What a 5kVA UPS is for
A 5kVA UPS (around 5 kW at unity power factor) suits small power protection applications — a home office, a small server, a few workstations, EPOS or a small network cabinet. It is the entry point for online double-conversion protection of genuine IT loads, where a line-interactive unit is no longer enough.
Rack or tower
5kVA UPS are available as tower units (freestanding, quiet, good for offices) or rack/tower convertibles (2U–6U, for comms cabinets). Some models do both. Choose tower for an office floor or under-desk; rack for a server cabinet where space is at a premium.
Runtime and batteries
Expect 4–15 minutes at full load on internal batteries, enough for a graceful shutdown or a brief outage. Extended Runtime versions and external battery packs extend this to an hour. VRLA batteries need replacing around every 5 years; lithium options last longer. See our battery guide.
Choosing a model
For 5kVA, the Riello Sentinel Dual (SDU) and Sentinel Tower (STW) are strong online choices — compact, quiet (under 45 dBA), parallelable for redundancy, and unity power factor. Use the UPS Finder for an engineer-led recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
What can a 5kVA UPS power?
A small server, several workstations, network/phone equipment or EPOS — roughly 5 kW of critical load. It is ideal for small offices and edge cabinets.
How long will a 5kVA UPS run at full load?
Typically 4–15 minutes on internal batteries, extendable to an hour with external battery packs.
Is 5kVA single or three-phase?
5kVA UPS are almost always single-phase. Three-phase becomes standard above roughly 10–20 kVA.
Rack or tower 5kVA UPS?
Tower for offices (quieter, freestanding); rack for server cabinets. Many models are convertible between the two.