A best rack mount power strip provides convenience to your office or home setup by eliminating all the dangling cords from the surrounding area. This creates a much cleaner and organized working space.
It doubles as surge protectors to protect your equipment against any unforeseen power surge.
In this article, we bring you the top 5 rack mount power strips to consider. From the high-quality models to the more economical options, there’s bound to be one that suits your needs and set up.
Let’s take a look!
1. CyberPower CPS1215RM Basic PDU
CyberPower needs no introduction. It’s a household name for power supplies, surge protectors, and other electronics accessories. CPS1215RM Basic PDU, their leading surge protector takes the cake for the best rack mount power strip today.
It’s a basic 15 feet and 12 out surge protector. Six are located on the front while the rest are placed on the rear panel of the device. This makes cable management a lot easier because you can plug your equipment wherever you want. The overall quality is excellent! Rest assure that the outlets, casing, and even the cord tray are built to last.
Keep in mind, there are two different versions of this surge protector. And each variant offers different features, such as plug configurations. For this article, we reviewed the 15V version. Also, surge protection is an optional feature. Depending on your budget, you can go for an appropriate model. All variants of CyberPower CPS1215RM come with a pre-built circuit breaker, though.
This CyberPower strip can be mounted on any 19-inch rack, as long as it’s 4.75 inches deep. Our only disappointment is that the package doesn’t come with mounting hardware. You have to invest in your own cage nuts, screws, and other mounting tools.
Buy Here: Amazon
2. Tripp Lite RS1215-RA Rackmount Power Strip
Coming in our second spot is the Tripp Lite RS1215-RA Rackmount Network-Grade PDU Power Strip. Tripp lite is one of the oldest American manufacturers of power protection equipment, and this product is a testimony to its expertise.
This 15-foot power strip sports 12 three-pronged outs, with six on the front and six on the rear end. The core is pretty solid, and the outlets are wired internally with aluminum. One notable difference is the inclination of these outlets. They are angled vertically, which makes them accessible to hook devices that come with bigger square AC adapters.
The Trip Lite RS1215-RA Rackmount Power strip is available in eight different styles and two configurations. With so many options, you can surely find one that is suitable for your rack build. What’s more, Tripp Lite has put a nice spin on their product by offering a lifetime warranty. So if anything goes wrong in the future, your investment stays safe.
Overall, it’s a pretty no-frills power distribution and surge protector. It has a solid build and is fully compatible with any 19 inches server racks. The price is also decent. Just make sure you have all the mounting equipment ready because it doesn’t come with any.
Buy Here: Amazon
3. StarTech.com Rack Mount PDU Power Strip
StarTech’s rack mount power is exactly what you would expect from a top-notch electronics manufacturer. It has a rugged construction, multiple outlets, and a built-in circuit breaker to take care of the power anomalies. It’s designed to mount on 19 inches server racks that are 4 inches deep. This makes it remarkably versatile. PS: It has a 6 inches cord.
Design-wise, it has a black steel body with pretty rugged construction. Take one look, and you know it can take a beating. The front panel is rather plain. A pair of LED lights on the left side of the strip specify surge and ground protection for the attached devices. There’s also a circuit breaker switch on the right side.
All eight outlets are on the rear end of the device, and each comes with a built-in circuit breaker. In the event of a power surge, it trips automatically and protects your equipment. The only downside is that you have to manually reset the switch to turn your equipment back on. Sure, it’s a pretty outdated mechanism, but, hey, if it works, what’s the problem?
Overall, it’s an excellent PDU that offers a good value for the price. Even though the design is a bit outdated, we recommend it because of its unique configuration, easy installation, and economical price point.
Buy Here: Amazon
4. ADJ Products AC POWER STRIP
The ADJ’s AC Power strip is an excellent power center that lets you quickly control the switches in different settings. The 6 meters cord is just icing on the cake.
Talking about the design, there are eight 120 volts 3-prong Edison sockets on the rear end. Each gets controlled by an alternate switch on the front. There’s even a 15-ampere circuit breaker to keep your equipment safe. The black construction is durable yet lightweight, though we wouldn’t recommend testing its durability.
All the switches feel nice and firm. They light up evenly when engaged. The plugs fit snug in the rear, just like they should, and their vertical orientation is good for wall warts. Each switch is also labeled so that it’s easy to cycle on or off a connected appliance for troubleshooting.
The reason it comes fourth on our list is because of two things. First, it lacks at least one front face-plate mounted outlet, which is a standard for most rackmount power strips these days. Second, the rack ears are rather thin.
However, these are no way deal breakers. The ADJ Products AC POWER STRIP is still an excellent option for computer equipment, sound stages, or aquariums that require control of multiple switches at the same time.
Buy Here: Amazon
5. Pyle Store PDU Power Strip Surge Protector
The Pyle Store’s PDU Power strip does what it says and comes at a low price point you can get two for the price of the next serious competitor. But, it’s a very basic piece of equipment. Don’t expect any flashy bells and whistles.
It is well made as the casing is steel and the front panel is aluminum. There are eight rear outlets and one front outlet. The front outlet is very useful and convenient in case you have a home studio-type work desk. We particularly love the wide spacing of four outlets in the rear. This ensures you can easily plugin (or out) large power bricks without disturbing the others in the row.
Like other products on this list, the Pyle Store PDU is a 1U rack that is mountable with a power rating of 15A and surges protection to keep your equipment safe. It also has a master power button to shut down all the equipment at once when not in use. Be careful not to accidentally switch it off, as that can prove disastrous in the data center. We believe some kind of a guard to avoid accidental flipping would be really nice.
Still, the Pyle Store PDU Power strip is an excellent investment. It’s pretty basic, but very convenient for consumers due to more outlets, not to mention that it has a budget-friendly price point. However, we don’t recommend attaching expensive equipment for longer durations due to its low power surge rating.
Buy Here: Amazon
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Rack Mount Power Strip
A good rack mount power strip is vital for cable management and equipment protection. That’s why never rush into purchasing one. Consider the following four important aspects:
Your Needs
Whether you are using the best rack mount power strip for home or office use, consider your needs. For instance, if you are just running some sound equipment for entertainment, EMI and RMI filtering are not as crucial. However, it is absolutely necessary for power strips used in data centers.
Surge Protection
Sure, power strips with surge protection are costly, and you can save a lot by cutting down the startup costs with a non-surge-protected model. However, investing in one without surge protection may cost you hundreds in the future. That’s why, if you are dealing with expensive equipment, we suggest investing in a power strip that has surge protection.
Orientation
There are two types of the orientation of rack mount power strips. Horizontal and vertical– both have their pros and cons. Horizontal power strips are smaller and can be easily mounted onto different surfaces. We recommend horizontal for servers or equipment that are smaller and spread over a large area. Vertical mounted strips, on the other hand, are more flexible and versatile. They offer more options for mounting, cord detection, and cord placement. Vertical strips are perfect for small rooms that have to utilize smaller space.
Warranty
As always, a warranty is important for any electronic equipment. Make sure you get at least 2 years warranty to get the most bang out of your so-called bucks.
Final Thoughts
The rack mount power strips are essential for cable management and equipment protection in data centers and different A/V setups. Whether for home or office use, you must choose the right product for your needs. We hope this article has helped in finding the best rack mount power strip for you. Thank you for reading!
