APC by Schneider Electric GVSUPS30KRFS-A 30kW Double-Conversion Tower UPS
Overview
The APC by Schneider Electric GVSUPS30KRFS-A is a 30kW / 30kVA double-conversion online UPS in tower form factor, engineered for enterprise-grade power protection in data centers, network closets, and mission-critical facility infrastructure. It delivers a regulated 208V AC sine wave output from a 230V AC input, operating across a wide input voltage window (177V–239V) and frequency range (40–70 Hz) — meaning it stays online through the kind of utility fluctuations that trip up cheaper units before they ever touch the battery. With a lithium-ion battery chemistry and a measured 99% efficiency rating, this unit is built for facilities where power quality and operating cost both matter.
The GVSUPS30KRFS-A (often searched as GVSUPS30KRFS A) suits environments where load criticality, runtime flexibility, and reduced battery maintenance overhead are primary drivers — think colocation edge pods, distributed manufacturing control rooms, or the primary UPS layer in a tiered power architecture.
Key Features
- 30kW / 30kVA Double-Conversion Online Topology: True online double-conversion means incoming AC is continuously rectified to DC and re-inverted to clean AC — load never runs on raw utility power. Zero transfer time on utility failure, which matters when your load includes storage controllers or switching fabric that can't tolerate even a 10ms gap.
- 99% Efficiency at Full Load: At 30kW continuous draw, the difference between 95% and 99% efficiency is roughly 1.2kW in heat you're not generating and electricity you're not paying for. Over three years at $0.12/kWh, that gap compounds into real money — particularly in always-on data environments.
- Lithium-Ion Battery Chemistry: Li-Ion cells run hotter, cycle deeper, and last longer between replacements than VRLA alternatives. The GVSUPS30KRFS-A's Li-Ion pack tolerates an operating environment up to 104°F (40°C) without the accelerated degradation you'd see in lead-acid at those temperatures — critical in plant floors or rooftop telecom shelters where ambient control is imperfect.
- Wide Input Voltage Acceptance (177V–239V AC): A 62V input window means the unit rides through browndowns and overvoltage events on battery bypass without switching unnecessarily. Fewer battery excursions = longer battery life and less wear on connected equipment.
- 208V AC Sine Wave Output: Pure sine wave output protects sensitive power supplies and motor loads from the waveform distortion that stepped-approximation UPS designs produce. The 208V output is standard for 3-phase-derived single-phase commercial power environments in North American data centers and industrial control panels.
- Input Power Factor 0.7: The 0.7 input power factor tells you how this unit loads your upstream distribution. At 30kW output, plan for roughly 42.8kVA of upstream capacity — account for this when sizing your PDU, panel, or generator feed to avoid nuisance breaker trips.
- 480V DC Bus Voltage: The high DC bus voltage (480V DC) enables efficient energy transfer across the conversion stages and supports extended battery string configurations without excessive cable losses — relevant when specifying external battery cabinets to extend runtime.
- 68 dB(A) Sound Emission: At 68 dB(A), this unit is audible in an open room but acceptable in a dedicated equipment room or enclosed rack bay. Not appropriate for open-office or under-desk deployment — factor this into site selection if noise is a constraint.
- 1,608W Thermal Dissipation: Plan your cooling for roughly 5,500 BTU/hr of heat rejection at full load. A standard 1-ton CRAC handles ~12,000 BTU/hr, so this unit alone won't break a well-sized room, but it's a non-trivial addition to an existing heat load calculation.
- Tower Form Factor (58.5″ H × 20.5″ W × 33.4″ D): The tower configuration fits on a raised floor or equipment pad without consuming rack unit space — practical when your rack density is already high or when the UPS lives in a separate power room adjacent to the IDF/MDF.
- RoHS and REACH Compliance: Both environmental certifications are verified for this SKU, which matters for procurement in regulated industries (healthcare, government, EU-market facilities) where material compliance documentation is required at the component level.
- Operating Elevation Up to 3,300 ft: Rated to 3,300 ft without derating. Above that threshold, consult the manufacturer's altitude correction tables — air density drops, cooling efficiency decreases, and full-load output may need to be derated to protect components.
Integration and Compatibility
The GVSUPS30KRFS-A outputs 208V AC single-phase, which aligns with standard North American data center PDU input requirements and is compatible with dual-corded server and storage equipment wired for 208V. The wide input frequency acceptance (40–70 Hz) makes this unit generator-compatible without additional conditioning — a meaningful operational advantage during extended outages when generator frequency may wander slightly from nominal 60 Hz. The Galaxy VS product line is designed for integration with Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure power management ecosystem, though specific network management card compatibility should be confirmed against current EcoStruxure documentation for this model configuration. The Li-Ion battery architecture also supports reduced maintenance intervals compared to VRLA, which is a factor in service contract planning for facilities running lean operations teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the output voltage of the GVSUPS30KRFS-A?
A: The GVSUPS30KRFS-A outputs 208V AC in a pure sine wave waveform. Input is 230V AC with an acceptance range of 177V to 239V AC.
Q: What battery chemistry does the Galaxy VS 30kW use?
A: This unit uses Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries. Li-Ion offers longer cycle life, better high-temperature tolerance (rated to 40°C / 104°F operating), and reduced replacement frequency compared to traditional VRLA lead-acid designs.
Q: What is the efficiency rating of the GVSUPS30KRFS-A?
A: The unit is rated at 99% efficiency. At 30kW continuous output, this translates to approximately 1,608W of heat dissipation — substantially lower than less efficient double-conversion designs operating at the same load.
Q: Is the GVSUPS30KRFS-A rack-mountable?
A: No. This model ships in tower form factor (58.5″ H × 20.5″ W × 33.4″ D, 639 lb). It is designed for floor or equipment pad installation, not rack mounting. If rack integration is required, a different Galaxy VS configuration should be specified.
Q: What is the maximum operating elevation for the GVSUPS30KRFS-A?
A: The unit is rated for operation up to 3,300 feet above sea level without derating. Installations above this elevation may require output derating — consult the manufacturer's altitude correction guidance for that application.
Q: What is the warranty on the GVSUPS30KRFS-A?
A: This unit carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Extended service agreements may be available through the manufacturer's service program — confirm current terms at time of purchase.
The spec that defines this unit's operational case is its 99% efficiency rating at 30kW — that's not a marketing number, that's roughly 1,608W of heat you're not generating and a measurable line item on your facility's power bill. I've specified the GVSUPS30KRFS-A for distributed enterprise edge deployments where the power room is in the same footprint as the compute room and every watt of heat rejection increases CRAC load. At this efficiency level, the UPS stops being an efficiency tax and starts being nearly transparent in your power chain.
Technical Highlights:
- Li-Ion Battery at 40°C Operating Limit: VRLA cells derate aggressively above 25°C — roughly half the life for every 8–10°C above rated. The GVSUPS30KRFS-A's Li-Ion chemistry is rated to 104°F (40°C) continuous operation, which opens up equipment rooms and plant-adjacent installations that would shorten a lead-acid battery to unacceptable replacement intervals.
- 480V DC Bus: The 480V DC intermediate bus voltage enables longer battery string runs with lower current, which means lighter cable gauge and less I²R loss when connecting external battery cabinets for extended runtime. If runtime extension is in scope for this deployment, the high-voltage bus architecture is a practical advantage over lower-voltage alternatives.
- 177–239V AC Input Window: That 62V of input headroom covers the browndown profiles of most commercial utility feeds without hitting battery mode — extending battery cycle life and reducing wear on connected load equipment that would otherwise see transfer events.
Deployment Considerations:
- At 639 lb and 33.4 inches deep, this unit requires floor load verification before placement — particularly on raised floor systems. Confirm your raised floor tile rating and support strut spacing before scheduling delivery. Floor logistics (pallet jack clearance, door widths) should be pre-scoped; this is not a two-person unbox.
- The 0.7 input power factor means your upstream circuit must be sized for approximately 42.8kVA to support 30kW of UPS output. If your panel or PDU feed was sized for 30kVA assuming unity power factor, you will be undersized — this is the most common field surprise with this class of UPS.
The GVSUPS30KRFS-A is the right specification for a standalone power protection node in a distributed enterprise deployment — a regional office data room, a manufacturing control center, or an edge compute pod — where Li-Ion's lower maintenance burden and the unit's 99% efficiency eliminate two of the three arguments for specifying a smaller, less efficient alternative.
