Vertiv PSI5-2200RT120LI 1920VA/1920W Lithium-Ion Line-Interactive Rack/Tower UPS
Overview
The Vertiv Liebert PSI5-2200RT120LI is a 1920VA/1920W line-interactive UPS built around a lithium-ion battery chemistry — a meaningful upgrade over traditional VRLA designs for environments where battery longevity, weight, and serviceability actually matter. At 39.5 lbs in a 2U rack footprint, it fits comfortably in edge IDF closets, server rooms, and security head-end racks without dominating your power budget or your equipment shelf. The PSI5-2200RT120LI ships with automatic voltage regulation (AVR) built into the line-interactive topology, meaning it corrects sags and swells between 75–146VAC without switching to battery — a critical distinction in facilities with aging electrical infrastructure or generator-backed power that fluctuates on switchover.
Explore the full Vertiv UPS and power protection line for complementary infrastructure products, or browse the uninterruptible power supplies category to compare form factors and runtime profiles across the portfolio.
Key Features
- 1920W at Unity Power Factor: Unlike legacy UPS units rated in VA with a 0.8 power factor derating, the PSI5-2200RT120LI delivers its full 1920W to connected loads. If you're powering PoE switches, NVRs, and edge compute with near-unity power factor loads, you won't be leaving headroom on the table — what's on the label is what you get.
- Line-Interactive AVR (75–146VAC Range): The topology corrects input voltage across a 71VAC window before falling back to battery. In practice, this means a generator startup sag or a utility browndown to 80VAC gets regulated rather than depleted — your battery runtime is preserved for actual outages, not routine power quality events.
- Pure Sine Wave Output on Battery: Active PFC power supplies in servers, NVRs, and managed switches require a pure sine wave source to operate cleanly under battery. Stepped approximation (simulated sine) can cause these loads to fault or run hot. The PSI5-2200RT120LI delivers true sine wave on battery, so your Axis recorders and Cisco switches don't know the difference between utility and UPS power.
- 98.5% Efficiency: A 0.985 efficiency rating means minimal heat generation and lower operating costs over the equipment lifecycle. In a rack with multiple UPS units or in a densely loaded IDF, this translates to measurably less waste heat to manage — relevant if you're working within cooling constraints.
- Hot-Swappable Front-Access Battery Kits: Lithium-ion batteries in the PSI5-2200RT120LI are replaced from the front without pulling the unit from the rack and without powering down connected equipment. For 24/7 security operations centers or always-on surveillance infrastructure, this means planned battery maintenance doesn't create a service window or require a maintenance outage.
- Rotatable LCD Control Panel: The display rotates to remain readable whether the unit is installed in a rack or standing as a tower. A small feature that prevents the common annoyance of a sideways or upside-down status panel when equipment gets repurposed or repositioned.
- Output Receptacle Flexibility (6x 5-20R + 1x L5-20R): Seven output receptacles accommodate mixed device types. The twist-lock L5-20R is well-suited for a primary NVR or server that you want positively retained — critical in vibration-prone environments like manufacturing floors or transportation hubs. The six standard 5-20R outlets handle the rest of the load.
- User-Selectable Output Voltage (100/110/115/120/125VAC): Output voltage can be set to match the nominal requirements of connected equipment, useful when integrating international devices or loads with tight voltage tolerances without adding a separate transformer.
Integration and Compatibility
The PSI5-2200RT120LI communicates via USB natively — compatible with most network management software stacks and server operating systems for graceful shutdown on extended outage. For enterprise-grade SNMP and web management, the optional Liebert IntelliSlot UNITY communications card slots into the dedicated interface bay, adding remote monitoring, event logging, and network-based alarm notification without replacing the base unit. The EPO (Emergency Power Off) connector supports integration with building management systems and data center emergency shutdown circuits.
The unit carries UL 1778, c-UL-us, FCC Part 15 Class B, NOM, and UN38.3 certifications — the last being the lithium-ion transport safety standard, which matters for shipping and site compliance documentation. If your project requires UPS sizing guidance or runtime calculations for your specific load, factor the 1920W capacity against your connected device draw with appropriate headroom for inrush.
For PoE switch and NVR deployments where runtime extension matters, pair the PSI5-2200RT120LI with compatible external battery modules where the Liebert PSI5 family supports them — verify compatibility with Vertiv's published extended battery module list for this platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the input plug type on the PSI5-2200RT120LI, and what receptacles does it provide?
A: The PSI5-2200RT120LI ships with a NEMA 5-20P input plug (an L5-20P adapter is also supported). Output receptacles include six NEMA 5-20R standard outlets and one NEMA L5-20R twist-lock outlet — seven total output positions across the load bank.
Q: Does the PSI5-2200RT120LI output a pure sine wave when running on battery?
A: Yes. The PSI5-2200RT120LI produces a true pure sine wave output during battery operation. This is required for servers, NVRs, and managed switches with active PFC power supplies — simulated sine wave sources can cause those loads to fault or run inefficiently.
Q: Can the battery be replaced without shutting down connected equipment?
A: Yes. Battery kits are hot-swappable via front-panel access, so replacement is performed without removing the unit from the rack and without a planned outage for connected loads — a key operational advantage for 24/7 surveillance and security infrastructure.
Q: What remote management options are available for the PSI5-2200RT120LI?
A: USB is built in for local management and graceful OS shutdown. SNMP and web-based remote management require the optional Liebert IntelliSlot UNITY communications card, which installs in the dedicated interface slot on the unit. An EPO connector is also provided for building-level emergency shutdown integration.
Q: What input voltage range does the PSI5-2200RT120LI tolerate before switching to battery?
A: The line-interactive AVR stage corrects input voltage from 75VAC to 146VAC (nominal 120VAC) without transferring to battery. This range covers most brownout and generator fluctuation scenarios, preserving battery runtime for true utility outages.
Q: Can the PSI5-2200RT120LI be used as a tower unit as well as rack-mounted?
A: Yes. The unit supports both rack and tower orientations. The LCD control panel is designed to rotate so it remains readable in either installation configuration.
The spec I keep coming back to on the PSI5-2200RT120LI is the 75–146VAC AVR window. In security head-end rooms that run on generator backup, the transfer and recovery swings on a typical 100kW genset can hit that 80–85VAC trough for several seconds — enough to reboot an NVR mid-write on a lesser UPS. The Liebert PSI5-2200RT120LI absorbs that without touching the battery, which is exactly the behavior you want when your recorder is in the middle of a multi-camera stream.
Technical Highlights:
- Unity Power Factor (1920W = 1920VA): No derating math required — the full 1920W capacity is available to connected loads, which matters when your load calculation is tight and you can't afford the 20% haircut that comes with 0.8 PF units.
- Lithium-Ion Chemistry with Hot-Swap Front Access: Li-ion extends calendar life significantly compared to VRLA, and front-access hot-swap means battery maintenance doesn't require a rack pullout or a service outage — a real operational advantage in locked-in equipment closets where physical access is constrained.
- 98.5% Efficiency: At full load in a sealed IDF with limited cooling, that 1.5% loss difference vs. a 94% efficient legacy UPS translates to noticeably less heat — roughly 100W less waste heat at full rated load, which can be the difference between keeping a closet in thermal spec or adding a supplemental cooling unit.
Deployment Considerations:
- The SNMP/web management capability requires the optional Liebert IntelliSlot UNITY card — it is not included by default. If your monitoring stack depends on network-visible UPS status (Milestone, Genetec, or a DCIM platform), budget for and order that card with the unit rather than after the fact.
- Input is NEMA 5-20P at 120VAC nominal — confirm your rack PDU or wall circuit is 20A rated before deployment. The L5-20P input option provides flexibility for twist-lock panel connections, but verify which plug ships with the unit for your configuration.
This unit is well-positioned for 24/7 security operations head-ends, edge IDF closets running PoE switch stacks and NVR clusters, and any installation where generator-backed power quality is inconsistent and battery conservation during voltage events is operationally critical.
