American Power Conversion (APC, West Kingston, RI) unveiled three new UPSs designed for harsh conditions such as dust, extreme temperatures and vibration. These new UPSs include the SP500DR, suitable for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other industrial control applications, and two new Smart-UPS models, SU1500RMX155 and SU2000RMX155.
The SP500DR can be mounted on DIN rails or directly into the controls cabinet. It provides 500VA of back-up power and features screw terminals for hard-wired input and output, which are designed to ensure connectivity to the attached equipment. Additionally, battery management includes pre-programmed self-tests of the internal batteries every two weeks. When the batteries need to be replaced, generally after three to five years, a “replace battery" indicator on the front panel of the unit is illuminated, and a signal is sent via a DB-9 port to an attached computer or operating system alerting the user of the battery's status.
The two new Smart-UPS models, SU1500RMX155 and SU2000RMX155, are available in 1,500VA and 2,000VA. These UPSs are designed to fit into standard 19" racks typically found on the factory floor. They occupy 3U of rack space and feature a fully rated internal isolation transformer. All Smart-UPS models include APC's PowerChute plus power management software.
“APC's goal is to create quality, innovative power-protection products that meet the needs of specific customer applications," said Rick Murphy, general manager of APC's special products group. “The introduction of our new DIN-rail and rack-mount UPSs provide backup power specifically designed for the critical systems found in harsh environments on the factory floor, reducing the cost of downtime due to power outages or voltage fluctuations."
The new 500VA UPS, the SP500DR, will be available in May 2001 in North America and has an estimated resale price of $495. The new rack-mount Smart-UPS models, SU1500RMX155 and SU2000RMX155, are currently available in North America and have an estimated resale price of $3,150 and $4,650, respectively.
