Random Part of the Month XV - ACRD500

APC is primarily a power equipment company, but it also is a big seller of HVAC equipment.  Honestly, my eyes gloss over when people talk about server room cooling.  But when our IT tech friend came across one of these ACRD500 beasts being de-installed, I was impressed.

This is a 1000lb cabinet filled with giant quiet fans, sensors, regulators, and filters.   Its impressive.  While probably not worth the $16000 price tag, it was well made.  Since no one has ever asked for rack row coolers units, I decided not to buy it.   Maybe when it gets 95 degrees again here, I might regret not having this beast in our warehouse.

Random Part of the Month XIV - SURT20KRMXLT

I have getting several requests for these very large Smart UPS units.  We only see a few a year, and honestly its not a favorite of mine.  SURT20KRXLT

First off, its the Smart UPS RT Online unit on steroids.  Its a 12U non modular single phase unit.  At $12,000 new its not that much less than a modular and scalable Symmetra unit.   But unlike the Symmetra, this one can give you the full 20,000va.

But wow, if it fails.... you just got a 700 lb paper weight.  And with no bypass and poor surge protection, this will be fun to replace.

Random Part of the Month XIII - QWPAEFFICIENCY-MISC

While APC makes most of their money on products... like everyone else they are now expanding aggressively into services.

This product, the QWPAEFFICIENCY-MISC  is actually a ~$3750.00 report based on the physical site survey of your data center.   The report focuses on efficiency and eliminating waste   (I guess paying nearly $4000 isnt waste to them)  Some of the nuggets of value

• Reports efficiency values for the data center.
• Identify the air distribution methodology.
• Provide projected efficiency improvements for each recommendation to facilitate ROI calculations and capital expenditure justification.
• Using the data center one-line diagram, create a list of all measurements required to accurately characterize the power use of the data center infrastructure elements.

Sign up for some of the other APC services here

Random Part of the Month XII - SY500K500DL-PD

If you do the product search feature on Google with the term "APC," the most expensive item available "off the shelf" at a major retailer is the SY500K500DL-PD.

Its a Symmetra PX 3phase unit rated for 500kW.   It weighs a staggering 20,858 pounds!  The electrical requirements of 745 amps of 480volt power will dim the lights of your neighbors when you start this sucker up.

Its on "Super Sale" at RestockIT for $365,843.94... and they claim to have 200 in stock!

And if you have 1 really important server you want to run on this puppy... you only get 30:34hours of runtime. But if you are looking to warm your offices this winter, this sucker will put out a jaw-dropping 62515 BTUs. That more than a giant Jobsite kerosene heater.  Get the s'mores... and someone else's credit card.

Random Part of the Month XI - EPW9

Like other Random Parts of the Month, here is another stupid part from APC.... a $1200 switch... the EPO InfraStruXure Box.

The EPW9 is an emergency power off push button that turns off the UPS in the event of a problem.   APC explains...


APC’s Emergency Power Off (EPO) System consists of one or more wall-mounted, push-button EPO
boxes. Each EPO box provides a single point of equipment shutdown for up to eight APC InfraStruXure
devices and one third-party device (such as an upstream breaker), using Normally Open (NO) contact
closure connections. You can cascade an EPO box with other EPO boxes to support multiple points of
equipment shutdown.

While EPO is good and required thing...Why you would pay $1200, when this mushroom plunger switch does the same thing is beyond me.  But thats why APC makes billions of dollars and I still eat ramen noodles.

Random Part of the Month X - AP8641

I just recently started selling PDUs, and it has always amazed me how they can be so expensive.

Case in point, the APC Switched Rack 2G 0U 30amp PDU.

This glorified surge strip sells for $1450.00 from APC.

Sure, its has some neat user controls and a few too many ports... but why do blue LCD screens cost so much?  This unit's earlier version AP7941 can be found at our website for $259.

Random Part of the Month IX - AR4024

Call it the Ethan Allen Rack Cabinet from APC.   Instead of boring black aluminum, here is a rack cabinet that matches all the quality pressboard furniture in your office.

The AR4024 has a 24U 4 post SX frame, integrated cooling system, sound dampening foam, multiple PDUs, and smooth Oak veneer finish.

At $5025, this has to be the biggest waste of money.

Not surprisingly, we got a scratch and dent unit in a couple weeks ago and it sold within days of arrival for $200.  Thats about what it should be worth

Random Part of the Month VIII - SMX3000RMLV2U

The end is nigh...

One of the last available 4th generation 120v products has finally been discontinued,  the SUA3000RMXL3U (my sku 333b) and the SMX3000RMLV2U was released in its place.

Instead calling them the 5th Generation or "V", like I call them, APC and vendors have settled on Smart UPS X.

Comparing the 2 models, we see that APC has managed to improve runtimes with a new battery pack in a 2U frame.   It has also dropped the surge suppression rating,  increased the warranty to 3 years,  and dropped the BTU footprint.  Learn more about the 5th Gen / Smart X here

Additionally, APC has left the 48 volt DC architecture and gone to 120volt. DC.  This will allow those upgrading to be forced into pitching their existing 48v battery packs for the new 120volt system.

While, I dont anticipate getting too many of these in yet, when they do arrive, it will be designated 312v

Random Part of the Month VII - 450va Rack Mount UPS

I almost laughed, but APC makes a 450va 1U rack mount UPS unit..... SC450RM1U

God only knows what this will run and for how long.

Turns out it will put out a massive 280watts for 4 minutes.

The only good news, is that at 25 or so pounds, it wont hurt anyone's back putting it in the rack.  If I decide to sell it, I think the refurbished price would be that I pay you to take it.

Random APC Part of the month VI

Here is a RAPM that I use... the NetworkAir PA1000 Air Cooled Self Contained  system (AP7003).  Believe it or not, Cooling is a major sector of APC.  On big systems, like Lieberts, the ACs are more than the UPSes

I bought mine to run on my generator during the Hurricane sagas we had going on a few years ago.  During Wilma, this baby managed to cool my bedroom down to about 81.9 degrees at night.

So while its not going to replace your central air, it does work nicely to supplement existing AC systems.  At about $300 its a good price point.
Read more about APC's religion of cooling here, especially their Hot and Cold zone fetish

Random APC Part of the month V

APC makes a Residential Hardwired Surge Suppressor.... PMP1X-A

These devices install at your main panel and provide protection for everything in your panel.  We recommend these types of units.   Our most popular unit is Eaton's CHSP Micro unit.

We honestly have never seen this product and based on its specs, seems a bit expensive compared to other brands.  The APC model lists for $269, the Eaton product with more protection is about $100.



Looking for more Random APC Parts

• Wall mounted UPS unit.... BackUP HS Series
• Rugged UPS... SmartUPS RC Series
• Alarm Beacon... AP9324
• Surge Suppressor for your Serial Port... PS9-DCE

Random APC Part of the month IV

There is rack mount format, tower mount, desktop and now... wall mount UPSes.

APC's BackUP HS Series units are wall mounted UPS units designed for structured wiring cabinets.  SWC are those fancy panels that terminate your whole house music, networking or other low voltage system equipment.

Interestingly, this might be a good solution for wireless hotspots, alarm panels, and applications where there is no floor space for the UPS.

APC's says its a "a compete management and power protection solution for structured wiring and home networking applications. It provides the flexibility to remotely manage the UPS and control the outlets via Web browser."

For now we DONT carry it, but it does secretly intrigue me.  Buy it here

Random APC Part of the month III

As I review an international brochure from APC, I notice some curious new APC UPSes that I have never seen.
This class of Online UPS is called the the Smart UPS RCs

They are just like the SURT line, but these are rated for "Harsh Environment"

They are a 4U rack tower, have about twice the runtime as the regular 3000va SURT300XLI unit,(393ig3) but are rated for upto 50C and down to -20C.  They also curiously have Dataline surge suppression, which is more a Back-UPS product feature.

Presenting the SRC3000XLI  ...

Its for sale at the Brazilian online store TechClube.. which sounds more like an 80s dance place.

Random APC Part of the month II

Even sillier than the the Serial cable surge suppressor is the APC AP9324... Alarm Beacon.

Part of the NetBotz series of products, this alarm beacon will "Quickly notify personnel of critical situations with a visible alarm signal"


Mercifully, it does not have an alarm or buzzer.  But in a pinch it can be turn your server room into a rave den.  Obviously people like this item, as its offered by hundreds of suppliers and is actually ranked 40,000 or so in electronics at Amazon.

Random APC Part of the month

Even though APC is best known for its UPS units, they also sell some crazy stuff.  So in a first in a series, we review some of those APC parts you might not ever need...

This month its the APC ProtectNET standalone RS232 Surge Suppressor.... PS9-DCE

This sort of worthless item provides surge suppression for a RS232 port.   So if you are trying to hyper terminal into your UPS through a serial port cable, you should buy this for maximum protection.

It may come as a disappointment, that GreenlightUPS does NOT sell this item,  sorry....