APC by Schneider Electric Galaxy vs Classic Battery Cabinet UL Type 3 - GVSCBT3

APC by Schneider Electric GVSCBT3 Galaxy VS Classic Battery Cabinet

Overview

The GVSCBT3 is a tower-format external battery cabinet designed for the APC Galaxy VS UPS family. Measuring 700mm wide × 840mm deep × 1485mm tall, it accommodates four layers of sealed lead acid (VRLA) battery modules in a white tower enclosure — a form factor suited to raised-floor data rooms and dedicated UPS alcoves where floor space is allocated but overhead clearance is not a constraint. If you are extending runtime on a Galaxy VS system, this is the purpose-built enclosure to do it.

Key Features

• Four-Layer VRLA Architecture: The cabinet is engineered for four tiers of sealed lead acid battery modules. VRLA chemistry requires no water topping and produces minimal off-gassing, which matters when you are installing inside an occupied equipment room rather than a dedicated battery room.
• Tower Form Factor (700 × 840 × 1485 mm): At roughly 700mm wide and 840mm deep, the GVSCBT3 fits within a standard UPS footprint corridor. The 1485mm height keeps it below standard 2-meter ceiling clearances common in data center raised-floor sections. Plan your floor loading carefully — the shipping weight alone is 1,009 kg, so structural assessment of the floor slab is not optional.
• Operating Temperature Range 0–40°C: VRLA batteries are sensitive to heat — every 10°C above 25°C roughly halves battery service life. The 0–40°C operating envelope means this cabinet requires a properly conditioned equipment room; it is not rated for unconditioned spaces or outdoor-adjacent installations.
• Storage Temperature –15 to 40°C: If the cabinet arrives before the room is conditioned, it can be stored down to –15°C without damage — useful for phased construction projects where equipment is delivered before HVAC is commissioned.
• RoHS Compliance: The GVSCBT3 carries RoHS certification, relevant for deployments in EU-regulated environments or for organizations with hazardous-substance procurement policies.
• UL Listed, Type 3: UL listing satisfies the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) requirement on most commercial and data center projects in North America. Type 3 classification informs the installation environment — confirm with your AHJ that Type 3 is appropriate for your specific room classification.

Installation Notes

The 1,009 kg package weight is the single most important logistics constraint on this product. Coordinate freight, loading dock access, and floor path before the unit arrives. The cabinet ships fully assembled and must be placed on a floor rated for concentrated point loads — consult a structural engineer if the installation site is above grade or on a raised access floor system. Interconnect cabling to the Galaxy VS UPS is not included and must be ordered separately per your system configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What UPS systems is the GVSCBT3 compatible with?

A: The GVSCBT3 is designed for the APC Galaxy VS UPS family. Confirm compatibility with your specific Galaxy VS model and configuration before ordering, as interconnect requirements vary by system size.

Q: What battery type does the GVSCBT3 use?

A: The GVSCBT3 uses sealed lead acid (VRLA) battery technology. VRLA batteries are maintenance-free under normal operating conditions and do not require water replenishment.

Q: What is the operating temperature range for the GVSCBT3?

A: The GVSCBT3 is rated for operation between 0°C and 40°C (32°F and 104°F). For optimal battery service life, operating temperatures closer to 20–25°C are recommended.

Q: How heavy is the GVSCBT3 and what floor loading should I plan for?

A: The shipping weight is 1,009 kg. Unit weight (without packaging) is not published in available evidence — contact your structural engineer using the shipping weight as a conservative upper bound for floor loading calculations.

Q: Is the GVSCBT3 RoHS compliant?

A: Yes, the GVSCBT3 carries RoHS compliance certification, making it suitable for deployments subject to EU hazardous substance regulations.

Q: Can the GVSCBT3 be installed in an unconditioned space?

A: No. The operating temperature range of 0–40°C requires a conditioned equipment room. Unconditioned or outdoor-adjacent spaces are not appropriate for this cabinet.

Ted Perry

The GVSCBT3 is a straightforward runtime-extension cabinet, but the 1,009 kg shipping weight is the spec that actually drives the project timeline — not the battery chemistry or the UL listing. I have seen Galaxy VS battery cabinet installations delayed weeks because the structural floor assessment was not initiated until the unit was already on the dock. Get that floor loading review started at the same time you place the order.

Technical Highlights:

• Four-Layer VRLA Configuration: Sealed lead acid in a four-tier stack gives you a dense battery array in the 700 × 840mm footprint — no electrolyte maintenance, no dedicated ventilation beyond normal equipment room air exchange.
• 0–40°C Operating Envelope: VRLA service life degrades sharply above 25°C. If your equipment room runs warm — common in edge deployments or facilities with marginal CRAC capacity — budget for accelerated battery replacement cycles on the GVSCBT3.
• RoHS + UL Type 3: UL listing covers the AHJ sign-off in most North American jurisdictions. RoHS handles EU substance compliance. Both are table stakes for enterprise procurement — confirmed here.

Deployment Considerations:

• Interconnect cabling between the GVSCBT3 and the Galaxy VS UPS is not included in the cabinet — identify and order the correct battery interconnect kit for your specific Galaxy VS model before scheduling installation.
• The package dimensions (1,372mm × 998mm × 1,688mm) require a standard freight dock and a pallet jack or forklift rated for over one metric ton. Elevator shaft dimensions and corridor width must be verified before delivery if the installation is above ground floor.

The GVSCBT3 is the right call for a Galaxy VS data center deployment where runtime extension is the primary objective and the room is fully conditioned — not for edge closets, rooftop equipment rooms, or any space where temperature control is intermittent.