Across many data centres, a large share of installed PDUs are still “basic” units with no intelligence, or older intelligent models that no longer meet today’s monitoring and reporting needs. With the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) tightening measurement and transparency requirements, operators are increasingly looking for practical ways to add accurate rack-level energy data without launching a costly replacement programme.
Schleifenbauer highlights retrofitting as a straightforward alternative. By installing the Inline Meter 5.0 between the power feed and an existing PDU, legacy power chains can be upgraded with present-day metering and connectivity while leaving the original rack layout intact. This approach avoids downtime and preserves working hardware, extending its lifecycle and reducing electronic waste.
Modern intelligence on top of existing infrastructure
The Inline Meter 5.0 adds real-time input and phase-level measurements, providing immediate visibility of current, voltage, power and energy consumption at rack level. For integration into DCIM, BMS or reporting environments, it supports common data centre protocols including SNMP, Modbus/TCP and REST API.
Connectivity is designed for high-density, data-rich environments, real time data with 1 Gbps Ethernet as standard and the option of a second 1 Gbps network interface via USB. Zero-touch provisioning further simplifies deployment into existing networks.
EnerTree DCEM included at no extra cost
Retrofitting with an Inline Meter is supported by EnerTree, Schleifenbauer’s licence free Data Centre Energy Management (DCEM) platform. EnerTree provides real-time dashboards, historical reporting, alerting and scalable device management, and is delivered licence-free with Schleifenbauer 5.0-generation hardware, including Inline Meter 5.0 installations. This removes the barrier of recurring software costs when building an EED-ready energy monitoring layer.
European development and production
Schleifenbauer positions the Inline Meter 5.0 retrofit route as part of a broader push for European technological sovereignty. Development and production take place in the Netherlands, giving operators a European supply chain, direct engineering support and alignment with EU compliance expectations.
Why this matters now
For data centre operators, the message is clear: EED compliance does not automatically require a full PDU replacement cycle. Retrofitting with inline metering can deliver the necessary measurement accuracy and reporting capability faster, more sustainably and at a lower overall cost, while keeping proven infrastructure in service.
More information
Read more about the Inline Meter 5.0 retrofit solution here: https://www.schleifenbauer.eu/en/inline-meter/