power strip you order has both the correct receptacle standard for you to plug your equipment into, and that the plug coming form the power strip has the correct plug to match the power source receptacle you will be plugging it into.

4. Redundancy Requirements: Some higher-end mission critical servers and network equipment offer a redundant power supply option.  The idea being if the main power supply in your equipment were to fail, that you would have a backup or fail safe to fall back on, so as to eliminate down time. The power supply failure could be a result of the power unit itself failing, or it could be an interruption in the power source.  Many data center managers plan for both contingencies and have more then one power drop feeding power to mission critical equipment in each rack enclosure. In other words, rather than plugging both power plugs from mission critical redundant equipment into the same power strip, they plug them into 2 (or more) power strips being fed by 2 (or more) power sources.

Do power strips take up useable rack space / units? Horizontal powers tips usually do take up mountable rack units.  All of our power strips mount vertically to the rear of the cabinet and take up zero "U" of usable rack mounting space. 

NEMA = National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA, created in the fall of 1926 by the merger of the Electric Power Club and the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies, provides a forum for the standardization of electrical equipment, enabling consumers to select from a range of safe, effective, and compatible electrical products.