Vertiv PSI5-3000RT120 3000VA 2700W 2U Rack/Tower Line Interactive UPS

Overview

The Vertiv Liebert PSI5-3000RT120 is a 3000VA/2700W line interactive UPS in a 2U rack/tower form factor, purpose-built for IT rooms, security equipment closets, and edge deployments where clean, regulated power isn't optional. PSI5-3000RT120 delivers pure sinewave output on battery — not stepped-approximation waveforms — which matters if any load in your rack is a switching power supply, an active PoE switch, or a VMS server with a modern power supply that rejects non-sinusoidal input. For a deeper look at pairing this unit with your surveillance infrastructure, see our power and UPS category or browse the full Vertiv product catalog.

Key Features

• 3000VA / 2700W Capacity: 2700W of usable runtime headroom means a typical multi-camera rack — NVR, PoE switch, patch panel, and a managed switch — fits well within budget without approaching the 90% load threshold where UPS efficiency and runtime drop. Size up only if your single-phase draw consistently exceeds 2.2kW.
• Pure Sinewave Output on Battery: When utility power fails, the PSI5-3000RT120 switches to pure sinewave — not simulated or stepped sinewave. Active PFC power supplies (found in virtually every modern server, NVR, and enterprise switch) require a true sinusoidal waveform; feeding them a modified sinewave causes coil whine, thermal stress, and in some cases immediate shutdown. This is the spec that separates this unit from budget UPS designs.
• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR): The 75–146VAC input range means AVR corrects sags and swells without switching to battery. Sites with brownout-prone utility feeds — rural installs, industrial campuses, buildings sharing a transformer with HVAC loads — benefit directly: battery cycles stay low and runtime is preserved for actual outages.
• Up to 96% Efficiency in Normal Mode: At 96% efficiency, heat dissipation and operating costs are measurably lower than the 91–92% typical of older ferro-resonant or double-conversion designs. In a 24/7 security operations environment, that efficiency gap translates to a real difference in annual energy spend across a multi-rack deployment.
• Hot-Swappable, User-Replaceable Batteries: Batteries can be swapped under load without powering down the protected equipment. For a 24/7 surveillance operation or network operations center where scheduled downtime requires vendor coordination and change-control tickets, this is a genuine operational advantage — a facilities tech can handle the replacement mid-shift.
• Flexible Outlet Configuration: Six NEMA 5-15R outlets handle standard 15A rack equipment, and one NEMA L5-30R provides a locking 30A receptacle for a downstream PDU or high-draw appliance. This mix covers the majority of edge rack builds without requiring a separate outlet strip.
• USB Management Port + Optional Intellislot Network Card: The USB port enables local graceful shutdown integration with most OS-level UPS management tools. The optional Intellislot expansion slot allows adding a network management card for SNMP monitoring, email alerting, and remote shutdown coordination — important if this unit is at a remote camera site without on-site staff.
• User-Configurable Output Voltage: Output can be set to 100, 110, 115, or 125VAC, which accommodates legacy equipment with narrow voltage tolerances or mixed North American/international loads without an external transformer.
• 2U Rack/Tower Convertible: The 17.2 × 24.8 × 3.5-inch chassis installs in a standard 19-inch rack or stands vertically as a tower — at 70.8 lb, plan for a two-person rack mount or a proper lift rail kit. The 24.8-inch depth fits most 4-post open-frame racks but verify clearance in shallow-depth two-post configurations before ordering.
• Operating Temperature to 40°C: Rated to operate in environments up to 40°C, which covers most non-air-conditioned equipment rooms and wiring closets. If your install space regularly exceeds 35°C, battery service life will shorten — plan accordingly.
• UL 1778 / c-UL-us Listed, FCC Part 15 Class B: UL 1778 is the UPS safety standard required for commercial electrical inspections in the US and Canada. FCC Part 15 Class B certifies the unit for use in residential or commercial environments without causing RF interference — relevant if your camera or radio equipment shares the same enclosure.
• 2-Year Warranty Including Battery, Next-Day Replacement: The manufacturer warranty covers the full unit including the battery pack for two years, with next-day replacement service. Battery warranty inclusion at this tier is meaningful — most competitive units exclude battery from the primary warranty period.

Integration and Compatibility

The PSI5-3000RT120 fits directly into standard NVR and server rack deployments. The USB management port is natively recognized by Windows Server, Linux (nut/apcupsd), and most VMS platforms for graceful shutdown on extended outage. For remote monitoring, the Intellislot network card upgrade adds SNMP and web-based management — a practical addition for unmanned edge sites. Pair with a managed PoE switch to keep cameras and access control online during power events; consult your UPS sizing and runtime guide to calculate actual runtime at your specific load before deployment. The unit is line interactive — not double conversion — so there is a brief transfer time to battery on outage, typically under 4ms, which is within tolerance for all standard server and network hardware but worth confirming with any latency-sensitive equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between line interactive and double-conversion UPS, and which is the PSI5-3000RT120?

A: The PSI5-3000RT120 is a line interactive UPS. Line interactive units use AVR to correct voltage fluctuations without switching to battery, and transfer to battery only on true outage or out-of-range input (below 75VAC or above 146VAC). Double-conversion units run loads through the inverter continuously — zero transfer time but lower efficiency. For most security and IT rack applications, line interactive at sub-4ms transfer is sufficient and runs more efficiently than double conversion.

Q: Does the PSI5-3000RT120 output pure sinewave on battery?

A: Yes. The PSI5-3000RT120 delivers pure sinewave output when running on battery. This is required for active PFC power supplies found in modern servers, NVRs, and managed switches. Modified sinewave UPS units can cause instability or shutdown with these loads.

Q: Can the batteries be replaced without shutting down connected equipment?

A: Yes. The PSI5-3000RT120 uses user-replaceable hot-swappable batteries, meaning you can swap the battery module while the unit continues to power connected equipment from utility input. No downtime required for a routine battery replacement.

Q: What is the warranty on the PSI5-3000RT120?

A: The PSI5-3000RT120 carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty covering the full unit including the battery, with next-day replacement service. Battery inclusion in the primary warranty is a differentiator at this price tier.

Q: Does the PSI5-3000RT120 support network management?

A: The base unit includes a USB management port for local OS-level graceful shutdown integration. An optional Intellislot network card (sold separately) adds SNMP monitoring, web-based management, and remote shutdown capabilities — recommended for unmanned remote sites.

Q: Can the PSI5-3000RT120 be rack-mounted and tower-mounted?

A: Yes. The PSI5-3000RT120 is a convertible 2U chassis that installs in a standard 19-inch rack or operates as a freestanding tower. At 70.8 lb, rack installation should be a two-person job or use a rail lift kit. The unit is 24.8 inches deep — verify depth clearance in your rack before ordering.

Eden Phillips

The PSI5-3000RT120 is the unit I'd reach for when a security integrator asks for a 3kVA line interactive that won't fight with their NVR or PoE switch power supplies — that pure sinewave output on battery isn't a marketing line, it's the reason this unit belongs in a rack with active PFC loads where a cheaper modified-sinewave design would cause problems under outage conditions.

Technical Highlights:

• 75–146VAC Input Range: AVR handles brownouts down to 75VAC and swells up to 146VAC on utility alone — no battery cycling on normal grid fluctuations, which directly extends battery service life on sites with unstable utility feeds.
• 96% Normal Mode Efficiency: At 96%, this unit dissipates measurably less heat than older 91–92% designs. In a sealed equipment room at a camera site without dedicated cooling, that difference keeps ambient temperature in check and extends the service interval on other rack gear.
• Hot-Swap Battery Architecture: Battery replacement under load is a real operational feature at 24/7 surveillance sites — no change-control window required, no NVR shutdown, no camera gap in the recording timeline.

Deployment Considerations:

• At 70.8 lb and 24.8 inches deep, confirm your rack's weight rating and depth clearance before the unit ships — a standard 2-post relay rack may not be appropriate; a 4-post equipment rack with proper rail support is the right home for this chassis.
• The base unit ships with USB management only; if this UPS is at a remote camera site without on-site personnel, budget for the Intellislot network card at time of purchase — retrofitting it later means a maintenance trip to the site.

This unit is well-matched for a centralized security head-end rack: NVR with multiple drives, a managed PoE switch feeding 16–24 cameras, and an access control panel — the 2700W capacity covers that load profile with runtime to spare for a controlled shutdown, and the sinewave output means nothing in that rack will complain when grid power disappears.