APC Smart-UPS SC Lithium-ion 500VA 1U NC

The APC Smart-UPS SC Lithium-ion 500VA backup power supply offers reliable power for network components and servers in rack cabinets. This line-interactive UPS provides a real power output of 400W and an apparent power of 500VA. Its key feature is an internal lithium-ion battery with a lifespan of 8–10 years, which reduces the frequency of replacements. At full load, it provides 3 minutes and 26 seconds of backup time; at half load, the backup time extends to 7 minutes and 42 seconds. With a high efficiency of up to 98.9%, it minimises heat loss and operating costs. The compact 1U design with a depth of 232mm makes installation easy, even in shallow racks.

Topology and performance

The power supply operates with a line-interactive topology, which uses Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to stabilise mains fluctuations without switching to battery. The pure sine wave output can also power sensitive electronics. Efficiency at full load is 98.9% and reaches 97.9% at half load, which contributes to lower operating costs.

Battery and protection

The internal lithium-ion battery has an expected lifespan of 8 to 10 years, which is significantly longer than standard lead-acid batteries and reduces total operating costs. Integrated deep-discharge protection contributes to its longer service life. Connected devices are protected by surge protection with 510J of energy absorption, along with multi-stage noise filtering. A built-in, resettable circuit breaker provides protection against overload and short circuits. The unit can operate in an environment with a temperature of 0 to 40°C at a noise level of 45dBA.

Remote management and software

It uses USB and Ethernet interfaces for management and monitoring. The equipment includes a built-in Network Management Card 3, which provides remote access for monitoring and configuration. The web interface lets you monitor the battery status, current load, or perform diagnostic tests. The included PowerChute Network Shutdown software coordinates the safe and automated shutdown of physical servers, virtual machines, and HCI clusters during a prolonged power outage, thereby preventing data loss.

Connectivity options

The unit uses a standard IEC C14 input connector for power, which simplifies its integration into existing rack infrastructure. For connecting protected devices, the rear panel offers four IEC C13 output sockets. All four sockets provide both battery backup during a power outage and continuous surge protection with 510J of energy absorption and mains noise filtering. This arrangement is practical for powering servers, switches, and other network hardware in a rack.