• Electrical (C-10) License:

    1001575

APC Announces Single-Phase Symmetra Product Line End-of-Life

American Power Conversion (APC) has officially announced the End of Life (EOL) status for its Single Phase Symmetra product line of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems.

The Symmetra LX and Symmetra RM series will reach EOL on December 31st, 2024. APC has committed to supporting these systems until then or until parts inventories are depleted, whichever occurs first.

Affected Systems


The Symmetra LX series, designed for small to medium-sized data centers, has been a reliable workhorse in the industry for years. With scalable power and runtime, N+1 redundancy, and the ability to parallel up to two units, it has provided robust power protection for countless organizations.


The system typically uses Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries with hot-swappable battery modules for easy maintenance.


The Symmetra RM series, optimized for rack-mounted installations, offers similar features in a more compact form factor. It provides scalable power, runtime, and redundancy in a rack-optimized design, making it ideal for critical servers and network devices in space-constrained environments.


What Does This Mean for Symmetra Users?


The EOL announcement has varying implications depending on the age of currently deployed systems.
For units less than five years old, users should continue regular maintenance schedules while beginning to budget for eventual replacement. Systems between 5-10 years old require more urgent action, with accelerated replacement planning and comprehensive health checks recommended.


For those with systems over 10 years old, immediate replacement planning is crucial to mitigate increasing failure risks.


The timing of replacement depends on several factors. Systems less than five years old don’t require immediate action, but planning should begin. For 5-10 year old units, consider replacement within the next 12-24 months. Replace systems over 10 years old as soon as the budget allows to avoid potential failures and parts shortages.


What Unit is Replacing the Symmetra LX?


APC has announced the Smart-UPS Modular Ultra as the official successor to the Symmetra LX. This new system boasts significant improvements, including standard Lithium-ion batteries with an 8-10 year design life.


The Smart-UPS Modular Ultra will be available in 5kVA, 10kVA, 15kVA, and 20kVA configurations, with power modules rated at 5kVA instead of the previous 4kVA.


Are There Other Options on the Market?


Several alternatives from competing manufacturers are available:

● The Xtreme Power M90S Series offers a modular design with hot-swappable power modules and batteries.
● Eaton’s 9PXM Series provides flexible power protection with advanced management features.
● The Vertiv APS Series offers efficient, reliable power protection in a compact footprint ideal for edge computing and distributed IT environments.

Moving Forward

When evaluating replacement options, consider these factors:

● Input voltage range
● Output voltage regulation
● Overload capacity
● Energy efficiency


Modern systems often target 94%+ efficiency at varying loads to optimize operational expenses.
Advanced features like individual battery monitoring and enhanced cybersecurity measures, including support for secure protocols and regular firmware updates, are becoming standard in high-end UPS systems.


The EOL of the Single Phase Symmetra series marks a significant transition in the UPS landscape. While it presents challenges in terms of planning and potential capital investment, it also offers an opportunity to upgrade to more efficient, reliable, and feature-rich power protection systems.


Organizations now have the chance to reassess their power needs and potentially leapfrog to more advanced technologies that can better support their evolving infrastructure requirements.


Visit Lorbel today to receive personalized guidance on navigating this transition and to explore the best options for your specific infrastructure needs. Schedule a consultation with our UPS experts.


Not sure where to begin? Talk to one of our experts today.