Download document () of 20

Lowering total cost of ownership with modular UPSs

You can't predict the future, but with a modular UPS you can plan for it. Be ready to meet your data center's expansion needs at a lower total cost of ownership than traditional UPSs with a modular rackmount UPS. 
You don't know how your business needs will change over time and trying to deploy a UPS today that will still support your business requirements in five or ten years is a wasterful exercise in over-engineering. Instead select a modular UPS that will save you budget and time every step of the way, from designing the UPS system to deploying it, and adding capacity down the road. 

Modular UPS products: Are they more expensive?

Eaton offers two modular rackmount UPS system: the Eaton BladeUPS and 9PXM. Both are best-in-class modular rackmount UPS solutions designed for customers deploying centralized solutions in IT rooms, micro data centers and edge facilities.

These UPS models have plenty of characteristics that set them apart from traditional UPS systems:

  • Redundant building blocks
  • Pay-as-you-grow infrastructure
  • Self-service capability
  • Rackmount form factors
  • Flexible distribution options

With all of these capabilities, the common perception is that modular rackmount UPS products cost more than traditional UPSs.

But are they really more expensive? Let’s break down the costs*.

BladeUPS 36kW vs. traditional UPS

modular-ups-tco1.jpg

When comparing the installation costs and cost to purchase the system for a 36 kW preconfigured BladeUPS system versus a traditional UPS system of the same size, both solutions are at roughly the same price point.

Installation cost breakdown: Average 36 kW UPS

modular-ups-tco2.jpg

A BladeUPS preconfigured system saves about 50 percent on initial installation costs. The biggest savings comes from drastically cutting down on billable contractor hours due to BladeUPS' plug-and-play design. 

"It's a plug-and-play machine. If you need to add another power module, you just put it in like you would put a tape into a VCR or a CD into a CD ROM. You just throw it in and it automatically discovers itself. It's easy. When upgrading, you are able to increase the power capacity of the existing hardware until you get to 60kW. They're 12kW modules, so there are five of them. You can increase them by 12kW at a time. It keeps your operations costs down until you need it."

Matt Yorston, Data Center Manger at a consultancy 

Read more

IT Central Station reviews

Total UPS cost through year 5+

modular-ups-tco3.jpg

Before adding additional capacity (kVA), the total for a BladeUPS system is $32,950 compared to $35,500 for a traditional UPS system. 

Once your system needs grow and additional capacity is required, the cost savings that come from the building block style of a modular UPS make it the clear choice over a traditional UPS system.

*Costs are in USD. The costs listed are an example and actual costs may vary.

Is a modular UPS the right choice for your IT environment?

Eaton's UPS experts are available to help you design a modular UPS system that will grow with your needs.