APC Symmetra LX 12kVA UPS: Scalable to 16kVA N+1 Tower

Designed for enterprise-grade reliability in data centers, server rooms, and network operations centers, the APC Symmetra LX 12kVA scalable to 16kVA N+1 Tower delivers unmatched power protection in a compact, modular form factor. This UPS is engineered for administrators who demand space efficiency, high availability, and simplified management without compromising protection for critical workloads. Its scalable architecture enables you to start with a robust 12 kVA core and expand to 16 kVA with N+1 redundancy as your footprint grows, aligning with capacity planning and budget cycles. The Symmetra LX combines online double-conversion technology with hot-swappable components, allowing you to perform maintenance or module swaps without interrupting protected loads. It is ideal for small-to-medium data centers, branch offices, colocation facilities, and IT closets housing servers, storage arrays, virtualization hosts, and network gear. With its intelligent runtime management and centralized monitoring capabilities, you can optimize uptime, reduce risk of power-related downtime, and deliver a consistent, clean energy supply to critical devices. This UPS is designed to work with a wide range of voltages and configurations, providing the flexibility needed in evolving IT environments. It also supports scalable runtime options and modular cooling strategies to maintain optimal operating temperatures in compact spaces while meeting strict service-level objectives.

• Modular, scalable architecture that grows with your business—from 12 kVA to 16 kVA with N+1 redundancy, enabling seamless capacity expansion without forklift upgrades or downtime. Each module is hot-swappable, reducing maintenance windows and ensuring continuous protection for critical workloads as your IT footprint evolves. This design is ideal for organizations planning gradual growth, virtualization deployments, and clustered applications that must stay online during expansion or upgrade cycles. By decoupling power delivery from storage and compute, you can tailor resilience to your exact needs, balancing cost with uptime guarantees.
• 3-phase online double-conversion UPS topology that delivers pristine, isolated power to servers, storage, network devices, and convergence points. The topology continuously converts incoming AC power to DC and then back to clean AC with zero transfer time, ensuring voltage regulation, phase balance, and surge protection. This results in superior protection against long-duration outages, sags, transients, and harmonic distortion, which is crucial for maintaining performance in virtualized environments, high-availability databases, and latency-sensitive workloads. The architecture also supports precise power factor management and stable runtime for demanding applications.
• Space-saving tower form factor engineered for space-constrained data centers, IT closets, and edge deployments. The compact footprint allows easy integration beside racks, in dedicated equipment rooms, or within multi-tenant facilities where floor space is premium. Despite its small footprint, the Symmetra LX delivers scalable power distribution, robust cooling management, and centralized monitoring capabilities that simplify maintenance and operations. Its modular design not only saves physical space but also reduces risk by isolating potential failures to a single module, preserving overall system availability.
• Hot-swappable battery modules and modular runtime options that enable rapid recovery and flexible energy storage without interrupting protected loads. You can extend runtime by adding additional battery modules as your workload grows or during seasonal demand spikes, without powering down the UPS or the connected systems. The maintenance-friendly design means battery replacement, firmware updates, and module diagnostics can be performed with minimal disruption. With proactive battery management features, you can monitor battery health, anticipate replacements, and schedule maintenance around operational needs, protecting your investment and ensuring readiness for unplanned outages.
• Comprehensive management and remote monitoring capabilities, including compatibility with APC Network Management Card and standard communications protocols for centralized visibility. Built-in LCD interface, silent alarms, and intuitive web/CLI access provide clear status indicators, load levels, battery health, and event logs. Integrated data protection features such as automatic diagnostics, event recording, and configurable alerts help IT teams maintain service levels and meet compliance requirements. The solution supports scalable management across multiple sites, enabling centralized control for distributed data centers, branch offices, and partnered hosting environments.

Technical Details of APC Symmetra LX 12kVA scalable to 16kVA N+1 Tower

• Topology: Online double-conversion (3-phase) UPS delivering continuous, clean power with automatic voltage regulation to protect sensitive IT equipment.
• Rated power: 12 kVA base, scalable to 16 kVA with N+1 redundancy for high availability and mission-critical workloads.
• Input/Output: 3-phase input and 3-phase output; configurable to common data center voltages to fit regional electrical systems.
• Battery system: Hot-swappable VRLA battery modules; modular runtime expansion and maintenance-friendly battery management to maximize uptime.
• Management: Local LCD interface with advanced diagnostics; supports APC Network Management Card, SNMP, HTTPS/SSH, and USB/serial connections for comprehensive monitoring.
• Form factor: Tower configuration optimized for compact spaces, with modular power modules and streamlined cable management for easy installation in IT rooms.
• Efficiency and protection: High-efficiency performance under typical loads with robust protection against surges, harmonic distortion, sags, and outages; integrated battery care and self-diagnostics.

How to install APC Symmetra LX 12kVA scalable to 16kVA N+1 Tower

• Plan the installation space by assessing floor load capacity, ventilation, and access for maintenance; designate a location with adequate clearance for service and cable routing.
• Unpack modules carefully and inspect for any shipping damage; verify that all required power modules, battery modules, and management accessories are present before assembly.
• Assemble the tower configuration by installing power modules and battery modules in the designated slots; connect modules according to the manufacturer’s wiring diagrams and ensure N+1 redundancy is enabled for critical paths.
• Connect the three-phase input power from your data center distribution or generator-backed source; use appropriate circuit breakers, cable ratings, and protective devices; verify grounding and phase balance to prevent overloads.
• Connect protected loads to the UPS output; configure bypass paths as required for maintenance windows; integrate the Network Management Card and network links for remote monitoring and alerts.
• Power up the unit and run the built-in self-test; verify status indicators, battery health, and load meters; adjust settings for notification thresholds, runtime targets, and alert schedules via the local interface or management software.
• Schedule a formal acceptance test to validate failover behavior, battery transfer times, and communications with the data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools; document all results for audits and capacity planning.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What does the 12kVA scalable to 16kVA N+1 Tower mean for my environment?
• A: It means you start with a 12 kVA UPS core that can be expanded to 16 kVA while maintaining an N+1 redundant design. This provides higher availability, fault tolerance, and the flexibility to grow alongside your IT workload without replacing the entire UPS system.
• Q: Is the Symmetra LX suitable for space-constrained data centers?
• A: Yes. Its tower form factor and modular, hot-swappable architecture are purpose-built for compact environments, allowing high availability without occupying a large footprint. This makes it ideal for edge data centers, IT closets, and small to mid-size server rooms.
• Q: Can I expand runtime as my needs change?
• A: Absolutely. The system supports hot-swappable battery modules and runtime expansion without downtime, enabling you to tailor protection to your workloads and seasonal demand while preserving uptime.
• Q: What management options are available?
• A: The Symmetra LX includes an integrated local interface and supports APC Network Management Card, SNMP, HTTP/HTTPS, and USB/serial connections for centralized monitoring, remote diagnostics, and proactive alerting across multiple sites.
• Q: What maintenance or warranty considerations should I expect?
• A: Regular battery health checks, firmware updates, and periodic self-tests are recommended. Warranty terms vary by region, so consult your local APC/Schneider Electric representative for specifics and service levels in your area.