APC updates power distribution technology

Data center power technology company APC by Schneider Electric is updating its power distribution unit (PDU) portfolio with a new series of products that fall under the Next Generation Metered and Switched Rack PDU moniker.

The products will focus on features that allow for closer rack-level monitoring of power and environmental factors that can affect energy efficiency, in an extremely small "zero-U" form factor.

This is a big product release: There will be 19 new models the metered and switched lines: the Metered AP8800 series and the Switched AP8900 series. The metered products, which are already shipping, focus on real-time remote monitoring of connected loads according to user-defined parameters. The switched series, due in the third quarter, allows for load monitoring and balancing; data center managers can automate power cycling, sequencing and outlet usage management.