APC by Schneider Electric SRT3000RMXLA-NC Online Rackmount UPS 3kVA 2U 120V
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric SRT3000RMXLA-NC is a 3 kVA / 2700 W double-conversion online UPS in a 2U rackmount form factor, designed for 120V environments where power conditioning matters as much as backup runtime. Unlike standby or line-interactive designs that switch to battery only on outage, double-conversion topology means the connected load runs off inverter-generated power continuously — raw utility power never reaches your equipment directly. For rackmount UPS and power protection applications in server rooms, security operations centers, and surveillance head-end closets, that distinction is decisive: no transfer time, no voltage transients, no waveform anomalies passed downstream. The SRT3000RMXLA-NC (often searched as SRT3000RMXLA NC) ships with a NEMA L5-30P input plug and delivers output across nine NEMA outlets — eight 5-20R plus one L5-30R — covering both standard 120V loads and higher-draw rackmount equipment on the twist-lock port.
Key Features
- Double-Conversion Online Topology: The inverter is always in the power path — there is zero transfer time to battery during an outage. For network video recorders and real-time recording systems, even a 10ms switch can cause a dropped frame buffer or filesystem error. With double-conversion, that risk is eliminated.
- 3 kVA / 2700 W Output Capacity: At a 0.9 power factor, the 2700 W real-power rating is high for a 2U unit. Size a rack with 2,000–2,400 W of actual draw and you retain meaningful headroom for inrush during boot cycles and room to add equipment over time without immediately outgrowing the UPS.
- Pure Sine Wave Output, 2% THD: Output voltage total harmonic distortion is rated at 2% — well under the 5% threshold that begins stressing active PFC power supplies (found in most modern servers, NVRs, and managed switches). Feeding dirty waveform to active PFC loads shortens PSU lifespan; this unit eliminates that concern.
- Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR): AVR corrects brownouts and overvoltages without switching to battery, extending battery service life. In facilities with marginal utility power — older warehouses, construction sites, buildings with heavy HVAC cycling — AVR prevents battery drain on routine sags that don't warrant a full backup event.
- 340 J Surge Energy Rating: Surge suppression is integrated at 340 joules, protecting connected equipment from transient spikes that bypass upstream breaker panels. For PoE switches and access control panels already in the rack, this is the last line of surge defense before the device PSU.
- 3:1 Crest Factor Tolerance: A 3:1 crest factor rating means the inverter handles loads with high peak-to-RMS current ratios — typical of switching power supplies — without distortion or clipping. Rackmount equipment with multiple PSUs drawing in short pulses benefits directly from this headroom.
- 9-Outlet Configuration (8x 5-20R + 1x L5-30R): Eight standard 5-20R outlets cover typical 1U and 2U devices; the L5-30R twist-lock outlet supports higher-draw equipment or a downstream PDU feeding a sub-rack. Input is NEMA L5-30P, requiring a matching twist-lock receptacle or appropriately rated circuit — plan the electrical rough-in before the unit arrives.
- Web-Based Management: Built-in network management allows remote monitoring of load percentage, battery health, input/output voltage, and alarm status without requiring a separate NMC card at this level — reducing deployment complexity for remote or unstaffed equipment rooms.
- Wide Input Frequency Acceptance (40–70 Hz): Accepting input from 40 to 70 Hz covers generator output variability and international frequency tolerance, making this unit usable in generator-backed facilities where utility frequency is not tightly regulated during startup or load transitions.
- Auto-Restart: After an extended outage that fully discharges the battery, the SRT3000RMXLA-NC restarts automatically when utility power returns — important for unmanned deployments where no technician is on-site to manually restore power to the rack.
- Audible Alarms: Onboard audible alarms signal on-battery events, overload conditions, and low-battery warnings — a practical fallback notification in equipment rooms where visual-only monitoring can be missed during normal facility operations.
Integration & Compatibility
The SRT3000RMXLA-NC operates on 120V single-phase power with a NEMA L5-30P input, which requires a dedicated 30A circuit — verify panel capacity and run a 10 AWG circuit to the rack location before installation. Output at 50 or 60 Hz is selectable to match local utility frequency. The unit fits standard 19-inch two-post or four-post racks in 2U of space. Web-based management integrates with network monitoring infrastructure via standard protocols; for deeper SNMP integration or remote shutdown signaling to connected servers, confirm NMC compatibility with your specific firmware revision. APC's SmartConnect and EcoStruxure platforms are typically compatible with the Smart-UPS Online family for enterprise power management — verify current firmware and platform versions against APC's compatibility matrix before deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between the SRT3000RMXLA-NC and a standard line-interactive UPS?
A: The SRT3000RMXLA-NC uses double-conversion (online) topology, meaning the load always runs off the inverter and battery never has a transfer gap during outages. Line-interactive UPS units switch to battery on outage, introducing a brief transfer time and passing more raw utility waveform to connected equipment. Double-conversion also provides tighter output voltage and waveform regulation (2% THD).
Q: What input plug and circuit does the SRT3000RMXLA-NC require?
A: The unit ships with a NEMA L5-30P input plug, which requires a dedicated 30A, 120V twist-lock receptacle. Plan the electrical circuit accordingly — this is not a standard 5-15R or 5-20R outlet connection.
Q: How many outlets does the SRT3000RMXLA-NC provide, and what types?
A: Nine total: eight NEMA 5-20R outlets for standard 120V equipment, and one NEMA L5-30R twist-lock outlet for higher-draw devices or a downstream PDU.
Q: Does the SRT3000RMXLA-NC produce a pure sine wave output?
A: Yes. Output is a true sine wave with total harmonic distortion rated at 2%, making it fully compatible with active PFC power supplies found in modern servers, NVRs, and managed switches.
Q: Can the SRT3000RMXLA-NC be managed remotely without adding a separate network card?
A: The unit includes web-based management for remote monitoring of load, battery status, and alarms. For full SNMP integration or remote shutdown capabilities, verify whether an additional network management card is required for your specific monitoring platform.
Q: Will the SRT3000RMXLA-NC restart automatically after a full battery discharge?
A: Yes. Auto-restart is enabled, so the unit will restore output automatically when utility power returns after a deep discharge event — important for unmanned equipment rooms and remote deployments.
The SRT3000RMXLA-NC is the unit I recommend when an integrator tells me their rack has active PFC power supplies and they cannot tolerate any transfer-time gap on outage — the 2% output THD and zero-transfer double-conversion topology address both concerns in a single 2U footprint. At 2700 W real power output on a 0.9 power factor, it carries a densely loaded security head-end rack with room to spare.
Technical Highlights:
- Double-Conversion, Zero Transfer Time: The inverter is always online — no 8–12ms switching window during outage, which matters for NVR write buffers and access control panels that log timestamps in real time.
- 2% Output THD: Active PFC supplies in modern rackmount equipment are sensitive to waveform quality; at 2% THD the SRT3000RMXLA-NC stays well inside the safe operating envelope for virtually every commercial-grade PSU on the market.
- Wide Input Frequency Range (40–70 Hz): Generator-backed facilities often see frequency drift on startup and load transitions; this unit's 40–70 Hz acceptance range absorbs that variability without transferring to battery unnecessarily, which extends battery service intervals in generator-primary sites.
Deployment Considerations:
- The NEMA L5-30P input is a hard requirement — confirm the equipment room has a dedicated 30A twist-lock circuit before scheduling installation. Retrofitting the circuit after the rack is built adds cost and delay.
- Web-based management covers basic remote monitoring, but if your NOC requires SNMP trap integration or host-based graceful shutdown signaling, verify NMC card requirements for your firmware version before finalizing the BOM.
This unit fits best in a 2U slot of a security operations center rack or surveillance head-end where the load includes an NVR, managed PoE switch, and access control server — environments where waveform quality and zero-gap battery transition are non-negotiable and the 2700 W ceiling leaves meaningful overhead for future expansion.
