APC by Schneider Electric SUG5100A90UL 100kVA 3-Phase Double-Conversion Tower UPS
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric SUG5100A90UL is a 100 kVA (90,000 W) three-phase, double-conversion online UPS in tower form factor — built for data centers, industrial facilities, and large commercial installations where a power event cannot be tolerated for even a fraction of a second. Part of the MGE Galaxy 5000 platform, this unit accepts a wide input voltage range (408–600 V) on a three-phase supply and delivers a regulated 480 V to 600 V output, making it well-suited for North American facilities running 480 V distribution. All output connections are via hardwired terminal blocks — there are no NEMA outlet strips at this power class. If you are sizing a critical infrastructure power chain for a large network operations center, a manufacturing floor, or a campus data room, this is the scale of UPS the application demands.
Explore the full APC by Schneider Electric power portfolio for complementary products across this platform family.
Key Features
- Double-Conversion Online Topology: The load runs entirely off inverted AC at all times — the incoming utility never feeds the critical load directly. This eliminates the transfer time (typically 2–10 ms for line-interactive designs) entirely. For sensitive medical imaging, automation controllers, or financial transaction servers, zero transfer time is a non-negotiable design requirement.
- 100 kVA / 90 kW Output: At 0.9 power factor, the SUG5100A90UL delivers the full 90 kW to the load. This is a real-world power factor consistent with modern server power supplies — not a legacy 0.8 PF derated figure. At scale, that 10% difference translates to one fewer UPS cabinet in a high-density row.
- Wide Input Voltage Window (408–600 V): Tolerating input variation from 408 V to 600 V means the UPS can ride through sag events without switching to battery, which directly extends battery service life. In facilities with utility voltage fluctuations, this range reduces unnecessary battery cycling.
- 3:1 Crest Factor Support: Many UPS designs degrade output quality or derate capacity when feeding non-linear loads (switching power supplies, VFDs, server racks). A 3:1 crest factor rating means this unit handles those load types without output voltage distortion — confirmed by the <1% output voltage THD spec.
- 92.9% Efficiency: At 100 kVA, even a modest efficiency gain compounds fast. At 92.9%, heat dissipation is constrained enough that cooling overhead stays manageable. Installations targeting LEED certification or PUE targets will want this figure in the energy model.
- Input Current THD <3%: Low input harmonic distortion means the SUG5100A90UL won't pollute upstream distribution transformers or trigger nuisance tripping on distribution panels. Facilities with sensitive instrumentation or shared bus architecture will find this spec significant at the design stage.
- External Battery Architecture: Supports up to 4 external battery cabinets. Runtime is entirely configurable based on how many external battery strings are deployed — the base unit ships without batteries. This lets you right-size runtime for the protected load without paying for runtime you don't need, and makes future runtime extension a battery cabinet purchase rather than a UPS replacement.
- LCD Display + LED Indicators: The front-panel LCD provides real-time load, battery, and fault status without requiring a network connection or management card. In a machine room or industrial environment where a laptop isn't always at hand, local status readability matters.
- UL 1778 and UL 924 Certification: UL 1778 is the standard for UPS equipment. UL 924 covers emergency lighting equipment — relevant when the SUG5100A90UL is specified to back emergency egress lighting or life-safety systems. Both listings are confirmed for this SKU. Browse enterprise UPS and power protection solutions for additional options at this power class.
- IP20 Enclosure Rating: IP20 provides protection against solid objects larger than 12.5 mm but no water ingress protection. This unit is designed for controlled indoor environments — conditioned data centers, equipment rooms, and server closets. It is not rated for outdoor or high-humidity industrial spaces without supplemental enclosures.
- Operating Envelope 0–40 °C, Up to 999.9 m Altitude: Standard commercial data center operating range. Above 1,000 m, derating applies — confirm with APC's engineering team for high-altitude sites. The 63 dB noise level is relevant for any equipment room adjacent to occupied office space.
Integration and Compatibility
The SUG5100A90UL integrates into three-phase 480 V distribution systems via hardwired terminal input and output connections — no plug-and-play connectivity. Installation requires a licensed electrician and coordination with the facility's electrical infrastructure. The unit supports three-phase input and output (3-phase in, 3-phase out), so single-phase load banks require downstream distribution panels or PDUs to split phases. An network management card or compatible SNMP/Modbus interface (consult APC's compatibility matrix for this platform) enables remote monitoring and integration with DCIM or BMS platforms. For facilities requiring structured UPS accessories and battery cabinets, the external battery architecture accommodates up to 4 battery strings for extended runtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input voltage does the SUG5100A90UL require?
A: The SUG5100A90UL accepts three-phase input from 408 V to 600 V at 45–65 Hz. It is designed for North American 480 V three-phase distribution systems but tolerates the full range within that window.
Q: Does the SUG5100A90UL include batteries?
A: No. The battery type is listed as external, and the unit supports up to 4 external battery cabinets. Runtime depends on how many battery strings are connected and the actual load — batteries and runtime extension cabinets are purchased separately.
Q: What certifications does the SUG5100A90UL carry?
A: The SUG5100A90UL is certified to UL 1778 (UPS equipment standard) and UL 924 (emergency lighting equipment). Both are confirmed for this SKU from the source documentation.
Q: What are the physical dimensions of the SUG5100A90UL?
A: The unit is 5,646 mm wide × 813 mm deep × 1,900 mm tall and weighs 8,974.5 kg. This is a very large, heavy installation requiring professional rigging, structural floor load assessment, and coordinated delivery logistics well in advance of installation.
Q: What output connections does the SUG5100A90UL provide?
A: All output connections are hardwired terminal blocks — there are zero NEMA AC outlets. Downstream load distribution requires a compatible three-phase PDU or distribution panel wired directly to the output terminals.
Q: What is the noise level of the SUG5100A90UL?
A: The unit operates at 63 dB under normal conditions. Plan accordingly if the equipment room is adjacent to occupied office areas — acoustic isolation or distance may be warranted.
The SUG5100A90UL is one of those UPS platforms where the physical installation planning is as important as the electrical design — at 8,974.5 kg and 5,646 mm wide, this is not a unit you drop into a standard equipment room without a structural engineer reviewing floor load capacity and a rigging crew coordinating the move-in. The double-conversion topology means zero transfer time to battery, which is the right answer for any load that can't tolerate even a half-cycle interruption, but the operational tradeoff is heat: at 92.9% efficiency, roughly 6,500 W is dissipated as heat at full load, which needs to be accounted for in the room's cooling capacity budget.
Technical Highlights:
- Wide Input Voltage Range (408–600 V): The ability to stay on utility power across a 192 V input swing means fewer battery discharge events in facilities with variable utility quality — battery longevity improves directly as a result.
- Output THD <1% / Input Current THD <3%: These two figures together mean the SUG5100A90UL neither pollutes the upstream distribution bus nor delivers distorted power to the load — important when the protected equipment includes variable-frequency drives or precision measurement systems that are sensitive to harmonic content.
- UL 924 Listing: Not all UPS platforms carry UL 924. If any portion of the protected load includes emergency egress lighting or life-safety systems, this listing is a code requirement in most North American jurisdictions — verify with the AHJ early in the design phase.
Deployment Considerations:
- The external battery architecture (up to 4 strings) gives you runtime flexibility, but each battery cabinet adds to the footprint and floor load — factor this into the room layout before the electrical rough-in.
- Operating altitude is rated to 999.9 m. Sites above that threshold require derating consultation with APC's engineering team — do not assume nameplate capacity applies at elevation without confirmation.
The SUG5100A90UL is the right specification for a greenfield data center or large network operations center buildout at the 100 kVA tier where three-phase 480 V distribution is already in place and the load profile includes server infrastructure that cannot tolerate any transfer gap. It is not the right pick for a small server room, a single-phase application, or any installation without professional electrical and rigging resources on-site.
