Intelligent PDU Simplifies Installation and Management, Enhances Security

Panduit recently introduced the EL2P power distribution unit (PDU), an intelligent rack-PDU that has been designed to simplify installation and provide enhanced security.

The EL2P features a 360-degree rotating inlet cord, aqua-colored outlets, and an auto-rotating touchscreen. “Providing smarter power with fewer complexities, the EL2P enhances security with 802.1X authentication and zero-touch provisioning, while enabling seamless scalability through one-click daisy-chained firmware updates and Redfish API automation,” Panduit said when introducing the product.

The 360-degree-swivel inlet cord accommodates both top- and bottom-fed installations with ease, reducing cable bend radius and making it more ergonomic and intuitive to connect in tight spaces. As power demands climb in data centers, the inlet cord of a PDU has gotten progressively larger. Today’s artificial intelligence (AI) networks have brought the situation to an extreme level, making larger-diameter cords difficult to manage. The EL2P’s swivel inlet cord provides flexibility that enhances a technician’s ability to install and manage the device.

The integrated auto-rotating display is powered by an on-board accelerometer and allows the PDU’s display to behave in the way we have all come to expect from our mobile phones; the screen orientation adjusts to a vertical or horizontal display based on mounting position. “This eliminates the need for repositioning during installation and ensures real-time data is always readable at a glance,” Panduit said. “This is not just a convenience; it is a workflow-efficiency enhancement that reduces install time and errors.” As a practical matter, this capability means the EL2P can be specified without knowing whether it will be placed overhead or underfloor. Those ordering the PDU don’t have to worry about selecting an incorrect part number based on the overhead-or-underfloor placement.

The name EL2P stands for “Elevate To Power,” and Panduit further described some of the PDU’s characteristics that distinguish it from previous-generation products. “ELP2 was built from the ground up in response to real-world customer pain points,” Panduit said. “Through direct feedback loops and hands-on collaboration with installers, operators, and IT managers, Panduit identified key friction points in traditional PDU design—namely, complex installation requirements, visibility challenges, limited adaptability, and growing security demands.”

One of those friction points is the visibility (or lack thereof) of black outlets when a PDU is placed in the back of a cabinet. EL2P’s aqua-colored outlets ease this difficulty. The PDU’s multiple outlet color options allow users to color-code outlets to breakers.

Panduit senior product manager for power solutions Dipin Jain commented, “Your infrastructure is unique, so your power solution should be too. The EL2P PDU adapts to your unique infrastructure needs. It is built for growth. It is built for the future.”

He estimated that installing the EL2P takes approximately 20 fewer minutes than installing previous-generation intelligent PDUs. Up to 64 PDUs can be daisy-chained together, significantly accelerating firmware updates that can be accomplished with a single push.

While data centers including colocation facilities are an obvious environment in which the EL2P can provide benefits, the PDU is just as appropriate for other locations as well. Panduit explained it is also “designed for performance-driven environments like healthcare institutions, industrial settings, and higher education campuses. The EL2P blends forward-thinking design with practical application to solve the most pressing challenges in the evolving IT infrastructure landscape of today.”

The EL2P is available now.