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Eaton 9PX3000RTN UPS Review

by Lyle Smith

A few years ago, we reviewed the Eaton 9PX6K, a UPS from the company’s line of high-efficiency battery backups designed to protect medium-to-high-density IT equipment in computer rooms. Overall, we found that it offered comprehensive management and power protection and kept our lab tests running seamlessly. Earlier this year, the company released a broader range of models in the Eaton 9PX line, which consisted of devices that fit in a slightly smaller scope. Among these new models is the 2U 9PX3000RTN 3000VA 120V UPS, which we will be looking at today.


A few years ago, we reviewed the Eaton 9PX6K, a UPS from the company’s line of high-efficiency battery backups designed to protect medium-to-high-density IT equipment in computer rooms. Overall, we found that it offered comprehensive management and power protection and kept our lab tests running seamlessly. Earlier this year, the company released a broader range of models in the Eaton 9PX line, which consisted of devices that fit in a slightly smaller scope of 2-3kVA. Among these new models is the 2U 9PX3000RTN 3000VA 120V UPS, which we will be looking at today.

Power management and protection is paramount when running a business. When it comes to the StorageReview Test Lab, blackouts and unexpected power surges can be disastrous; not only due to significant amount of lost time, but also potential damage to our equipment. Like the 9PX6K before it, Eaton’s new 3kV UPS is built to address these concerns and is thus a welcomed addition to our lab.  Equipped with double-conversion topology to enable constant power conditioning and up to 93 percent efficiency, the new Eaton 3kVA models are designed to help promote complete business continuity.  The 9PX3000RTN works with Eaton’s PredictPulse remote monitoring service, which allows administrators monitor equipment 24/7 so that they can address or notify the proper people with critical alarms occur. Eaton also indicates that 9PX3000RTN is a fairly scalable deployment and integrates well with virtualized environments.

The Eaton 3kV UPS features an intuitive graphical LCD display for local status updates and can be used as a rackmount or tower unit and can be combined for compatibility in a broad range of configurations. As with other network-enabled gear in the Eaton portfolio, the 9PX3000 is also supported by Eaton's Intelligent Power Manager software (or IPM) for datacenter-level management.

Eaton 9PX3000RTN UPS Specifications

  • Topology: Double-conversion online
  • Configuration: Rack/Tower
  • Catalog Number: 9PX3000RTN
  • Color: Black and silver
  • Rating (VA/Watts): 3000/2700
  • Diagnostics: Full system self test at power up, and ABM test every 30 days
  • UPS Bypass: EHBPL3000R-PDU1U optional
  • Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 3.4 (2U) x 17.3 x 23.8
  • Dimensions (H x W x D, mm): 86.5 x 440 x 605
  • Weight (kg): 28.6
  • Weight (lbs): 63.1
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Rail Kit Included: 4-post rail kit and tower pedestals included
  • Remote Emergency Power off (REPO)
  • ROO/RPO: Rear deck emergency stop connectors (for remote on/off and power off)
  • Contents:
    • 9PX3000RTN 3 kVA UPS
    • Network-MS Web/SNMP card
    • 4-post rail kit
    • Safety manual
    • User manual
    • Tower pedestals
    • RS-232 serial cable
    • USB cable
    • Intelligent Power Software Suite CD
  • Efficiency: 91% with resistive load
  • Electrical Input
    • Connection: (1) NEMA L5-30P L5-30P
    • Input Cord: 8 feet
    • Input Voltage Range: Full load: 100-144V, <30% load: 60-144V
    • Nominal Voltage: 120V default (100/110/120/125V)
    • Frequency: 50/60 Hz
    • Frequency Range: 60 Hz: 50–70 Hz, 50 Hz: 40–60 Hz
    • Input Power Factor: >.99
    • Input Current Distortion: <5%
  • Electrical Output
    • Nominal Voltage: 120V default (100/110/120/125V)
    • Output voltage regulation: ±1% steady-state
    • Voltage THD: <3% for linear loads
    • Output Receptacles:      
      • (6) NEMA 5-20R 5-20R
      • NEMA L5-30R L5-30R
      • Transfer Time: 0 ms
      • Circuit Breaker: (2) 20A for 5-20R
  • Battery
    • Optional Extended Battery Module: 9PXEBM72RT
    • Battery Description: Sealed, lead-acid; maintenance free
    • Maximum number of extended battery modules (EBM): Add up to 4 extended battery modules (EBM)
    • Battery Management: ABM technology; 3-stage charging extends battery service life by 50% and provides advance warning for battery replacement
    • Battery Replacement: Replaceable internal batteries and extended battery modules (EBMs)
    • Start On Battery: Cold-start enabled; first cold start is always forbidden
  • Communications
    • User Interface: Graphical display. UPS status in a single view.
    • LEDs: 4 status-indicating LEDs
    • Communication Ports:   RS-232 (RJ45) ports; USB port as standard (HID). 6-foot RS-232 and USB cables included
    • Communications Card Slots: Network Card-MS included
    • Power Management Software: Eaton Intelligent Power Manager
  • Environmental & Standards
    • RoHS Compliance: Yes
    • Surge Protection: IEEE ANSI C62.41 Cat B2
    • Heat Dissipation (BTU)  
      • Online: 844
      • Battery: 1462
      • (BTU/hr; battery full charged, resistive load)
    • Audible Noise: ≤47 dB at 1 meter
    • Operating Temperature: 0 to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
    • Safety markings: CE / cULus / NOM
    • EMC Markings   : IEC 62040-2 Cat C1 / CISPR22 / FCC part 15 Class B / VCCI Class B
    • Storage Temperature: 0 to 35°C (32°F to 95°F); without batteries: -15 to 55°C (5°F to 131°F)
    • Relative Humidity: 0 to 96% non-condensing
    • Altitude: 3000m

Build and Design

The Eaton 9PX3000RTN is a new 2U battery backup that supports both rack-mount and tower configurations with supplied hardware. To accommodate rack-mount environments, they have included a 4-post rail kit, which we used to install in our Eaton S-Series Rack. Eaton has also bundled two tower pedestals (or “feet”) for those looking to leverage floor mounting in a tower configuration, as it helps keep it stable.  

The design of the 9PX3000RTN is virtually identical to the 9PX6K, as it features the same two vented panels (located on the left and right of the screen), providing ample airflow to the batteries and electronics. The left and center panel section can be removed so users can easily access to the battery compartment, which can be quickly hot-swapped within a few minutes. This seamless replacement process allows for minimal downtime.

The five-button graphical rotating/tilting LCD screen offers various information about the UPS, including the load status, events, measurements and settings. Above the LCD are the status indicators: Online mode indicator (green), Battery mode indicator (orange), Bypass mode indicator (orange), and the Fault indicator (red). Below are the escape, up, down, enter and on/off buttons to navigate the menus.

The rear panel is host to all the power and connectivity options. On the far left is the socket for connection to AC power source, unit fan, and slot for optional communication card while the middle houses the relay output contact, connector for automatic recognition of an additional battery module, and the RS232 communication port. The power outlets are located on the far right.

Also on the back panel (middle) are the connectors for ROO (Remote On/Off) and RPO (Remote Power Off). As the name indicates, RPO can remotely shut down the 9PX3000RTN when the contact is open and can be used for shutting down both the load and the UPS when temperatures too hot. The Eaton UPS immediately shuts down the output, along with its power converters when activated; however, the UPS stays on so it can alarm the fault.

ROO allows users to remotely switch the 9PX3000RTN’s On/Off button. For instance, when contact changes from open to close, the Eaton UPS is turned on (if it’s already on, nothing happens), while the UPS is turned off when contact changes from close to open. It should be noted that physical On/Off control button has priority over the remote function.

Conclusion

Effective power protection and conditioning is vital for continuous business operation, and particularly important to those who have local infrastructure on-site. The Eaton 9PX3000RTN UPS is good solution for these needs, as it provides enterprise-grade power protection for all kinds of small IT configurations. This makes particular sense in ROBO and SMB situations that may run workloads in a partial rack, small rack or via a few tower servers. With this smaller version of the 9PX, organizations get a more consumable version of a hardened enterprise solution at the edge.

The push to offer additional sizes of the 9PX show continued growth of the Eaton portfolio, with additional configurations aimed at covering a wider scope of needs. This means the 9PX line now can handle smaller demands ranging from 2-3kVA upwards to 5-11kVA for larger environments. 

Bottom Line

The Eaton 9PX UPS family continues to provide enterprises with excellent power protection. For its part, the 9PX3000RTN UPS addresses the needs of ROBO and SMB use cases well with a smaller model that's designed to protect the edge from the same perils that face the datacenter.

Eaton 9PX3000RTN UPS product page

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