Vertiv EXS 20KVA UPS (40KVA Frame) with Internal Vrla Battery TOP FAN Venting and Is- - EXSV-20KTN

Vertiv EXSV-20KTN 20kVA Three-Phase Double-Conversion Tower UPS

Overview

The Vertiv EXSV-20KTN is a 20kVA/20kW three-phase, double-conversion online UPS housed in a tower enclosure sized for a 40kVA frame — built for data centers, server rooms, medical equipment installations, and security infrastructure where clean, conditioned power is non-negotiable. At 1,212 lb and hard-wired into a 3PH + G service, this is a fixed-infrastructure power platform, not a plug-and-play appliance. If your facility runs three-phase power distribution and you need a unity power factor UPS that can carry a full 20kW real load — not a derated 0.8 PF figure — the EXSV-20KTN (often searched as EXSV 20KTN) is sized for that job.

Double-conversion online topology means incoming AC is continuously rectified to DC and re-inverted, so the protected load never sees raw utility power. Voltage sags, surges, frequency drift, and switching transients are all isolated at the rectifier stage — the output is always synthesized. For sensitive equipment like medical imaging systems or enterprise storage arrays, this is the correct power architecture. Line-interactive or standby topologies transfer on-battery during disturbances; double-conversion doesn't — the load is always on inverter.

Key Features

• 20kVA / 20kW at Unity Power Factor (PF 1.0): A 1.0 output power factor means the full 20kVA apparent capacity converts directly to 20kW real load capacity. Many competitive units at this VA rating specify PF 0.8, yielding only 16kW. The EXSV-20KTN delivers the full nameplate — meaningful when you're sizing against actual watt draw from servers and network gear.
• Three-Phase Double-Conversion Online: Continuous AC-DC-AC conversion isolates the protected load from every utility anomaly — brownouts, surges, frequency fluctuations, switching noise. No transfer time on disturbance. For data center rows or medical equipment where even a 20ms transfer gap is unacceptable, this is the topology that eliminates the risk.
• 11 Minutes Full Load / 31 Minutes at Half Load (Internal VRLA): The internal valve-regulated lead-acid battery pack delivers 11 minutes of runtime at the full 20kW load — long enough for an orderly shutdown or generator transfer in most facility designs. At 50% load (10kW), runtime extends to 31 minutes. The 527 lb battery weight is a significant structural consideration during installation planning.
• Hard-Wire 4-Wire (3PH + G) Input and Output: Both input and output are hard-wired — no NEMA plug. Two output connection points (2 × Hard Wire 4-wire 3PH + G) allow direct panel or PDU feed. Input accepts 120V AC at 60–70 Hz; output is selectable 208V AC or 220V AC at 60 Hz. Verify your facility's input voltage and output distribution requirements before specifying.
• SNMP / Modbus / TCP / BACnet IP Network Management: The intelligent card slot supports SNMP, Modbus TCP, and BACnet IP simultaneously — which means this unit integrates directly into building management systems (BMS), data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platforms, and IT network monitoring stacks without a separate protocol gateway. Vertiv Power Insight Management software is included.
• Humidity Sensor Included: An onboard environmental humidity sensor feeds data to the management card — relevant for facilities where environmental monitoring and power monitoring need to share a single management plane. No separate environmental sensor purchase required for basic humidity tracking.
• ENERGY STAR 2.0 Certified: ENERGY STAR 2.0 qualification means efficiency at partial load meets EPA thresholds — directly relevant if your facility is subject to PUE reporting requirements or energy-efficiency mandates. High-efficiency UPS operation reduces heat output, which reduces CRAC/CRAC unit load downstream.
• cULus (UL 1778 5th Edition) and CSA 22.2 107.3 Certified: Listed under UL 1778 5th Edition — the current edition for UPS equipment — and CSA No. 22.2 107.3 for Canadian facilities. These are the certifications AHJs and facilities engineers will ask for during commissioning. RoHS compliance is also confirmed for facilities with environmental compliance requirements.
• Top Fan Venting: The EXSV-20KTN uses top-fan exhaust venting. In tower deployments, ensure clearance above the unit is maintained per Vertiv's installation requirements. Mounting in a confined space or directly under low ceiling infrastructure without clearance will restrict airflow and can trigger thermal protection.
• Maximum Operating Temperature 40°C (104°F) / Elevation to 4,921 ft: Rated to 40°C ambient — covers most mechanical rooms and server environments. The 4,921 ft elevation ceiling (1,500m) is worth checking for high-altitude deployments; above this threshold, derating applies and Vertiv's altitude derating tables must be consulted.

Integration & Compatibility

The EXSV-20KTN's management card slot supports SNMP/Modbus/TCP/BACnet IP, making it compatible with major DCIM platforms, Modbus-based BMS systems, and standard SNMP-capable NMS environments. Vertiv Power Insight Management software is included and handles local and remote monitoring, load shedding configuration, and scheduled shutdown integration. The two hard-wire output connections feed downstream PDUs or panel circuits directly — no intermediate transformer required if your distribution is already 208V or 220V three-phase.

For security system integrators deploying this unit to support power infrastructure for large-scale network video recorder banks or access control head-end rooms, the BACnet IP management interface is a practical integration point into building automation systems already present in enterprise facilities. Review your PoE switch and server load calculations carefully — the 20kW capacity is the ceiling, and the VRLA battery weight (527 lb) requires floor load verification before siting. Consult Vertiv's UPS systems documentation for external battery cabinet expansion options if runtime beyond 31 minutes at half-load is required for your power continuity design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the output power factor of the EXSV-20KTN and why does it matter?

A: The EXSV-20KTN has an output power factor of 1.0, meaning the full 20kVA capacity translates to 20kW of real power capacity. Many three-phase UPS units at this VA rating specify 0.8 PF, yielding only 16kW real power. If your load calculations are in watts — which server and network equipment nameplates typically show — a PF 1.0 UPS gives you the full nameplate in usable capacity.

Q: What is the runtime on the EXSV-20KTN at full and half load?

A: With the internal VRLA battery pack, the EXSV-20KTN delivers approximately 11 minutes of runtime at full 20kW load and approximately 31 minutes at half load (10kW). Runtime at intermediate loads falls between these figures. For longer runtime, consult Vertiv's external battery cabinet options for this frame.

Q: What certifications does the EXSV-20KTN carry?

A: The EXSV-20KTN is certified cULus under UL 1778 5th Edition and CSA No. 22.2 107.3. It also carries ENERGY STAR 2.0 certification and is RoHS compliant. These are the primary certifications relevant to US and Canadian data center and medical facility commissioning.

Q: What are the input and output voltage specifications for the EXSV-20KTN?

A: The EXSV-20KTN accepts 120V AC three-phase input at 60–70 Hz and delivers 208V AC or 220V AC three-phase output at 60 Hz. Both input and output connections are hard-wire 4-wire (3PH + G) — no NEMA plug is used. Confirm your facility's input service voltage and downstream distribution requirements before ordering.

Q: What network management protocols does the EXSV-20KTN support?

A: The EXSV-20KTN supports SNMP, Modbus TCP, and BACnet IP via its intelligent card slot. This allows integration with IT network management systems, Modbus-based building management systems, and BACnet IP building automation platforms. Vertiv Power Insight Management software is included for local and remote UPS monitoring and management.

Q: What are the physical installation requirements for the EXSV-20KTN?

A: The EXSV-20KTN weighs approximately 1,212 lb total (battery alone is 527 lb) and requires floor load verification before siting. It uses top-fan venting, so overhead clearance is required. The unit is tower form factor with hard-wire input and output connections — licensed electrician installation is required. Maximum operating temperature is 40°C; maximum elevation is 4,921 ft without derating.

Jerry Tildsen

The spec I keep coming back to on the EXSV-20KTN is the unity power factor — PF 1.0 output means every kVA of nameplate becomes a usable kW of real load capacity. At 20kVA/20kW, you're not leaving 4kW on the table the way you do with a 0.8 PF unit. For a data center row or a security head-end room where you've sized the load in watts and need the UPS to actually carry it, that distinction matters at contract time.

Technical Highlights:

• Double-Conversion Online at 20kW: Continuous rectification and re-inversion means the protected load never sees raw utility power — no transfer time during sags, surges, or frequency events. For medical equipment or enterprise NVR banks running 24/7, this is the only topology that eliminates transfer-gap risk entirely.
• SNMP / Modbus TCP / BACnet IP Simultaneously: The intelligent card slot carries all three protocols at once — not a choose-one option. A facility already running BACnet building automation can monitor the EXSV-20KTN on the same management plane as HVAC and access control without a protocol converter or separate SNMP trap receiver.
• ENERGY STAR 2.0 + cULus UL 1778 5th Edition: ENERGY STAR 2.0 matters for PUE reporting in co-location and enterprise facilities. UL 1778 5th Edition is the current revision AHJs require — not the legacy 4th Edition some older units still carry. CSA 22.2 107.3 covers Canadian facility commissioning without a separate listing process.

Deployment Considerations:

• The combined unit weight is 1,212 lb with the battery pack contributing 527 lb of that. Floor load capacity must be verified before siting — typical raised-floor data center tiles are rated 1,000–2,500 lb/tile depending on construction; confirm with your structural engineer before placement.
• Top-fan venting requires unobstructed overhead clearance. Placing this unit directly under cable trays or in a confined alcove without verified clearance will restrict exhaust airflow and can trigger thermal derating or protection shutdown. Plan the airflow path at site survey, not at installation.

For a security operations center or enterprise access control head-end room powering a dense NVR stack, access control servers, and managed PoE switch gear — where three-phase service is already present and 11-minute generator transfer time is the design target — the EXSV-20KTN is correctly specified. It is not the right choice for single-phase facilities or deployments where floor load cannot support 1,200+ lb in a single footprint.