APC Smart-ups 5000VA 208V Rackmount/tower - 5U - Line-interactive - 208 V - 4KW - SUA5000RMT5U

APC by Schneider Electric SUA5000RMT5U 5000VA 208V Rackmount/Tower Line-Interactive UPS

Overview

The SUA5000RMT5U is a 5000VA / 4000W line-interactive uninterruptible power supply designed for mid-to-large rack deployments running 208V infrastructure. At 5U tall, it fits standard 19-inch enclosures and converts to tower orientation when rack space is at a premium — a practical option for wiring closets, server rooms, and distributed IT equipment rooms that haven't committed to a full rack build-out. If you're powering a dense camera server, a network video recorder stack, or any 208V commercial load that can't tolerate a dropped input cycle, this unit is sized to bridge the gap between a power event and an orderly shutdown or generator handoff.

Line-interactive topology means the SUA5000RMT5U's automatic voltage regulation (AVR) corrects under-voltage and over-voltage conditions using the internal transformer — without switching to battery. That's important in commercial environments where brownouts and line sags are common; every unnecessary battery cycle shortens battery life and raises replacement costs.

Key Features

• 5000VA / 4000W Output Capacity: 4kW of usable real power gives you meaningful headroom over a 3kW nominal load — critical for server and storage platforms that spike well above their idle draw during boot or disk rebuild cycles. Under-sizing a UPS for transient loads is the most common commissioning mistake in rack deployments.
• 9.4-Minute Full-Load / 26.7-Minute Half-Load Runtime: At full 4kW draw, you get 9.4 minutes — enough for a controlled shutdown sequence or a generator to come online. Drop to half-load (2kW, a realistic mixed server-and-networking scenario) and runtime extends to 26.7 minutes. Plan your load accordingly during sizing.
• 208V Input/Output: Designed for 208V branch circuits, which are standard in commercial electrical panels and data center PDUs. Verify your circuit before ordering — this is not a 120V residential unit.
• Hot-Swap Batteries: Sealed lead-acid VRLA packs can be replaced under load without powering down connected equipment. In a 24/7 surveillance or server environment, this is the difference between a scheduled maintenance window and an unplanned outage.
• 3-Hour Recharge Time: After a full discharge, the VRLA batteries recover to full capacity in approximately 3 hours — fast enough to be ready for a second event the same day in most scenarios.
• Emergency Power Off (EPO): Hardwired EPO input allows facility management or fire suppression systems to cut UPS output instantly. Required by code in many data center and server room buildouts — confirm your local electrical code requirements before planning the EPO wiring.
• 53 dB Noise Level: Roughly equivalent to a quiet office or library background noise. Acceptable in an IT closet or equipment room; worth noting if the unit is placed in a noise-sensitive open office environment.
• Wide Operating Temperature Range (0–40°C): Handles typical indoor commercial and industrial environments without derating. Storage is rated to -15°C, so shipping and staged deployment in cold climates won't degrade the batteries before first use.
• Audible Alarms and LED Indicators: On-battery, low-battery, and fault conditions are announced locally — no requirement for a monitoring card to get basic operational awareness. Pair with APC's network management card (sold separately) for SNMP/HTTPS remote monitoring if the application requires it.
• 2.44m Cable Length: The included power cable reaches most standard rack PDU positions without extension adapters — verify your panel-to-UPS run before finalizing placement.

Integration and Compatibility

The SUA5000RMT5U is compatible with APC's SmartSlot expansion bay, which accepts network management cards (NMC) for SNMP/Modbus integration into building management systems, NMS platforms, and data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools. This makes it deployable in managed environments where per-device power monitoring and remote shutdown scripting are required.

For power and UPS solutions across mixed-voltage deployments, verify that every downstream device is rated for 208V input — the SUA5000RMT5U outputs 208V and is not a step-down transformer. Connecting 120V-only equipment without a suitable PDU or transformer will damage that equipment.

This unit fits naturally into rack builds alongside managed PoE network switches and network video recorders where continuous uptime during power events is a project requirement. For the broader APC by Schneider Electric catalog, including smaller desktop UPS units and 120V tower models, review the full line to match the right capacity to each circuit. See also our UPS sizing and selection guide for runtime calculation methodology and load-planning worksheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the runtime of the SUA5000RMT5U at full load?

A: At full 4000W / 5000VA load, the SUA5000RMT5U provides approximately 9.4 minutes of backup runtime. At half load (approximately 2000W), runtime extends to 26.7 minutes. Actual runtime varies based on battery age, temperature, and connected load profile.

Q: Does the SUA5000RMT5U support hot-swap battery replacement?

A: Yes. The SUA5000RMT5U supports hot-swap battery replacement, meaning batteries can be changed while the unit remains online and powering connected equipment. This eliminates the need to schedule downtime for routine battery maintenance.

Q: What input voltage does the SUA5000RMT5U require?

A: The SUA5000RMT5U is designed for 208V input, which is standard on commercial electrical panels and data center PDUs. It is not compatible with standard 120V residential circuits without a step-up transformer.

Q: Does the SUA5000RMT5U have an Emergency Power Off (EPO) input?

A: Yes. The unit includes a hardwired EPO input that allows integration with facility fire suppression systems or manual emergency cutoff panels. EPO wiring requirements vary by local electrical code — consult your AHJ before installation.

Q: Can the SUA5000RMT5U be used in both rack and tower orientation?

A: Yes. The SUA5000RMT5U ships in a 5U rackmount form factor and also supports tower orientation, making it flexible for deployments where a full equipment rack is not available.

Q: How long does it take to recharge the SUA5000RMT5U batteries after a full discharge?

A: Battery recharge time after a full discharge is approximately 3 hours under normal operating conditions.

Karl Wilson

The SUA5000RMT5U is a unit I regularly recommend for mid-density server and surveillance rack builds on 208V commercial circuits. That 9.4-minute full-load runtime spec is the number most integrators get wrong during sizing — they design to the nameplate VA and forget to account for real watt draw under peak conditions. At 4kW real power, you have enough bridge time for a clean OS shutdown or generator transfer, but if you're stacking this unit under a dense NVR array with spinning surveillance drives, measure the actual watt load before commissioning.

Technical Highlights:

• Hot-Swap VRLA Batteries: Field-replaceable under load with no downtime — on a 24/7 surveillance or server deployment, this alone justifies the unit over cheaper alternatives that require a full shutdown for battery service.
• Line-Interactive AVR: Corrects voltage sags and surges via transformer tap-switching before touching the battery. In commercial buildings where brownouts are a daily event, this topology significantly extends battery service life compared to standby-only designs.
• EPO Integration: The hardwired EPO input connects directly to facility fire panels or manual cutoffs. This is a code requirement in many server room and data center buildouts — having it built in saves you from adding an external contactor or relay.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your branch circuit is 208V before installation. The SUA5000RMT5U does not accept 120V input, and connecting it to the wrong circuit will trip the breaker at best and damage the unit at worst.
• Operating altitude is rated to 3000m (approximately 9,800 ft). If the installation site is above that — mountain data centers, high-elevation facilities — you'll need to derate capacity or select an altitude-compensated model.

This unit fits well in 208V commercial rack builds supporting NVR stacks, edge compute nodes, or access control head-end equipment where planned runtime of 9–27 minutes covers either a clean shutdown or a standby generator's transfer window — the SUA5000RMT5U handles that scenario cleanly as long as the load is sized to its 4kW real-power ceiling.