Patent attributes
A system comprises a first equipment rack, a power distribution unit (PDU) and a plurality of rack connectors. The PDU is mounted in the first equipment rack and is configured to provide alternating current (AC) power that comprises a plurality of phases. The plurality of rack connectors mount within the first equipment rack, and each of the plurality of rack connectors couples to the PDU and provides access to the plurality of phases. Each rack connector is usable to accommodate a first device installed in the equipment rack that uses one or more of the plurality of phases, and is also usable to accommodate a second device installed in the equipment rack that uses one or more of the plurality of phases, thereby permitting each rack connector to couple to any of a plurality of devices, and permitting each of the plurality of devices to use any number of the plurality of phases. The number of phases used by the first device differs from the number of phases used by the second device.