APC Smart-ups RT 48V RM Battery Pack - SURT48RMXLBP

APC by Schneider Electric SURT48RMXLBP 48V Rack-Mount Battery Pack

Overview

The SURT48RMXLBP is a 48V external battery pack designed to extend runtime on compatible APC Smart-UPS RT systems. Built around sealed lead-acid (VRLA) chemistry in a 2U rack-mount chassis, it integrates directly into the same rack as the host UPS — no floor space penalty, no separate battery cabinet. If your protected loads demand longer bridge time than the internal batteries provide, this is the expansion path the Smart-UPS RT platform is engineered for.

The 430 × 480 × 84.8 mm (W×D×H) enclosure fits standard 19-inch data center and IDF racks. The black finish matches APC Smart-UPS RT hardware, keeping rack aesthetics consistent in customer-facing or managed environments.

Key Features

• 48V VRLA Battery Chemistry: Sealed lead-acid construction means no electrolyte maintenance, no watering schedule, and no venting infrastructure required. You can rack this unit in a closed IDF cabinet without worrying about off-gassing from a flooded cell — the valve-regulated design handles internal pressure automatically.
• Maintenance-Free, Leakproof Design: The sealed, leakproof construction eliminates the risk of acid spillage during handling or installation — a practical concern when racking batteries at height or in shared-space closets where a spill would damage adjacent gear.
• 2U Rack-Mount Form Factor: At 84.8 mm high (2U), the SURT48RMXLBP adds runtime without consuming more rack space than necessary. In dense IDF builds where U-space is money, that matters. The 480 mm depth is compatible with standard 4-post and 2-post telco racks, though verify your specific cabinet depth before ordering.
• 0–40°C Operating Temperature Range: The battery will operate across the full range of typical indoor environments — from cooled data center floors (typically 18–22°C) up to unconditioned IDF closets that can push 35–38°C in summer. Do not install in unventilated spaces that regularly exceed 40°C; heat is the primary accelerant of VRLA capacity degradation.
• 0–95% Relative Humidity Tolerance: The leakproof, sealed construction handles high-humidity environments like basement server rooms or coastal facilities without corrosion risk to the battery terminals — provided condensation is not occurring directly on the unit.
• Black Rack-Ready Finish: Consistent with APC Smart-UPS RT aesthetics; relevant in co-location or customer-premise installations where rack presentation is part of the service delivery standard.

Integration and Compatibility

The SURT48RMXLBP is engineered as an external battery module for the APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS RT product family. The 48V bus voltage is specific to that platform — this pack is not a universal battery and will not integrate with UPS systems outside the compatible Smart-UPS RT lineup. Before purchasing, confirm your host UPS model explicitly supports external battery pack expansion via the SURT48RMXLBP; APC publishes a compatibility list on their product pages for each SURT-series unit.

If you are building out a rack-based power protection solution, pair this battery pack with an appropriate rack-mount UPS and consider your overall power management architecture — runtime calculations depend on load wattage, which the APC runtime estimator tool (on the manufacturer's site) handles per-configuration. For high-availability environments, also evaluate whether a redundant UPS topology is more appropriate than simply extending runtime on a single unit.

Installers working on network infrastructure deployments should note that VRLA batteries at 48V require a compatible battery management interface on the host UPS for accurate state-of-health monitoring. Do not assume runtime from nameplate voltage alone — actual runtime depends on the Ah capacity of the installed battery modules and the real load draw of your protected equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What UPS systems is the SURT48RMXLBP compatible with?

A: The SURT48RMXLBP is designed for the APC Smart-UPS RT family and uses a 48V bus voltage specific to that platform. Verify compatibility with your specific SURT-series host UPS model using APC's published compatibility documentation before purchasing.

Q: Is the SURT48RMXLBP maintenance-free?

A: Yes. It uses sealed valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) technology, which requires no electrolyte maintenance, no water addition, and no venting infrastructure. The sealed, leakproof construction also eliminates the risk of acid spillage during installation or operation.

Q: What rack space does the SURT48RMXLBP require?

A: The unit measures 430 mm wide × 480 mm deep × 84.8 mm high, which corresponds to a standard 2U rack profile. It fits 19-inch rack enclosures; confirm your cabinet's usable depth accommodates the 480 mm depth before installation.

Q: What is the operating temperature range for the SURT48RMXLBP?

A: The specified operating temperature range is 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F). Operating consistently near the upper limit will accelerate battery aging; cooler environments extend service life.

Q: Can the SURT48RMXLBP be installed in a high-humidity environment?

A: The unit is rated for 0–95% relative humidity. The sealed, leakproof VRLA construction resists moisture-related corrosion. Avoid environments where condensation forms directly on the unit, and ensure ambient temperature stays within the 0–40°C range.

Q: How many SURT48RMXLBP units can be connected to a single Smart-UPS RT?

A: The number of external battery packs supported varies by host UPS model. Consult the specifications for your specific Smart-UPS RT unit to determine the maximum number of external battery packs permitted.

Ted Perry

The SURT48RMXLBP is a purpose-built runtime extension module, not a standalone UPS — and that distinction matters when you are spec'ing power protection for a rack. The 48V VRLA architecture ties it specifically to the Smart-UPS RT platform, so this is not a component you swap across different UPS families. Get that confirmed before the purchase order goes through.

Technical Highlights:

• VRLA Sealed Construction: No maintenance schedule, no venting requirements, no spill risk — the sealed leakproof design makes this installable in standard closed rack cabinets without the infrastructure overhead of flooded-cell alternatives.
• 2U / 84.8 mm Height: The 430 × 480 × 84.8 mm form factor fits standard 19-inch racks at 2U. In a fully loaded 42U cabinet, that is a meaningful footprint — verify you have the U-space and the 480 mm cabinet depth before committing.
• 0–40°C Operating Range: Covers most conditioned data center and IDF environments, but the upper limit is real. VRLA batteries degrade faster at elevated temperature; a closet that hits 38°C regularly will shorten your service intervals compared to a 22°C machine room.

Deployment Considerations:

• Runtime depends entirely on the Ah capacity of the battery modules and the actual load wattage — use APC's runtime calculator with your real load numbers, not nameplate UPS capacity, to set accurate expectations with your customer.
• Operating at or near 40°C consistently will accelerate capacity loss; if your installation environment is thermally marginal, factor in a shorter battery replacement cycle when building the service agreement.

This unit is the right spec for a Smart-UPS RT deployment in a network operations center or IDF stack where the load profile requires extended bridge time beyond internal battery capacity — particularly in facilities without a generator, where the UPS is the only ride-through layer.