Recently we needed a PDU that provided some very basic functionality. The Tripp-Lite PDU1230 fit that need. I got the task of reviewing the PDU which was made more complex by its simplicity. In our Tripp-Lite PDU1230 review, we are going to see what this single-phase 200V, 208V, 240V PDU offers.
Tripp-Lite PDU1230
The Tripp-Lite PDU1230 itself is a 1U PDU. We generally use zero U PDUs but we had the opportunity to use a smaller rack and needed space in the rear for large storage servers. As a result, we tried the Tripp-Lite PDU1230. We did not take photos with the rack ears, but as you can see this is a standard 1U form factor.
The rear of the unit has a total of 12x C13 power outputs. Each set of four outputs has its own breaker that is rated at 10A. This is actually a nice feature to have, especially if you have ever blown a PDU breaker/ fuse as it limits how many ports will go down simultaneously.
Since it is a 1U PDU, the single-phase power input can range from 200V to 208V to 240V is on the same “rear” of the PDU with 12x C13 power outlets. There is also a grounding point next to the PDU power input. The power input is supplied via a NEMA L6-30P input with a 15-foot or 4.57m cable. Since this is a 4.8kW to 5.8kW PSU depending on the input voltage at 30A and 80% safety loading factor, we want a fixed input cable. One just has to ensure that the 1U PDU can reach the facility power in that 15ft range. Most facilities can do this without issue, but if you have a rack in a location that is not close to the outlet, it is something to consider.
On the front of the unit, we get another four C13 ports with an 8A breaker. One can see the Tripp-Lite logo, but there is no LCD display or any feature like that to provide monitoring at the PDU level.
On the front of the unit, we get four C19 output ports. Each gets its own 12A breaker These are very useful for solutions such as with GPU servers.
As you can see, this is a very basic PDU by modern standards. As we expected, the PDU delivered power to connected devices, and breakers blew when we put too much load on a bank. Since that is the design, this is the expected/ desired behavior.
Final Words
Pricing varies on these a bit, but they can often be purchased for under $175 making them an affordable choice at under $10/ port. We are going to have an Amazon Affiliate shopping ad above this section for the latest pricing.
We are going to note here that these PDUs have a 5-year warranty. For most of our readers, if the PDU goes down in this price range the PDU will get replaced by a different model from a different vendor if it fails within 5 years.
Generally, we deploy much higher-end PDUs in our racks. At a minimum, we tend to use PDUs metered at the PDU level. In the main lab racks, we also use per-outlet metered PDUs which are much more expensive. The Tripp-Lite PDU1230 is designed to be a more basic unit, with a benefit: cost. This pricing is very low. One may prefer zero-U PDUs, but a 1U unit is a design choice and Tripp-Lite has zero-U options as well. Although this is not the most exciting unit, sometimes you just need an inexpensive, basic, 1U PDU with plenty of ports.
