Microjeune Informatiques — a Canadian IT services provider offering cloud hosting, enterprise networking, and colocation — needed to replace an aging single-conversion UPS tier before its expansion load outran the existing redundancy. Here’s how we designed and deployed a three-phase APC Symmetra PX modular UPS built to scale, with N+1 redundancy and hot-swap power and battery modules.
Why modular matters for a growing data centre
Traditional monolithic UPS systems force an expensive trade-off: size for current load and risk hitting capacity in 18 months, or oversize and pay for headroom you’re not using. Microjeune’s expansion plan meant their existing UPS was heading for the first problem — server density and cloud workloads were climbing, redundancy was single-path, and any failure of the UPS itself meant a hard outage on hosted customer services.
A modular UPS architecture lets you buy capacity incrementally. Power modules, battery modules, and intelligence modules all slot into the same frame. You add power as the load grows, and because modules are redundant and hot-swappable, one module failing doesn’t bring the system down — the remaining modules carry the load while the failed unit is replaced.
Project scope
Site assessment and system selection
Our on-site assessment covered Microjeune’s existing power distribution, server rack layout, cooling profile, and projected load growth over 36 months. The analysis surfaced three requirements that narrowed the hardware choice: three-phase input/output for the larger rack densities, hot-swap modularity for zero-downtime servicing, and an upgrade path well beyond current draw so the next expansion wouldn’t need a second UPS project.
Based on that, we specified the APC Symmetra PX — the industry reference for modular data-centre UPS. Key qualifications:
- Scalable power capacity up to 500 kW in a single frame — headroom for at least two growth cycles.
- Hot-swap power, intelligence, and battery modules — servicing without dropping the protected load.
- N+1 redundancy configurable to 2N — one module failure doesn’t interrupt power; a whole frame failure can be survived with 2N.
- High-efficiency double-conversion online topology — reduces wasted heat and cooling cost compared to older Symmetra generations.
- Extended-runtime battery cabinet support — generator bridge time can be sized to whatever the site demands.
- SNMP and web-based remote monitoring — facilities and IT get real-time alerts and load data.
Solution design and implementation
1. Installation and configuration
Deployment was phased to avoid disrupting Microjeune’s hosted customers. The Symmetra PX frame was positioned, followed by power and battery modules, then wired into the three-phase feed. Output was distributed through rack-mounted PDUs feeding the critical server and networking equipment, with load balanced across phases to prevent single-phase overload conditions.
Configuration tuned alarm thresholds and automated notifications. The intelligence modules were paired with the SNMP gateway so the facilities team receives immediate alerts on battery health, module status, temperature, and load changes. An external maintenance-bypass was installed so the UPS can be isolated for servicing without dropping connected loads.
2. Commissioning and live test
Before cutover, we ran a live outage simulation: mains power was cut to the UPS input, the batteries carried the full load for the required bridge time, and the generator (already onsite) was brought online. The Symmetra handed back to conditioned mains without any observable dip on connected equipment. We also pulled a power module under load to verify N+1 redundancy — remaining modules carried the full draw; the removed module was reseated; no interruption.
3. Ongoing preventive maintenance
Microjeune enrolled in our preventive maintenance program: scheduled inspections, power module testing, planned battery replacements before end-of-life, firmware updates, and recalibration. Maintenance work is performed through the external bypass so the protected load never loses power during service.
Products deployed
Explore the Symmetra-class UPS family and modular accessories referenced in this deployment:
Results and impact
Microjeune has run 100% uptime on hosted services since the Symmetra PX commissioning. The modular architecture has already paid off once — a scheduled battery module swap was completed under live load with zero interruption to any customer service, something that would have required a maintenance window on the legacy system. Remote monitoring has also surfaced two early-warning events (a flagged battery module and a temperature excursion) that were addressed proactively, before either triggered an actual alarm.
Frequently asked questions
How long do data-centre UPS batteries typically last?
Sealed lead-acid UPS batteries in a properly cooled data-centre environment typically last 3–5 years. Lithium-ion UPS batteries extend that to 8–10 years with appropriate thermal management. In both cases, scheduled testing and replacement ahead of end-of-life is how you avoid runtime surprises. See our UPS battery replacement service.
Are Symmetra PX modules really hot-swappable?
Yes — that’s the core design principle. Power modules, intelligence modules, and battery modules can all be removed and reinstalled while the UPS continues to power the protected load, provided the UPS is configured with N+1 redundancy so the remaining modules can carry the draw. This is why modular UPS systems are the default for any data centre where a maintenance window is expensive.
How do you extend UPS runtime on a three-phase modular system?
Three practical approaches: add external battery cabinets to the same frame (linear runtime extension), reduce the connected load to only truly critical equipment, or — for longer outages — accept that the UPS’s job is to bridge to a generator and size the generator-start sequence carefully. For most data centres, the right answer is enough UPS runtime to cover generator start plus a defensive buffer, not attempting to run on battery for hours.
What does N+1 redundancy actually give us?
N+1 means your UPS has one more power module than it needs to carry the full load. If one module fails or is removed for servicing, the remaining modules carry the load without interruption. 2N (full-redundant) goes further — every module has a twin, so an entire half of the UPS can fail and the other half carries the full load. 2N costs more but is standard for tier-III and tier-IV data centres.
Do you service three-phase UPS systems across Canada?
Yes. UPSPLUSBATTERY ships three-phase UPS hardware and batteries Canada-wide from our Delson, QC warehouse. Installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance is delivered through our sister brand GDF Technologies, with technicians covering Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Québec City, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and remote/industrial sites nationally.
Whether you’re sourcing the hardware or need a team to design and install it, we can help — directly or through our service partner GDF Technologies.
APC Symmetra, Eaton 9PX/9E, and three-phase industrial UPS families — shipped across Canada with full OEM warranty and installation documentation.
Shop three-phase UPS →Data-centre load analysis, three-phase install, preventive maintenance, and 24/7 emergency service — CSA C22.1, NFPA 111, IEEE 450/1188.
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