Today we are looking at the CyberPower CPS1215RMS. This is a 1U PDU with a total of twelve standard NEMA 5-15R outlets. This is a fairly simple device, but we wanted to at least cover it since we purchased one to try as a STH Mini PC/ Project TinyMiniMicro edge rack.
CyberPower CPS1215RMS Hardware Overview
The all metal unit is 1U in height and just under 3 inches deep. It is clearly designed for rackmount-only use as the rackmount ears are part of the main chassis and cannot be removed.
The front of the unit has a covered power switch, a reset switch, and six outlets. It also has three indicators for power, ground, and surge protection. These outlets are close together, but straight cables should have no problem fitting in.
This surge protector is 15A 120V with a surge suppression rating of 1800J. It also has an EMI/RFI noise filter.
The back of the unit also has six outlets, but are spaced out. The attached cable is 15 feet long, terminating in a straight standard plug.
The bottom of the unit has the label with the UL Recognized Component logo.
Next, let us get inside the PDU.
CyberPower CPS1215RMS Internal Hardware Overview
Opening the unit was fairly simple. There were two screws on each side, and six screws on the bottom, one of which was covered by the label. There is an insulator material that is a single folded sheet surrounding the internals.
Most will never open one of these units, but we figured we would at least show our readers what is inside.
Since this is a PDU without electronics for monitoring or a battery inside, the wiring is fairly simple.
That may not have been the most exciting internal look at a product we have done, but we still wanted to show it.
Final Words
This is a fairly basic review of a simple component. This is one of those units that you would buy and install and never think about again. We thought there might be more here to look at and review, but perhaps we were wrong on this one. Instead, what we can say is that the unit has worked so far and this is what it looks like. Sometimes you just need a simple rackmount power strip and this one is working for us.
CyberPower CPS1215RMS Pricing and Where to Buy
We purchased this unit for around $60 so these are relatively cheap compared to other PDUs we use. On the other hand, if you need a UPS instead of a surge protector, we will be reviewing a CyberPower UPS soon as well.
If you want to find one, here is an Amazon Affiliate link with current pricing.
If nothing else, a teardown show us it is built at least as well as we expect for the price point and brand – something not guaranteed in this era.
Also, it’s SO NICE to have a shot of the inside when looking at products for hardware hacking.
So thank you!
The reset button is presumably for the 15A circuit breaker.
The surge protection circuit is presumably either robust, self-resetting, or a one-shot.
The link at CP for the User Manual turned out to be a 2007 warranty statement, so was of no use in clarifying all this.
While I suspect it does meet the electrical code, the feed-thru ground isn’t ideal. A failure in one socket could result in a loss of grounding in the rest of the sockets.