Rack-Mount UPS Systems in Canada
A rack-mount UPS protects the equipment in the same cabinet it occupies: switches, routers, servers, storage and the odd appliance that keeps a site running. Choosing one comes down to three numbers: the load in watts, the runtime you need in minutes, and the rack units you can give up. This page covers how to size one, which platforms we supply, and how installation and service work across Canada.
Where it goes in the rack
A typical elevation: the UPS and its battery module take the bottom of the rack, where the weight belongs; the PDU and network gear sit above.
Sizing a rack-mount UPS
Start from the real load, not the breaker rating. Sum the nameplate watts of the protected equipment, apply 20 to 25 percent headroom, and check the result against the UPS output rating in watts, not just VA. A 2U unit in the 1 to 3 kVA class covers most network cabinets; racks with multiple servers move into 5 or 6 kVA territory, and beyond roughly 10 kVA a standalone or three phase system usually makes more sense than stacking rack units.
Runtime is the second decision. Internal batteries typically carry a loaded unit for 4 to 10 minutes, enough for an orderly shutdown or a generator start. If you need 30 minutes or more, plan external battery modules at 2U to 3U each, and check the floor loading before you fill a rack with batteries. The runtime calculator gives per-model estimates from your load.
Line-interactive or online double-conversion
Line-interactive rack units correct voltage sags and swells with an autotransformer and switch to battery in a few milliseconds. Online double-conversion units rebuild the output continuously, with no transfer time and full isolation from the utility waveform; that is the standard choice for servers and anything downstream of a generator. The price difference has narrowed; for most compute loads we quote online first. More detail on the topology is on the online double-conversion UPS page.
Platforms we supply and service
GDF Technologies supplies, installs and services rack-mount lines from the major manufacturers operating in Canada: APC Smart-UPS and Smart-UPS On-Line, Eaton 5P, 5PX and 9PX, Vertiv GXT5, Tripp Lite SmartOnline and Xtreme Power Conversion rack models. Every quote can include rails, network management cards for monitoring, external battery modules and commissioning with a transfer test. For stocked units with published specifications, browse UPS Plus Battery.
Service for the fleet you already have
Rack UPS batteries age out in 3 to 5 years like any VRLA string. We replace batteries on site, service units under preventive maintenance plans, and handle repairs and battery replacement for every brand above, whether or not we sold the unit.
Plan U-space and runtime
Common questions
Add up the nameplate watts of everything the UPS will protect, then add 20 to 25 percent headroom for growth and inrush. A single network cabinet with a switch, a firewall and two servers typically lands between 1 and 3 kVA. Our runtime calculator turns that load into backup minutes per model.
Most units between 1 and 3 kVA occupy 2U. Larger 5 to 10 kVA online models run 3U to 6U, and each external battery module adds 2U to 3U. Plan rail depth too: many online rack units exceed 650 mm.
Line-interactive is fine for switches and access points. For servers, storage and anything with a sensitive power supply, online double-conversion removes transfer time entirely and isolates the load from the raw utility waveform.
Right size, right rails, right runtime
Tell us the rack, the load and the runtime you need. The proposal covers the unit, battery modules, rails, installation and the service plan.
