New Industry Products

APC Launches First Network Manageable Li-Ion UPS in U.S.

September 26, 2013 by Jeff Shepard

APC by Schneider Electric announced the Back-UPS Pro 500, a first-of-its-kind uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for networking equipment and PC systems utilizing an advanced lithium-ion battery for extended service life. Designed for the internet gateway application, the UPS's network management capability allows remote optimization of energy controls, or automated power "reboot" of frozen network devices. Users no longer need to be at home to physically unplug and restart a frozen router or modem. The Back-UPS Pro 500 is also powerful enough for performance PC systems and provides automated shutdown capability through the USB management port.

New energy management features also provide convenience and electric bill savings by automatically switching off peripherals when not in use. Additionally, two Smart Outlets can be configured to provide either surge-only, or surge and backup battery protection, extending battery backup time for only the devices that need it.

"Ensuring uptime and reliability of critical networking equipment is a top concern for home and small business owners, as is advanced power protection for these investments," said Michael Maiello, senior vice president of Home and Business Networks for Schneider Electric. "With the Back-UPS Pro 500, APC by Schneider Electric provides users with a longer battery lifespan, more control over system energy management and the quality power protection for which APC is known. Further, an embedded web interface gives the user remote monitoring and management capabilities -- a feature more commonly available in enterprise-grade UPS units."

Powerful enough to protect a performance desktop PC and keep electronics such as a modem, wireless router and voice-over IP phone running when the power goes out, the Back-UPS Pro 500 features a lithium-ion battery that is smaller and lighter than comparable lead-acid batteries, while also being recyclable and more environmentally friendly. With an eight to 10 year battery life, versus the typical three to five year lifespan of current batteries, fewer battery renewals are needed making the UPS ideal for environments where maintaining expected battery performance is critical.

As expected from APC by Schneider Electric, comprehensive system power protection is available, defending your hardware investment from swells, sags, blackouts and surges on both the AC and telephone/xDSL lines.

The embedded network capability of the Back-UPS Pro 500 is accessed through an easy-to-use web browser interface allowing users to verify system status, control power to individual Smart Outlets to conserve energy, and enable the network connectivity "watchdog" feature to automatically reboot a frozen modem or router. Further, the user can access reports that calculate and track energy, dollar and CO2 savings by time period and outlet.

The Back-UPS Pro 500 powers systems up to 500 VA/300 Watts. Additional features include: Energy Management capable of powering off peripherals via the Smart Outlets when the primary component and the Master Outlet are shut down or shut off, eliminating idle power draw of equipment not in use. When Master Outlet detects that the primary component is again running, power at the Smart Outlets is automatically restored. A USB port is included for shutdown of a computer using native power management utilities in Windows or Mac OSX. This UPS features a light-weight, space-saving design with various mounting options including side, stand-alone or wall mount. Priced at $299 and including a three year warranty, the APC by Schneider Electric Back-UPS Pro 500 will be available via retail stores and IT resellers in Q3 2013.