APC Smart-UPS SC UPS Systems

APC Smart-UPS SC UPS systems

The APC Smart-UPS SC series is a line-interactive uninterruptible power supply family from APC by Schneider Electric. It sits below the flagship Smart-UPS line as an entry option for protecting servers, network gear, point-of-sale systems and other business-critical equipment against power outages, sags and surges. Models in this series range from 420VA / 260W up to 1500VA / 865W and are available in both tower and 1U rack-mountable form factors, with North American (120V) and international (230V) voltage variants. The series is built for small offices, branch sites, retail and edge installations where reliable battery backup and automatic voltage regulation matter more than online double-conversion topology.

Models in the series

See the full range of available SC models below; runtimes are at the manufacturer's rated half and full load and vary with the actual connected load.

How to choose

VA vs. watts. Every UPS has two capacity ratings: apparent power (VA) and real power (watts). Size the UPS so its watt rating comfortably exceeds the total wattage of the equipment you plan to plug in: don't size on VA alone. As a rule of thumb, aim to load a UPS to no more than about 70 to 80% of its watt rating to leave headroom and extend battery life. Across this series that means roughly 260W (SC420) at the low end up to 865W (SC1500) at the top.

Runtime expectations. The SC series is designed to ride through brief outages and give you time for a graceful shutdown, not to run loads for hours. Published runtimes (for example 13.5 minutes at half load and 5.5 minutes at full load on the SC420) shrink as you add load, so choose a larger model if you need more headroom rather than expecting long autonomy from a small unit.

Topology. Every model in this series is line-interactive: it regulates voltage with an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) and switches to battery on outage. On battery it produces a stepped approximation to a sine wave, which suits most IT and networking equipment. If your application requires continuous online double-conversion power or a true sine wave under all conditions, look at APC's online Smart-UPS or Smart-UPS RT/SRT families instead.

Rack vs. tower. Tower models (SC420, SC620, SC1500) suit desks, shelves and floor placement. The SC450 is rack-mountable in 1U for server cabinets and comms racks. Pick the form factor that matches where the unit will live.

Why this series

• Line-interactive design with automatic voltage regulation to correct under- and over-voltage without draining the battery.
• Tower and 1U rack-mountable options to fit desks, shelves or server racks.
• 120V and 230V variants for North American and international deployments.
• Serial and USB management ports with PowerChute software support for safe automatic shutdown.
• A practical choice for servers, network switches, routers, VoIP and POS hardware at the edge.

Warranty, Canadian shipping & support

These are APC by Schneider Electric units. The Smart-UPS SC series is a mature, widely deployed line and several models are now legacy or discontinued by the manufacturer; we stock new and refurbished units as available. All orders ship from Canada with Canadian support. Contact us for current stock, warranty terms on a specific model, and help matching a unit to your load.

Batteries & related

Already own an SC unit and just need new batteries? See our APC UPS replacement batteries hub for compatible RBC cartridges and battery packs, and browse the full APC UPS systems and accessories range for other Smart-UPS families.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Smart-UPS SC line-interactive or online?
Line-interactive. It uses automatic voltage regulation and switches to battery on outage. For continuous online double-conversion protection, choose an APC online Smart-UPS family.

What size UPS do I need?
Add up the wattage of everything you'll plug in, then pick a model whose watt rating leaves about 20 to 30% headroom. The SC series runs from 260W (SC420) to 865W (SC1500).

How long will it run my equipment?
The SC series is built for short ride-through and graceful shutdown, typically several minutes at full load and longer at lighter loads. Exact runtime depends on your connected load; see each model's rated half- and full-load figures.

Can I rack-mount these?
The SC450 ships in a 1U rack-mountable / tower form factor. The SC420, SC620 and SC1500 are tower units.

Are these units new?
Yes: new APC units, unless the listing says refurbished, shipped from Canada.

UPSPLUSBATTERY is a Canadian supplier of APC UPS systems. Model names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.