StarTech.com 1U Rackmount Power Switch 8 Outlet 15 Amp RS232 Serial Control PDU PCM815SHNA (Black)

by StarTech

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 5.9 x 14.6 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00083Y6Y0
• Item model number: PCM815SHNA
• Average Customer Review: 1.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

This 1U Remote Power Switch/Rack PDU is the perfect complement to StarTech.com's IP-based Server Remote Control product line, allowing you to remotely turn power to connected devices on and off. The PDU can be rackmounted into 1U of cabinet space or used as a standalone power management solution, allowing you to control the power state of devices connected to the power switch/module through an RS232 serial connection. A cost-effective and efficient rackmount power option, up to 16 1U Remote Power Switches/Rack PDUs can be cascaded together using industry-standard Ethernet patch cables, allowing you to control power to up to 128 devices over a single connection. Designed for durability and reliability, the 1U Remote Power Switch/Rack PDU is backed by StarTech.com's 1-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Looks great, but does not work with Visual Basic, March 28, 2011

By 

Gadget Man "Phu Nguyen" (Sunny California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: StarTech.com 1U Rackmount Power Switch 8 Outlet 15 Amp RS232 Serial Control PDU PCM815SHNA (Black) (Personal Computers)

Comment 3/28/11:
Bought this unit so I could use RS232 to control using VB. Hyperterminal works only if you use the \r as the EOL terminating character. By default the EOL character is \n. However, I could not send text to the unit. I tried terminating text commands with vbCr, then vbCrLf, et al... and nothing worked. I saw the unit connected to the serial port, however.

I sent several emails to the company tech support, and no one responded.
I am initiating a refund.

1.0 out of 5 stars Junk, February 7, 2011

By 

Steven Yokum (Morgantown, WV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: StarTech.com 1U Rackmount Power Switch 8 Outlet 15 Amp RS232 Serial Control PDU PCM815SHNA (Black) (Personal Computers)

This is the only product I could find that had a serial interface as opposed to a Web based front end. We need it to do automated power cycling of units and this allowed us to do it through simple custom serial software. Another reviewer complained about the host software. I can't comment since I never used it.

Update1: Won't recognize daisy chaining on power up. Have to plug cables in after both units are on. Makes it useless.

Update2: Had it apart because the display LED went out. For the DC component, the manufacturer actually put a wall transformer inside the case instead of building a power supply on the PCB. Very pool quality.

Update3: Can't update the firmware to 5.x from a 4.x model. Must have too little EEPROM.

Update4: Relays start failing after about 100+ cycles. This thing is junk. Great idea, just wish it was better quality

1.0 out of 5 stars PCM815SHNA DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!, June 8, 2009

By 

N. Worsley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: StarTech.com 1U Rackmount Power Switch 8 Outlet 15 Amp RS232 Serial Control PDU PCM815SHNA (Black) (Personal Computers)

I have had nothing but trouble with this product since I received it. The software would work intermittently at best. When I tried to update the firmware, the unit crashed. When I called tech support, I was told there was nothing they could do...even if I sent it back to the factory. The excuse was that the unit is made in another country and the firmware is installed at the time of manufacture and there is no way to upload new firmware. I am now stuck with a $400 piece of junk!!!!!