Vertiv PSI5-1100RT120N 1100VA/990W Line-Interactive Rack/Tower UPS
Overview
The Vertiv Liebert PSI5-1100RT120N is a 1100VA/990W line-interactive UPS built for servers, network closets, and critical security infrastructure where clean, continuous power is non-negotiable. Fitting in a 2U rack footprint — or freestanding as a tower — it delivers pure sinewave output, automatic voltage regulation, and hot-swappable batteries without requiring a maintenance window. If you're protecting an NVR stack, a PoE switch feeding a camera array, or a VoIP/access-control head-end, this is the class of protection those loads actually require. The PSI5-1100RT120N (often searched as PSI5 1100RT120N) ships with an RDU120 network management card already installed, which separates it from bare-bones UPS units that need a management card purchased separately.
Browse the full Vertiv power protection line to see complementary PDUs, power distribution, and thermal management alongside this unit.
Key Features
- Pure Sinewave Output: Simulated sinewave UPSs can stress or damage power supplies in servers, medical equipment, and active PFC loads. Pure sinewave output from the PSI5-1100RT120N means your connected equipment sees the same waveform quality on battery as it does from utility — critical for modern switching power supplies that are increasingly sensitive to waveform distortion.
- 990W / 1100VA Capacity at High Efficiency: Up to 96% efficiency in normal operation keeps heat generation and operating costs low in always-on deployments. At 990W true watts, you have meaningful headroom over typical 600–750W NVR + switch combinations — budget your load at 80% of rated watts (around 792W practical ceiling) for thermal and longevity margin.
- Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) — 75–146VAC Input Range: Brownouts and over-voltages trigger battery drain on lesser UPSs. AVR on the PSI5-1100RT120N corrects input swings from 75VAC to 146VAC without touching the battery, which directly extends battery life in facilities with unstable utility power — common in older industrial buildings and co-located closets.
- Hot-Swappable VRLA Batteries: When a battery reaches end-of-life, the system stays online during the swap. There is no maintenance window, no graceful-shutdown coordination, no service call. For 24/7 surveillance or access-control environments where even a brief gap in power protection is unacceptable, this matters more than the VA rating.
- RDU120 Network Management Card Included: Network-attached UPS monitoring via the bundled RDU120 card gives you real-time status, alarms, and remote shutdown capability without an additional card purchase. Integrates with SNMP-based NMS platforms for centralized monitoring alongside your network and security gear.
- Six 5-15R Outlets with Programmable Control: Six NEMA 5-15R outlets provide flexibility for mixed loads. Programmable outlet control lets you sequence shutdown and restart of connected devices — useful for NVRs and managed switches that need a controlled boot order after a power event.
- Emergency Power Off (EPO): EPO support is a code requirement in many data center and server room environments. Having it factory-installed eliminates a common last-minute compliance gap during inspections.
- User-Configurable Output Voltage: Output can be set to 100, 110, 115, or 125VAC, which matters if you're integrating international equipment or devices with narrow input tolerances alongside standard 120VAC loads.
- 2U Rack or Tower Flexibility: The 17.2 × 3.5-inch rack profile fits in standard 19-inch cabinets without a dedicated shelf. Tower orientation works in wiring closets where rack space is scarce. At 31.1 lb, plan for two people on rack installation — standard for this class of UPS.
- Temperature-Compensated Battery Charging: Battery charging voltage is adjusted based on ambient temperature, which prevents overcharging in warm equipment rooms (rated to 40°C operating). This directly extends battery service life in less-controlled environments like warehouse or retail back-office closets.
- UL 1778 / c-UL-us / FCC Part 15 Class B: Standard compliance for North American commercial deployments. FCC Part 15 Class B certification means the unit meets radiated emissions limits for office and light commercial environments — relevant when the UPS will share space with sensitive RF or networking equipment.
Integration and Compatibility
The PSI5-1100RT120N connects via USB management port for local monitoring and graceful shutdown software integration. The included RDU120 card adds network (SNMP/web) management — compatible with common UPS monitoring platforms and enabling remote visibility into runtime estimates, load percentage, and alarm states. The optional Intellislot expansion bay accepts additional Vertiv management or communication cards if your environment requires a different protocol. Output voltage configurability (100/110/115/125VAC) and standard NEMA 5-15R outlets make this compatible with the overwhelming majority of North American commercial and light-industrial loads. Pair with a managed PDU downstream if you need per-outlet metering beyond what the UPS provides, or place this unit in context of a broader UPS systems selection where runtime extension via external battery packs may be relevant.
For security-specific deployments, consider referencing a network video recorder load calculation before sizing — NVR power draw with populated hard drives under sustained write loads often exceeds nameplate estimates by 15–25%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the PSI5-1100RT120N include a network management card, or is that purchased separately?
A: The RDU120 network management card is included with this unit. You get SNMP and web-based UPS monitoring out of the box without an additional card purchase.
Q: Can the batteries in the PSI5-1100RT120N be replaced while the UPS is running?
A: Yes. The PSI5-1100RT120N uses hot-swappable VRLA batteries that can be replaced under load without shutting down connected equipment or interrupting power protection.
Q: What is the warranty on the PSI5-1100RT120N?
A: Vertiv covers the PSI5-1100RT120N with a 2-year full unit warranty that includes the battery — not a shorter battery-only term as is common with competing units.
Q: Does the PSI5-1100RT120N produce pure sinewave output on battery?
A: Yes. The PSI5-1100RT120N delivers pure sinewave output both from utility and on battery, making it safe for servers and equipment with active power factor correction (active PFC) power supplies.
Q: What input voltage range does the PSI5-1100RT120N accept before switching to battery?
A: The automatic voltage regulation (AVR) function corrects input from 75VAC to 146VAC without using the battery. Only voltages outside that range trigger a battery transfer.
Q: Can the PSI5-1100RT120N be rack-mounted and tower-mounted?
A: Yes. The unit supports both orientations — 2U rack-mount in a standard 19-inch cabinet or freestanding tower. Dimensions are 17.2 × 16.2 × 3.5 inches and weight is 31.1 lb.
The PSI5-1100RT120N sits in a sweet spot I recommend frequently for mid-size security deployments: enough wattage (990W) to carry a full NVR with populated drives plus the PoE switch feeding it, in a 2U chassis that fits in a half-height wall-mount rack without a fight. The included RDU120 card is what pushes this over bare-bones alternatives — you get SNMP monitoring day one, which means your network team can pull UPS status into the same dashboard as your switches rather than waiting for a site visit to discover a degraded battery.
Technical Highlights:
- Pure Sinewave Output: Active PFC power supplies in modern servers and NVRs can fault or draw excessive current from a simulated sinewave on battery. The PSI5-1100RT120N produces true pure sinewave output throughout the transfer, eliminating that failure mode entirely.
- AVR Input Range (75–146VAC): That 71-volt correction window handles nearly any brownout scenario without a battery transfer event — directly extending battery cycle life in facilities where utility sags are common, such as shared commercial buildings or older warehouse infrastructure.
- Hot-Swap Batteries with 2-Year Full Warranty: The 2-year warranty covers both the unit and the battery — unusual in this category where battery coverage is often shorter. Hot-swap means battery replacement is a scheduled task, not an emergency.
Deployment Considerations:
- At 31.1 lb, rack installation is a two-person job — plan accordingly if the target rack is already heavily loaded and access is tight. The tower orientation is a practical alternative for closets where pulling a loaded rack is not feasible.
- The six NEMA 5-15R outlets are unmetered individually — if per-outlet load metering is a requirement for your deployment, add a monitored PDU downstream. The UPS-level load reading via the RDU120 gives you aggregate watts, not per-device draw.
For a network/security closet protecting an NVR, managed PoE switch, and access control head-end in a mid-size commercial building — exactly the scenario where a brief power event or brownout causes the most disruptive downstream failures — the PSI5-1100RT120N with its factory-installed management card and hot-swap batteries is the straightforward, maintainable choice.
