Vertiv AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB 5kVA Scalable UPS with N+1 Redundancy

The Vertiv AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB is a hardwired 5kVA / 4.5kW uninterruptible power supply designed for installations that need room to grow without replacing infrastructure. Starting at 5kVA and scaling to 15kVA (13.5kW) in an N+1 configuration, it gives data center engineers and facility managers a clear upgrade path without a forklift swap when load requirements increase. Both input and output are hardwired (L-L-N-G), making this the right fit for permanent commercial and industrial electrical installations — not a plug-in device meant for a server closet.

Key Features

• 5kVA / 4.5kW Starting Capacity: Handles a meaningful initial load — enough for a small server stack, critical network gear, or a bank of access control and surveillance head-end equipment — while leaving headroom in the enclosure for expansion without adding new chassis.
• Scalable to 15kVA / 13.5kW: As load requirements grow, the system scales to three times its starting capacity within the same N+1 framework. That means you're commissioning infrastructure once and expanding in place, not planning a second installation project when the next phase of a facility comes online.
• N+1 Redundancy Architecture: The N+1 design keeps the system live even when one module is servicing or has failed. For environments where a total UPS failure means a security outage — door controllers going offline, NVRs losing power mid-incident, access logs interrupted — this is the redundancy model to specify.
• Hardwire Input (L-L-N-G): Permanent electrical connection means no reliance on outlet form factors or plug ratings. This is the correct topology for commercial construction, server rooms with dedicated electrical panels, and any installation where a licensed electrician is already involved in the power design.
• Hardwire Output with Optional PODs: The primary output is hardwired for direct connection to protected loads, with optional Power Output Distribution (POD) modules available for installations that need mixed or distributed outlet configurations. That optionality keeps the base unit clean for pure hardwire environments while accommodating hybrid setups.
• 15-Minute Full-Load Runtime: At 100% load (4.5kW), the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB sustains output for 15 minutes — long enough for a controlled shutdown sequence on most server and network loads, or to bridge a brief utility interruption without dropping protected systems.
• 40-Minute Half-Load Runtime: Drop to 50% load (approximately 2.25kW) and runtime extends to 40 minutes. In mixed-load environments where not every circuit draws peak simultaneously, that extra runtime is realistic and useful — it's the number to cite when a facility manager asks how long the cameras and door controllers stay up after utility loss.

Integration and Compatibility

The hardwired input and output topology of the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB integrates directly into commercial electrical infrastructure. The optional POD modules provide output flexibility when protected loads include equipment with different receptacle requirements. Comparing to siblings in the Vertiv APS line: the AS5A0NCUGNNXLKB shares the same 5kVA starting capacity and identical scalability to 15kVA but delivers only 5 minutes at full load and 15 minutes at half load — the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB's battery configuration is the reason to choose the V-variant when runtime is a selection criterion. If the facility load is already at or near 10kVA, the AS5B0NCVGNNXLKB starts at 10kVA / 9.0kW within the same scalable framework. For installations that need scalability beyond 15kVA — up to 18kW — the AS6-series variants (AS6A, AS6B, AS6C, AS6D) extend the ceiling to 20kVA / 18kW and should be evaluated when total projected load exceeds the 15kVA cap of the AS5 line.

Pair this UPS with your PoE network switches and power distribution equipment to build a fully protected power architecture for your site. For broader context on sizing UPS capacity for security infrastructure, review the power planning resources available for reference. The Vertiv APS line offers a range of Vertiv power solutions suited to commercial and enterprise deployments, and the UPS category covers the full selection of available models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB and the AS5A0NCUGNNXLKB?

A: Both models share the same 5kVA / 4.5kW starting capacity and scale to 15kVA / 13.5kW with hardwired input and output. The difference is battery runtime: the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB delivers 15 minutes at full load and 40 minutes at half load, while the AS5A0NCUGNNXLKB delivers only 5 minutes at full load and 15 minutes at half load. Choose the V-variant when runtime is a design requirement.

Q: Can the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB be expanded after initial installation?

A: Yes. The system is designed to scale from its starting 5kVA / 4.5kW capacity up to 15kVA / 13.5kW within the same N+1 framework, without replacing the base unit. This makes it practical for phased deployments where load is expected to grow.

Q: Is the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB a plug-in unit or does it require hardwired installation?

A: It requires a permanent hardwired connection on both input and output. The input uses an L-L-N-G (line-line-neutral-ground) configuration, which requires a licensed electrician for installation. This is not a plug-and-play consumer or small-office UPS.

Q: What are the optional PODs on this unit?

A: POD stands for Power Output Distribution. The AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB's primary output is hardwired, but optional POD modules allow you to add distributed outlet connectivity to the system for loads that cannot be directly hardwired. These are available as add-ons and are not included in the base unit.

Q: How does the N+1 redundancy work on the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB?

A: N+1 means the system deploys one more module than the minimum required to carry the load. If one module fails or requires maintenance, the remaining modules continue to carry the full load without interruption. This is the standard redundancy model for critical commercial power applications.

Q: When should I choose the AS6-series instead of the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB?

A: If your total projected load exceeds 15kVA / 13.5kW, move to the AS6 series, which scales up to 20kVA / 18.0kW. The AS6-series also includes higher starting-capacity variants (10kVA and 15kVA base models). If your current load fits within 15kVA and you want the longest available runtime at the 5kVA starting point, the AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB is the correct model.

Marty Allison

The AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB is the runtime-optimized variant in Vertiv's 5kVA scalable APS line — and that distinction matters more than it might look on a comparison table. The sibling U-variant (AS5A0NCUGNNXLKB) gives you 5 minutes at full load; this V-variant gives you 15. In a commercial security installation where you're protecting NVRs, access control panels, and network head-end gear, those extra 10 minutes are the difference between a clean controlled shutdown and a hard power cut mid-recording.

Technical Highlights:

• 15-Min Full-Load Runtime: At the full 4.5kW draw, you get 15 minutes of bridge time — enough to execute an orderly shutdown script on most server and surveillance recorder loads, or to ride out brief utility switching events without dropping protected systems.
• 3× Scalability to 15kVA / 13.5kW: The N+1 framework absorbs three times the initial capacity without replacing the chassis. Phased deployments — where a facility brings one wing online now and expands in 18–24 months — get their money's worth from this architecture by avoiding a second UPS procurement cycle.
• Hardwire L-L-N-G Topology: Both input and output are permanent hardwired connections. This eliminates receptacle compatibility issues entirely and integrates cleanly into commercial electrical panels — the topology most enterprise and industrial electrical engineers expect for a load of this size.

Deployment Considerations:

• Installation requires a licensed electrician familiar with L-L-N-G hardwire termination. Plan this into the commissioning schedule — it is not a self-install device and should be on the electrical sub's scope from day one.
• If you're sizing this for a mixed load (NVRs + switches + access control), run your half-load number carefully: 40 minutes at roughly 2.25kW is the realistic runtime for most security head-end rooms, not the 15-minute full-load figure. Use the half-load spec for your runtime claim in project documentation.

The AS5A0NCVGNNXLKB is the right specification for a commercial security or IT head-end room that starts under 4.5kW today but has documented expansion plans — and where the electrical contractor is already on-site doing panel work. The runtime advantage over the U-variant is meaningful enough to make it the default pick unless budget is the sole constraint.