APC SMART UPS 1500VA SMT1500I 220V to 110V

[extacy69]

Hi, I bought a SMART-UPS 1500VA when I was in the Middle East, now that I have finished my contract me and my family migrated to the USA, May I know if I can still use the UPS that I bought and plug it here in North America with a 110v outlet?

[Teken]

Sadly, there isn’t an easy way to accomplish this request without a large investment of time and resources. You have several problems to address and understand:

Input Voltage: The UPS input voltage is for 220 / 240 VAC and in North America it’s 120 / 240 VAC. People have tried to use a step up transformer / variac to satisfy the required input voltage with some success.

You could wire a dedicated 240 VAC circuit too if you’re serious.

Frequency: You’re fine here as the unit can auto adjust to output 50/60 Hz.

Output Voltage: The UPS outputs 220 VAC not 120 VAC at the rear terminals. As stated up above some crafty people have used step up / step down transformers to output the required voltage.

Appliances: Everything in NA that isn’t commercial equipment requires 120 / 240 VAC. 

It would be a lot easier and safer to just sell the existing unit and use the proceeds to buy the correct North American UPS model. 

NOTE: If you decide to purchase another unit. You should find equipment that provides multi voltage input / frequency. This would help in the future should you need to move back to another country and not have to worry about replacing hardware or cobbling things together.

Keep in mind the vast majority of the multi voltage units are large enterprise units. In the past APC sold several 2U units that were multi voltage for both input / output. 

If used hardware isn’t a problem for you. I suggest you look on eBay to see what is currently available for sale. 👍 You just might find the same equipment I referenced up above. This would save you in kludging something together that isn’t safe or cUL, CSA, CE, certified. 

Let us know what you decide to do either way! 🤟