Middle Atlantic Forward UPS CBS 1500VA/1350W BGR 27 D - FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27

Middle Atlantic FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 BGR Forward UPS Caster Base 1500VA

The Middle Atlantic FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 is a 1500VA/1350W line-interactive UPS built specifically for BGR-series rack systems in commercial AV, security, and network infrastructure deployments. At 2RU tall and 27 inches deep, it slides directly under a BGR rack on its integrated caster base — keeping your battery backup co-located with the equipment it protects without consuming valuable rack unit space inside the frame. If you're sizing power protection for a mid-density surveillance or AV rack and want clean runtime without a separate battery cabinet, this is the model to evaluate.

Power Delivery Specifications

• 1500VA / 1350W Capacity: Enough headroom for a fully loaded BGR rack running a mix of NVRs, managed switches, and edge recorders. At 1350W true power, you're covered for equipment draws up to roughly 90% of rated wattage — plan your load at 70-80% for comfortable runtime margins and thermal headroom.
• Line-Interactive Topology: The FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 uses a line-interactive design, meaning the inverter actively conditions voltage during brownouts and sags before switching to battery. This is a meaningful distinction from standby (offline) UPS units: your equipment sees regulated voltage during the common 10-20% voltage fluctuations that don't trip a standby UPS but still stress power supplies over time.
• 120 VAC Input / 110-127 VAC Output: Draws from a standard 15-amp, 120 VAC circuit via a NEMA 5-15P plug on a 6-foot (1.8m) cord. Output holds 110-127 VAC regulated — compatible with all standard North American rack equipment without step-down transformers or special outlets.
• 48 VDC Output: In addition to AC outlets, the unit delivers 48 VDC — relevant for PoE infrastructure or DC-powered edge devices that can accept direct DC input, reducing conversion losses compared to running through an AC-DC adapter.
• 8 Outlets, Bank-Level Control: Eight NEMA 5-15R receptacles with bank-based outlet control give you the ability to sequence loads or shed non-critical circuits during a power event. Stagger your startup sequence across banks to avoid inrush current spikes that can trip breakers or cause UPS overloads at power restoration.
• Network Management — Optional UPX-RLNK-CARD: Out of the box the unit runs standalone, but adding the optional Middle Atlantic UPX-RLNK-CARD enables full network-managed UPS control — remote outlet switching, runtime monitoring, and graceful shutdown scripting for connected servers or NVRs. For unmanned equipment rooms, the card pays for itself on the first remote reboot.

Protection and Redundancy

• MOV Surge Protection: Metal oxide varistor (MOV) surge suppression handles transient overvoltages at all outlets. MOV protection is appropriate for typical line surges; note that MOVs degrade with repeated large transient events, so for sites with frequent lightning exposure or dirty utility power, a secondary surge suppression device upstream is worth considering.
• 15-Amp Circuit Rating: The 15A input matches standard commercial branch circuits. If your rack draw approaches or exceeds 12A sustained (the NEC 80% rule), provision a dedicated 20A circuit and use the included NEMA 5-15P-to-5-20R adapter if applicable — check your specific facility wiring before assuming a shared 15A branch is sufficient.

Environmental and Mounting

• BGR Caster Base Form Factor — 2RU, 27-Inch Depth: The caster base design is purpose-built for Middle Atlantic BGR rack systems — the UPS lives below the rack on integrated casters rather than consuming internal rack space. At 23 inches wide and 27 inches deep (68.6 cm), it fits the BGR footprint exactly. Verify your floor clearance and rack depth before ordering; the 27-inch depth variant (B27) is distinct from shallower BGR base options.
• 1100 lb Weight Capacity: The caster base supports up to 1,100 pounds (499 kg) of loaded rack weight — comfortably above the practical limit of most populated BGR frames. This is the structural floor load rating, not a UPS electrical capacity figure; factor both when planning dense deployments.
• 145 lb Shipping Weight: Plan for two-person installation. At 145 lbs (65.8 kg) shipped, moving the unit from loading dock to equipment room requires a pallet jack or hand truck rated for the weight. Clear your path before delivery.
• Operating Temperature 32°–104°F (0°–40°C): Standard commercial operating range — fine for conditioned equipment rooms and most server closets. Not rated for unconditioned outdoor enclosures or extreme-temp environments; confirm HVAC is adequate before deployment in high-ambient spaces.
• Color: Black — matches standard BGR rack finishes for a consistent equipment room aesthetic.
• Mounting Hardware Included: Rack integration hardware ships in the box, so you won't be waiting on a separate hardware kit to complete installation.

Integration & Compatibility

The FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 is engineered for rack power protection within the BGR Forward series ecosystem. It pairs naturally with Middle Atlantic BGR open-frame racks and BGR enclosed racks that use the caster base mounting system. For network management, the optional UPX-RLNK-CARD integrates with standard SNMP-based monitoring platforms used in enterprise and commercial security operations. If your deployment includes NVRs or servers requiring graceful shutdown on power loss, wire the management card's USB or network shutdown interface to each host before going live — after-the-fact wiring in a dense rack is significantly more difficult.

For integrators specifying a complete rack power and UPS solution, pair this unit with appropriate PDUs for branch circuit distribution within the rack and a compatible surge protection strategy for the upstream feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 and a standard rackmount UPS?

A: Unlike a standard 2U rackmount UPS that installs inside the rack frame, the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 uses a caster base design that mounts beneath the BGR rack rather than consuming internal rack units. This preserves all internal rack space for active equipment while keeping battery backup co-located with the rack.

Q: How many outlets does the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 provide, and what type are they?

A: The unit provides 8 NEMA 5-15R outlets with bank-level outlet control, allowing you to group and sequence loads. The input plug is NEMA 5-15P on a 6-foot cord connecting to a standard 120 VAC, 15-amp circuit.

Q: Does the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 include network management capability?

A: Network management is not included by default. It requires the optional UPX-RLNK-CARD accessory, which enables remote outlet control, runtime monitoring, and SNMP-based integration with building management or NMS platforms.

Q: What BGR rack series is the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 compatible with?

A: The FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 is designed for the BGR (Base, Gear, Rack) series from Middle Atlantic. The B27 suffix denotes the 27-inch depth caster base variant — confirm your BGR rack depth matches before ordering.

Q: What is the weight capacity of the caster base on the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27?

A: The caster base is rated for up to 1,100 lbs (499 kg) of loaded rack weight, which covers virtually all practical BGR rack configurations.

Q: What topology does the FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 use, and why does it matter?

A: It uses a line-interactive topology, which actively regulates output voltage during brownouts and sags without switching to battery. This provides better power conditioning than a standby (offline) UPS and extends battery life by only engaging the inverter during true outages or severe power events.

Ted Perry

The FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 solves a real rack room problem: where do you put the UPS when your BGR frame is already packed? The caster base topology keeps the 1500VA battery backup under the rack — all 27 inches of it — rather than burning 2RU inside the frame on a battery you hope you never need but absolutely do. That 1,100 lb weight rating on the caster base isn't marketing padding; a fully loaded BGR with NVRs, switches, and fiber patch panels gets heavy fast.

Technical Highlights:

• Line-Interactive Topology: Actively conditions voltage during brownouts before switching to battery — unlike standby UPS units that pass dirty utility power until a hard outage. For NVRs with spinning drives, sustained undervoltage is a quiet killer; line-interactive protection addresses this directly.
• 8 NEMA 5-15R Outlets with Bank Control: Bank-level outlet switching lets you sequence load startup at power restoration — critical for preventing inrush-triggered breaker trips when a full rack comes back online simultaneously. Plan your bank assignments before cabling.
• Optional UPX-RLNK-CARD Network Management: Without the card, this is a standalone UPS with no remote visibility. For any unmanned equipment room — and most commercial security installs qualify — budget the management card at spec time, not as an afterthought during commissioning.

Deployment Considerations:

• At 145 lbs shipping weight, plan two-person delivery and a clear path from loading dock to rack room before the unit arrives — this is not a one-person lift.
• The B27 depth suffix matters: this unit is dimensioned for 27-inch-depth BGR bases specifically. Verify your BGR rack depth variant matches before placing the order; swapping a caster base after a rack is populated is a significant job.

The FWD-CBS-1.5KVA-B27 is the right specification for mid-density commercial security or AV racks on BGR frames where preserving internal rack space matters and the equipment room has conditioned power — surveillance NVR bays, access control head-end rooms, and AV distribution closets are the natural home for this unit.