At a Glance. Eaton's UPS portfolio covers four power-architecture tiers: 93PX — online double-conversion, three-phase, for data centres and process control; 9SX — online / line-interactive, single-phase, for IT rooms and critical control cabinets; 5PX — line-interactive with sine-wave output, for network racks and small server rooms; SMART series — standby / AVR, for desktop PCs, POS and edge devices. The right topology is set by the load sensitivity, not by the budget.
1. Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Series | Topology | Power Range | Phase | Typical Load | Stock Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93PX | Online double-conversion (VFI) | 10–80 kW | 3 / 3 | Data centre, process automation | 93PX20KHW |
| 9SX | Online (VFI) / Line-interactive | 700 VA – 6 kVA | 1 / 1 | IT rack, control cabinet | 9SX1000I-AU |
| 5PX | Line-interactive (VI) sine-wave | 1–3 kVA | 1 / 1 | Network rack, small server | Project-specific |
| SMART1500TSU | Standby / AVR | 1.5 kVA | 1 / 1 | Desktop PC, POS, edge gateway | SMART1500TSU |
| 9106 series (e.g. 9106-C45601) | Online / Industrial UPS | 5–20 kVA | 3 / 3 (industrial) | Switchgear, substation auxiliaries | 9106-C45601, 9106-C60301, 9106-C55302, 9106-A25303 |
| 1031620 | Eaton spare / option card / module | — | — | Network card, battery module, rail kit | 1031620 |
2. Decision Guide — Which Eaton UPS Fits Your Application?
- Data centre row or large process line, three-phase 400 V, need 20–80 kW with redundancy? → 93PX (93PX20KHW) in N+1.
- Single-phase IT rack or control cabinet, 1–6 kVA, sensitive to harmonics / dips? → 9SX (9SX1000I-AU).
- Network rack with switches and small servers, 1–3 kVA, budget-aware? → 5PX line-interactive.
- Desktop PC, POS, edge device, short runtime for safe shutdown? → SMART standby (SMART1500TSU).
- Substation / switchgear auxiliaries, three-phase industrial environment? → 9106 industrial UPS family (9106-C45601 or 9106-C60301).
- Need remote management / environmental sensors? → Add a Network-MS card (1031620) to any 5PX / 9SX / 93PX.
3. Topology Trade-offs Explained
| Aspect | Online Double-Conversion (VFI) | Line-Interactive (VI) | Standby (VFD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output regulation | Best (always regenerated) | Good (tap-changer) | Basic (pass-through on mains) |
| Transfer time to battery | 0 ms (always on inverter) | 2–4 ms | 4–10 ms |
| Surge / spike protection | Excellent | Good | Limited |
| Efficiency (full load) | 93–96 % | 96–98 % | 98 % |
| Cost / kVA | High | Mid | Low |
| Suitable for | Sensitive IT, process, medical | PCs, network | Non-critical, edge |
4. Sizing — Quick Rule
Pick UPS kVA = (Σ load kVA) × 1.2 derating. A 9SX 1 kVA comfortably backs up a small IT rack (8 × switches, 1 × server, 1 × NAS). For 20 kW server rooms, step up to 93PX in the 20–30 kW band and configure N+1 with two units in parallel.
5. Quick FAQ
Q: 9SX vs 5PX — what's the real difference?
9SX is double-conversion on-line (VFI) — output is regenerated constantly. 5PX is line-interactive (VI) — transfers to inverter only on mains failure. For sensitive servers and IT equipment, 9SX is the safer choice.
Q: Can 93PX run in parallel without an external bypass?
Yes, up to 4 units in parallel with shared static-bypass.
Q: Is SMART1500TSU pure sine wave?
SMART1500 series are stepped-approximation; for sine-wave loads (some APFC PSUs), step up to 5PX or 9SX.
6. Related Products in Stock
- Eaton 93PX20KHW — 20 kW three-phase online UPS.
- Eaton 9SX1000I-AU — 1 kVA single-phase online UPS.
- Eaton SMART1500TSU — 1.5 kVA standby UPS.
- Eaton 9106-C45601 — Industrial UPS for switchgear.
- Eaton 9106-C60301 — Industrial UPS module.
- Eaton 9106-C55302 — Industrial UPS module.
- Eaton 9106-A25303 — Industrial UPS controller.
- Eaton 1031620 — Network-MS management card.
Need help sizing the right Eaton UPS — online, line-interactive or standby — for your load and runtime target? Request a quote with your load kVA, desired autonomy minutes and any redundancy requirement; we will select and pre-configure the right Eaton UPS.