Power Distribution Units

PDU Solutions for Data Center and Network Infrastructure

Power Distribution Units

Reliable power where your network needs it

Servers, storage systems, switches, and other network equipment depend on reliable power at the rack. Power Distribution Units (PDUs) distribute electrical power to equipment within data center cabinets, server racks, telecommunications room, and other network environments.

Leviton Power Distribution Units provide reliable rack-level power distribution in a range of horizontal and vertical configurations. Options include basic power distribution and surge-protected models, giving network designers and facility teams flexibility to support different rack layouts, equipment requirements, and deployment environments.

As computing environments evolve to support cloud services, artificial intelligence, edge computing, and increasingly dense network architectures, planning for reliable and scalable rack power has become an important part of data center infrastructure design.

Power requirements are changing in the Data Center

Data center infrastructure is evolving as AI, cloud computing, and other compute-intensive applications increase power, cooling, and network infrastructure.

The Uptime Institute reports average rack densities continue to increase, with more data center operators reporting peak rack densities of 30 kW or greater.

As rack densities increase, power distribution becomes an increasingly important consideration in equipment layout, capacity planning, and infrastructure scalability.

-- Source: Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey 2026

Choosing the right power distribution unit

The appropriate PDU depends on the equipment being powered, available electrical service, rack configuration, and the level of power protection needed. Common considerations include:

  • Horizontal vs vertical mounting: Select the configuration that best fits rack space and equipment layout
  • Available voltage and amperage: Match the PDU to the electrical circuit and connected equipment requirements
  • Number and type of receptacles: Consider both current equipment and anticipated rack requirements
  • Basic vs surge protection: Determine whether connected equipment requires additional protection from voltage transients
  • Rack density and future capacity: Consider how power requirements may change as equipment is added or upgraded

Frequently Asked Questions

A Power Distribution Unit, or PDU, distributes electrical power to multiple devices within a rack or cabinet. In data centers and network rooms, PDUs provide power connections for equipment such as servers, storage systems, and networking hardware.

PDUs are commonly used in data centers, server rooms, telecommunications rooms, wiring closets, and other environments containing rack-mounted network or computing equipment.

Horizontal PDUs mount across a standard equipment rack and typically consume rack-unit space. Vertical PDUs mount along side the side or rear of a cabinet, which can preserve horizontal rack space for active equipment. Leviton offers PDU configurations in both horizontal and vertical mounting styles.

A zero-U PDU is mounted vertically within a rack or cabinet rather than occupying horizontal rack-unit space. Leviton’s P1000 Series includes vertical zero-U configurations as well as horizontal 19-inch rack-mount models.

A basic PDU distributes electrical power to connected equipment. A surge-protected PDU also provides protection against voltage transients. Leviton’s 5500 and 5505 Series PDUs provide surge protection and are listed to UL 1449.

Leviton P1000 Series are available in 120 V configurations with 15-, 20-, and 30-amp options.

Leviton’s P1000 Series models feature circuit breaker protection intended to prevent current overloads.

Data center IT equipment depends on reliable rack-level power distribution. PDUs provide the connection between facility power infrastructure and equipment installed within racks and cabinets. As rack power densities increase, selecting an appropriate PDU configuration becomes an important consideration in data center infrastructure planning.

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