In today’s digital age, power disruptions can wreak havoc on critical electronics, leading to data loss, equipment damage, or costly downtime. The APC Smart-UPS 1500VA (SUA1500I) is a trusted line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) designed to safeguard sensitive equipment in small businesses, home offices, and IT environments. Manufactured by APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader with over 25 million Smart-UPS units sold worldwide, this UPS delivers reliable power protection for servers, networking devices, and more. In this blog, we’ll dive into the key specifications, features, benefits, and applications of the SUA1500I, highlighting why it remains a popular choice for power backup needs.
Overview of the APC Smart-UPS 1500VA (SUA1500I)
The APC Smart-UPS 1500VA (SUA1500I) is a line-interactive UPS with a power capacity of 1500VA (980W), tailored for 230V power systems, including regions like India (variant SUA1500I-IND). It uses Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to correct voltage fluctuations and delivers a pure sine wave output, ensuring clean, stable power for sensitive electronics. With a compact tower design, this UPS is ideal for protecting servers, point-of-sale (POS) systems, routers, switches, and other critical devices from power outages, surges, and spikes.
Key Specifications
- Power Capacity: 1500VA / 980W
- Input Voltage: 230V (configurable for 220V or 240V)
- Input Connections: IEC-320 C14
- Input Voltage Range: 160–286V (main operations); adjustable to 151–302V
- Output Voltage: 230V
- Output Connections: 8 x IEC 320 C13, 2 x IEC Jumpers (all with battery backup)
- Output Voltage Distortion: Less than 5%
- Output Frequency: 47–53 Hz (50 Hz nominal) or 57–63 Hz (60 Hz nominal), sync to mains
- Waveform Type: Pure sine wave
- Topology: Line-Interactive
- Battery Type: Maintenance-free sealed Lead-Acid (VRLA)
- Typical Backup Time: 6.7 minutes at full load (980W); 23.9 minutes at half load (490W)
- Battery Recharge Time: Approximately 3 hours
- Form Factor: Tower
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 216 mm x 170 mm x 439 mm
- Weight: Approximately 24.09 kg
- Included Accessories: CD with PowerChute software, Smart-UPS signaling RS-232 cable, USB cable, user manual
Key Features of the SUA1500I
The APC Smart-UPS 1500VA is packed with features that enhance reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. Here are its standout attributes:
- Line-Interactive Topology with AVR: The SUA1500I corrects low and high voltage conditions without draining the battery, using Boost and Trim Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR). This ensures higher availability for connected devices, making it ideal for regions with frequent voltage fluctuations, such as India.
- Pure Sine Wave Output: The UPS delivers a pure sine wave output, critical for compatibility with sensitive electronics like servers, routers, and medical equipment that use active power factor corrected (PFC) power supplies.
- Intelligent Battery Management: APC’s patented intelligent battery management maximizes battery performance and lifespan through precision temperature-compensated charging. Automatic self-tests detect battery issues early, and hot-swappable battery modules allow replacement without powering down the system.
- Network Manageability: The UPS supports remote monitoring via serial, USB, or optional Ethernet through a SmartSlot for accessory cards. PowerChute Business Edition software provides convenient monitoring, safe system shutdown, and energy management capabilities.
- User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive LED status display with load and battery bar graphs, along with indicators for On Line, On Battery, Replace Battery, and Overload conditions, provides clear status updates. Audible alarms alert users to power events or low battery conditions.
- Surge Protection and Power Conditioning: The UPS protects connected loads from surges, spikes, lightning, and other disturbances, with a surge energy rating of 480 Joules and full-time multi-pole noise filtering (0.3% IEEE surge let-through).
- Adjustable Voltage Sensitivity: Users can tailor the UPS for optimal performance in specific power environments or generator applications by adjusting voltage transfer points and sensitivity settings.
- Hot-Swappable and User-Replaceable Batteries: These features reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) by allowing battery replacements without downtime, increasing availability.
- Safety and Compliance: The SUA1500I is safety-agency approved, ensuring compatibility with connected equipment. It meets standards like UL 1449 for surge protection and is designed for reliable operation in diverse environments.
Benefits of the APC Smart-UPS 1500VA
The SUA1500I offers several advantages for users seeking reliable power protection:
- Robust Power Backup: With 6.7 minutes of runtime at full load and 23.9 minutes at half load, the UPS provides ample time to save data or safely shut down systems during outages.
- Versatility: Its compact tower design and compatibility with 230V systems make it suitable for various environments, including regions with unstable power like India.
- Cost Efficiency: The patented green operating mode achieves efficiencies over 97%, earning Energy Star certification and reducing energy costs.
- Reduced Downtime: Features like AVR, hot-swappable batteries, and resettable circuit breakers minimize disruptions and simplify maintenance.
- Reliability: Backed by a 2-year repair or replacement warranty and APC’s 23 years of design expertise, the SUA1500I ensures long-term performance.
Ideal Applications
The APC Smart-UPS 1500VA is versatile and well-suited for a variety of applications, including:
- Small and Medium Businesses: Protects servers, POS systems, and networking equipment from power outages and surges.
- Home Offices: Ensures uninterrupted power for desktop PCs, routers, and home entertainment systems.
- IT Environments: Supports network switches, hubs, and storage devices in small server rooms or network closets.
- Retail and Finance: Powers ATMs, cash registers, and payment terminals to maintain transactions during outages.
- Healthcare: Provides backup power for non-critical medical devices and lab equipment.
Comparison with Other APC Smart-UPS Models
Compared to higher-capacity models like the APC Smart-UPS SRT 5000VA (SRT5KXLI) or SRT 10000VA (SRT10KXLI), which use double-conversion online topology for zero transfer time and are suited for larger-scale or highly sensitive applications, the SUA1500I’s line-interactive design is more cost-effective for environments with less severe power issues. It offers a longer runtime at full load (6.7 minutes vs. 4 minutes for SRT models) but lacks the continuous power conditioning of double-conversion systems. Compared to the APC Smart-UPS 5000VA (SUA5000RMI5U), the SUA1500I is more compact and suited for smaller setups, with a lower power capacity but similar line-interactive features.
Conclusion
The APC Smart-UPS 1500VA (SUA1500I) is a reliable, efficient, and versatile UPS that delivers premium power protection for small businesses, home offices, and IT environments. Its line-interactive topology, pure sine wave output, intelligent battery management, and robust connectivity options make it a trusted solution for safeguarding critical electronics. Whether you’re protecting servers, networking gear, or medical devices, the SUA1500I offers peace of mind with its proven performance and APC’s industry-leading reputation.
For more details or to purchase, CONTACT US @ TIACO TECHNOLOGIES, and ensure your critical systems stay powered and protected.