Vertiv PSI5-3000RT120TAA 2700W Line-Interactive Rackmount UPS
Overview
The Vertiv PSI5-3000RT120TAA is a 2700W / 2880VA line-interactive rackmount UPS designed for IT closets, security head-end rooms, and edge infrastructure where voltage instability or outages can take down networked systems. At 2U high and rated for 120 VAC input and output, it slots into standard 19-inch racks and delivers automatic voltage regulation (AVR) without dropping to battery — a real operational advantage in facilities with chronic under- or over-voltage. If you're sizing power protection for network video recorders, PoE switches, and access control servers, this unit's capacity handles a meaningful multi-device head-end load. The PSI5-3000RT120TAA (often searched as PSI5 3000RT120TAA) is TAA-compliant, making it eligible for government, federal, and public-sector procurement where the Trade Agreements Act applies.
Key Features
- 2700W / 2880VA Capacity: At 2700 watts of real power output, this unit supports a fully loaded 2U rack shelf of NVRs, managed switches, and access servers. Size your connected load at 80% of rated capacity — that's 2,160W of practical headroom before you're stressing the unit on a hot day.
- Line-Interactive Topology with AVR: The line-interactive design continuously corrects input voltage sags and surges through automatic voltage regulation without engaging the battery. In commercial buildings where brownouts and transients are common, AVR extends battery life significantly compared to on-line double-conversion units that run off battery every time voltage dips.
- 96% Efficiency in Normal Mode: At up to 96% efficiency, heat dissipation is low relative to the power throughput — important in compact server rooms and IDF closets where HVAC is sized tightly. Lower heat also means longer component life and a smaller energy footprint over a multi-year deployment.
- Flexible Output Wiring — 6 x 5-15R + 1 x L5-30R: The outlet complement gives you six standard NEMA 5-15R receptacles for typical rack equipment and one NEMA L5-30R twist-lock for a high-draw device or a downstream PDU. The L5-30P input plug means you'll need a compatible 30A circuit — plan your panel capacity before installation, not after.
- 2U Rackmount Form Factor: At 3.5 inches tall (2U), 17.2 inches wide, and 24.8 inches deep, the PSI5-3000RT120TAA fits standard 19-inch EIA racks. The 24.8-inch depth is on the deeper side — verify your rack's usable depth, especially in wall-mount enclosures or shallow two-post racks.
- UL 1778 and c-UL-us Listed: UL 1778 is the North American UPS product safety standard. c-UL-us listing means the same evaluation covers Canadian requirements. These listings matter for insurance compliance and AHJ sign-off on commercial installations — not every rackmount UPS at this price tier carries both.
- FCC Part 15 Class B: Class B emissions compliance covers residential and light-commercial environments. If you're deploying this in an office or mixed-use space near sensitive RF equipment, Class B is the correct compliance tier — Class A is permissive and intended for industrial environments only.
- Operating Temperature Up to 40°C (104°F): The 40°C upper operating limit gives you margin in unconditioned spaces — security closets, utility rooms, and warehouse edge deployments where ambient temperature climbs in summer. That said, cooler is always better for battery longevity; treat 40°C as an absolute ceiling, not a target.
- TAA Compliance: The PSI5-3000RT120TAA carries TAA compliance, which is a procurement requirement for many federal contracts, GSA schedules, and state/local government bids. If your customer is in the public sector, this is a non-negotiable qualifier — verify at the SKU level, as TAA status does not transfer across model variants.
Integration and Compatibility
The PSI5-3000RT120TAA is built around standard 120 VAC infrastructure, which keeps integration straightforward for North American deployments. The L5-30P input requires a dedicated 30A, 120V circuit — a standard provision in most commercial and government facilities but worth confirming in retrofit scenarios. The six 5-15R outputs accept the standard IEC C13/C14 power cords that ship with virtually all rackmount NVRs, switches, and servers, so no output adapters are typically required. For power protection planning on larger surveillance deployments, consider pairing this unit with a managed PoE switch on a dedicated protected circuit to keep camera uptime isolated from server-side load fluctuations. The line-interactive topology is compatible with active PFC power supplies, which are standard in modern server and network hardware — no derating or compatibility caveats there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the PSI5-3000RT120TAA TAA-compliant for federal or government procurement?
A: Yes. The PSI5-3000RT120TAA is TAA-compliant, making it eligible for federal contracts, GSA schedule purchases, and state/local government procurement programs that require Trade Agreements Act compliance. Verify TAA status at the SKU level on your specific purchase order, as compliance does not automatically extend to other model variants.
Q: What input plug and circuit does the PSI5-3000RT120TAA require?
A: The unit uses a NEMA L5-30P input plug, which requires a dedicated 30A, 120V circuit. This is a twist-lock connection — standard in commercial facilities but confirm panel and circuit availability before specifying this unit for a retrofit installation.
Q: What is the real power output of the PSI5-3000RT120TAA, and how should I size my load?
A: The unit delivers 2700W of real power (2880VA apparent). Best practice is to size connected load at no more than 80% of rated capacity, which gives you approximately 2,160W of practical headroom. This accounts for inrush current on startup and leaves thermal margin on the unit.
Q: Does the PSI5-3000RT120TAA use line-interactive or double-conversion topology?
A: It uses line-interactive topology with automatic voltage regulation (AVR). AVR corrects voltage sags and surges without switching to battery, which is the right balance of protection and battery longevity for most IT and security head-end applications. If your site has severe power quality issues requiring galvanic isolation, a double-conversion on-line UPS would be the appropriate step up.
Q: What safety and emissions certifications does the PSI5-3000RT120TAA carry?
A: The unit is UL 1778 Listed, c-UL-us Listed (covers Canadian requirements), and FCC Part 15 Class B compliant. UL 1778 is the North American product safety standard for UPS systems; Class B emissions compliance covers commercial and light-industrial environments.
Q: Can the PSI5-3000RT120TAA operate in a warm equipment room or closet?
A: The rated operating temperature ceiling is 40°C (104°F). The unit will operate in unconditioned or poorly cooled spaces up to that limit, but battery life degrades meaningfully with sustained elevated temperatures. Treat 40°C as an absolute ceiling and target 25°C or below for longest battery service life.
When I spec power protection for a security head-end, the first number I look at is real watts — not VA. The PSI5-3000RT120TAA delivers 2700W at up to 96% efficiency, which is a meaningful combination: you get enough capacity to protect a full rack of NVRs and managed switches, and the high efficiency means you're not burning extra heat in a closet that's already thermally challenged. This is the unit I'd reach for on a mid-to-large surveillance deployment where the head-end rack is pulling 1,500–2,000W of sustained load.
Technical Highlights:
- 2700W Real Power Output: Rated at 2880VA but 2700W real — the watt figure is what matters when you're loading modern server-class NVRs with active PFC supplies. At 80% loading you get 2,160W of practical headroom before the unit is working hard.
- Line-Interactive AVR Topology: Automatic voltage regulation corrects brownouts and surges in-line without battery intervention. In commercial buildings where utility power sags during peak demand, AVR keeps your NVRs and switches running cleanly while extending battery cycle life compared to double-conversion units that run off battery on every transient.
- 96% Normal-Mode Efficiency: At 96%, this unit wastes roughly 4% of input power as heat. On a 2,000W load that's about 80W of heat output — manageable in a standard IDF or security closet without dedicated supplemental cooling.
Deployment Considerations:
- The L5-30P input plug requires a dedicated 30A, 120V circuit with a twist-lock receptacle — not a standard 15A or 20A wall outlet. Confirm circuit availability and breaker sizing before the unit ships to a retrofit site.
- At 70.8 lbs and 24.8 inches deep, this is a two-person rackmount and it needs a rack with adequate depth. Shallow two-post open frames and some wall-mount enclosures won't clear it — measure before ordering rail hardware.
This unit is a strong fit for government and public-sector security infrastructure builds where TAA compliance is a contract requirement and the head-end rack is running 10–20 cameras worth of NVR, switching, and access control load on a single protected circuit.
