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APC UPS

APC by Schneider Electric is the global default UPS brand — the broadest product line from small Back-UPS standby units protecting a home NVR + modem, through Smart-UPS line-interactive series for small-commercial CCTV and IT, up to Symmetra modular online double-conversion for enterprise and data-centre installs. APC has the strongest parts availability in Australia (a real factor when a battery needs replacement five years in), and the broadest installer familiarity — most electrical contractors and IT integrators have specified, installed and serviced APC for decades. Default recommendation for most CCTV installs unless there's a specific reason to choose otherwise.

Security Cameras Australia stocks the APC range across Back-UPS, Smart-UPS and selected larger units. Every UPS is genuine Australian stock with full manufacturer warranty.

If you're researching what size or topology of UPS you need, the main UPS collection walks through the four sizing decisions (capacity, run-time, topology, phase) in plain language. Or compare APC with Eaton (enterprise / data-centre) and PowerShield (Australian-engineered).

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The APC range — three product families

  • Back-UPS (BX, BR series) — standby topology. The entry-level home and small-office line. Basic surge protection plus battery switch on mains failure. Switch time around 5–10 ms. Typical sizes 500 VA / 300 W up to 1500 VA / 900 W. Fine for a home NVR + modem + small network switch where the budget is tight.
  • Smart-UPS (SMT, SMC, SRT series) — line-interactive topology with automatic voltage regulation. The standard CCTV and small-commercial choice. Pure sine wave output, AVR for sustained voltage issues, network management card option for SNMP monitoring. Typical sizes 750 VA / 500 W through 3,000 VA / 2,700 W and up. Default APC recommendation for any SMB or commercial CCTV install.
  • Symmetra (SY, SYH series) — online double-conversion, modular. Fully isolates the load from mains, zero switch time, hot-swappable battery and power modules for redundancy. The choice for enterprise data centres, medical, broadcast and any site where switch time is unacceptable. Sizes from 4 kVA to 96+ kVA.

Why APC for most CCTV installs

Three reasons APC is the global default and our standard recommendation unless there's a specific reason to pick otherwise:

  • Parts availability in Australia. When a battery needs replacement at year 4–5 (and it will — see battery replacement reality), APC parts are stocked locally across multiple distributors. Less common brands sometimes mean waiting for international shipping or paying premium for AU stock.
  • Installer familiarity. Most Australian electrical contractors and IT integrators have specified, installed and serviced APC for years. If you ever bring in a third party — for an install, a service call, or a battery swap — they'll be familiar with the platform.
  • The broadest range. From a $200 Back-UPS for a home NVR to a 96 kVA Symmetra for a data centre, APC covers every install size with consistent management software (PowerChute) and matching network management cards across the upper tiers.

Which APC for which install?

  • Home NVR + modem + cable router (load 100–200 W, brief outages only) — Back-UPS BX1600MI or similar in the 1,200–1,600 VA range with 5–10 minute run-time.
  • Small-commercial 8-channel NVR + PoE switch + modem (load 200–400 W) — Smart-UPS SMC1500I or SMT1500I in the 1,500 VA / 900 W range with AVR and SNMP option.
  • Mid-commercial 16-channel NVR + multiple PoE switches + network gear (load 500–1,000 W) — Smart-UPS SMT2200I or SMT3000I with extended run-time options.
  • Enterprise CCTV + servers + comms — Smart-UPS SRT 5000+ VA on the upper line-interactive end, or Symmetra modular online double-conversion if switch time matters.

Run-time on all of the above depends on actual load and battery state — talk to us with your equipment list and we'll spec to your run-time requirement.

APC PowerChute management software

All Smart-UPS and Symmetra units (and most current Back-UPS) include PowerChute Business Edition or Personal Edition free software. PowerChute monitors UPS state — battery health, runtime remaining, load — and triggers graceful shutdown of connected equipment when battery state is critical. Connection via USB on smaller units, network card (SNMP / Modbus) on larger ones. Useful for sites where unattended shutdown matters.

Why buy from Security Cameras Australia

  • Authorised Australian dealer — genuine APC stock with full Schneider Electric manufacturer warranty.
  • Expert sizing support — pre-purchase advice on capacity, run-time and topology against your actual load.
  • Price-match guarantee — competitive pricing across the APC range.
  • Free shipping — fast Australian delivery.
  • 30-day returns — satisfaction guarantee on the standard range.

Shop the APC UPS range

Browse the APC range below, or talk to us about specifying a unit. If you're not sure which APC series fits your install, the main UPS sizing guide covers the four decisions in plain language.

Frequently Asked Questions about APC UPS

Back-UPS, Smart-UPS or Symmetra — which APC series do I need?

Back-UPS (standby) for home NVR + modem at the entry-level — basic surge protection plus battery switch on mains failure. Smart-UPS (line-interactive) for the standard CCTV and small-commercial recommendation — adds automatic voltage regulation for sustained voltage issues, plus pure sine wave output and SNMP-management option. Symmetra (online double-conversion) for enterprise, data-centre, medical and broadcast — fully isolates the load from mains, zero switch time, hot-swappable modules.

Why is APC usually the default UPS recommendation?

Three reasons. Parts availability in Australia is the strongest — when a battery needs replacement at year 4–5, APC parts are stocked locally across multiple distributors, while less common brands sometimes mean waiting for international shipping. Installer familiarity is the second — most Australian electrical contractors and IT integrators have specified and serviced APC for years. The broadest range is the third — from a $200 Back-UPS to a 96 kVA Symmetra, APC covers every install size with consistent management software.

What's the APC PowerChute software for?

PowerChute monitors UPS state (battery health, runtime remaining, load) and triggers graceful shutdown of connected equipment when battery state hits critical. Connection is via USB on smaller units and network management card (SNMP / Modbus) on larger Smart-UPS and Symmetra models. Useful for sites where unattended shutdown matters — particularly servers, NVRs writing to disk, and any equipment where a hard power-off can corrupt data.

Does APC use pure sine wave output?

Smart-UPS and Symmetra are pure sine wave — the clean output that sensitive electronics (NVRs, servers, network gear with power-factor-corrected PSUs) need. Back-UPS at the entry-level uses stepped or modified sine wave — fine for basic surge and battery backup on consumer electronics but not the right choice if your NVR or switch needs pure sine wave. The product spec for each model lists the output waveform.

Can I daisy-chain extra battery packs onto an APC UPS for longer run-time?

Yes on Smart-UPS SMT / SRT models and Symmetra — they support external battery packs (XLBP, additional cabinet modules on Symmetra) that extend run-time at full load from the standard 5–15 minutes out to 30–90+ minutes. The trade-off is cost, cabinet space and weight — extended batteries are physically large and add meaningful expense. Spec what you actually need; extended run-time is rarely required for typical CCTV installs.
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