Dual column gang outlets for minimizing installation space

A power outlet unit comprising:

• a housing including a top surface and four outer walls arranged as a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, wherein each of the side walls includes at least one of a slot or recess formed therein, and the top surface includes a plurality of openings formed thereon and exposing a plurality of concave regions;
• and
• a plurality of electrical outlets arranged in two adjacent columns and contained within the four outer walls, each electrical outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets including a socket having a plurality of terminals, each socket being contained within only one concave region of the plurality of concave regions;
• wherein each slot or recess that is located in an outer wall of the housing is configured to retain a locking tab of a locking power cord inserted into one of the plurality of electrical outlets.

A method of distributing power comprising:

• mounting a power distribution unit in an electrical equipment rack containing electrical equipment, the power distribution unit including a plurality of power outlets each having an opening to receive a locking tab of a locking power cord;
• providing a plurality of locking power cords each having a first end and a second end, the second end having a locking tab, and the second end having a first terminal, a second terminal and a ground terminal;
• coupling the first end of a first locking power cord to a first electrical equipment unit mounted in the electrical equipment rack;
• coupling the second end of the first locking power cord into a first one of the plurality of power outlets such that the locking tab of the first locking power cord mates with the opening of the first one of the plurality of power outlets, and such that the first terminal, the second terminal and the ground terminal of the first one of the plurality of power outlets are in a first rotational position;
• coupling the first end of a second locking power cord of the plurality of locking power cords to a second electrical equipment unit mounted in the electrical equipment rack;
• coupling the second end of the second locking power cord into a second one of the plurality of power outlets such that the locking tab of the second locking power cord mates with the opening of the second one of the plurality of power outlets, and such that the first terminal, the second terminal and the ground terminal of the second one of the plurality of power outlets are in a second rotational position offset from the first rotational position by 180 degrees.