Our company has two server rooms, each currently protected by an aging tower UPS that is no longer supported and has no replacement parts available. The equipment load is about 5 kW per room, with a mix of 208/240 V equipment and some devices that require 120 V outlets. We would like roughly 30 minutes of battery runtime so the servers can shut down cleanly if the building generator fails to start. We are located in southwest Michigan and are also looking for reliable vendors that can provide installation, maintenance, battery replacement, and emergency support. Which UPS manufacturers and models should we consider, and are there any sizing or power-distribution issues we should address before requesting quotes?
5 Answers
Thirty minutes of runtime at 5 kW gets expensive quickly. Before buying that much battery, confirm whether the real requirement is simply enough time to determine that the generator failed and shut down the servers. If the generator normally starts within a minute, a properly configured shutdown sequence and around 10 minutes of runtime may be sufficient. The UPS should send alerts and initiate an orderly shutdown after a defined delay or battery threshold.
Be very precise about the voltage requirement in the quote. Most modern IT equipment can run on 208 V, but some devices may need 120 V. Confirm whether you have separate 120 V and 208/240 V loads or need a transformer/output module. The UPS, bypass, PDUs, receptacles, and circuit breakers all need to be sized together. Also make sure the network management card supports standalone monitoring without an unwanted subscription and meets your security requirements.
Consider redundancy instead of one very large UPS if the electrical design allows it. Two independently fed UPS units can protect against a UPS head-unit failure, not just a utility outage. Ideally, connect dual-power-supply equipment so each power supply is fed from a different UPS, with separate upstream circuits and appropriately rated PDUs. A single large UPS with extra battery cabinets gives more capacity, but it remains one failure point unless there is a bypass or modular redundant design.
Vertiv/Liebert and Eaton have been the most dependable choices in my experience. We use Vertiv units in current facilities and Eaton in a previous one, with the vendor performing scheduled service twice a year. A rack-mounted unit is generally easier to maintain than a tower, especially when batteries need to be replaced. A Vertiv GXT5 or Eaton 9PX sized above the present load, with external battery cabinets, could be a good fit, but the final model depends on the electrical service and desired growth capacity.
Start with Eaton, Vertiv/Liebert, and possibly APC, but have a local UPS service company survey the rooms and engineer the solution. At 5 kW, this is beyond a typical plug-in battery backup. You will need to verify input voltage, output voltage, phase, circuit amperage, bypass requirements, PDU connections, battery capacity, and whether the unit should be hardwired. Eaton 9PX/9PXM, Vertiv GXT5, and larger modular systems are reasonable starting points. Ask each vendor for installation, startup, preventative maintenance, battery replacement, emergency response, and parts availability—not just the equipment price.
I would also ask for a five-year total-cost estimate. Batteries, service visits, network cards, bypass equipment, electricians, and external battery cabinets can cost as much as the UPS itself.
A local authorized service provider is more important than picking a particular brand. Get several bids and ask specifically how quickly they can provide on-site response, loaner equipment, replacement batteries, and repair parts in southwest Michigan.