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Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up, 300W Line-Interactive, 1U Rackmount, Network Card Options, USB, DB9 Serial, 2 & 3 Year Warranties, $250,000 Insurance (SMART500RT1U)
TRIPP LITE

Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up

Bottom line: The Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up: Only 11.8 in deep and 1U — fits shallow 2-post and 4-post racks; main trade-off: 300W usable ceiling from 500VA — too small for multi-drive servers.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Only 11.8 in deep and 1U — fits shallow 2-post and 4-post racks
  • ✓ AVR holds 120V output through brownouts down to 90V without battery drain
  • ✓ 6 NEMA 5-15R outlets, one individually switchable for remote load shedding
  • ✓ USB, RS232 and EPO ports plus optional SNMP/Web card for remote monitoring
  • ✓ Watchdog support triggers OS or hard reboots on unresponsive remote gear

Cons

  • ✗ 300W usable ceiling from 500VA — too small for multi-drive servers
  • ✗ Runtime is short: 14.6 min at half load, 3.2 min at full load
  • ✗ SNMP/Web management card is an extra-cost option, not included
  • ✗ Line-interactive, not double-conversion, so no true sine wave under all conditions

Manufacturer description

Tripp Lite's SMART500RT1U intelligent, line-interactive rack/tower uninterruptible power supply prevents data loss, downtime and equipment damage due to power outages, voltage fluctuations and transient surges. Requires only one rack space (1U) in a 2 or 4 post rack, with included accessories for upright tower placement. Large internal batteries offer 14.6 minutes half load runtime and 3.2 minutes at full load. Maintains regulated 120V nominal output without using battery power during brownouts as low as 90V.500VA/300 watt power handling capability is compatible with networking, telecom and…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the power protection category. TRIPP LITE's power protection lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for power protection of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • 500VA line interactive 1U rack/tower UPS. Installed depth of only 11.8 inches. USB, RS232, EPO and optional SNMP/Web card
  • 6 NEMA 5 15R outlets 6 UPS & 1 surge only, 1 outlet is individually controllable for load shedding
  • Supports Watchdog application, OS and hard reboot restart options for remote applications
  • Included PowerAlert software for complete network power management and control
  • Advanced Automatic Voltage Regulation AVR corrects brownouts without draining battery

Full Specifications

BrandTRIPP LITE
ColorCREAM
Runtime3 minutes
Voltage120 Volts
Wattage300 watts
Amperage4.2
Unit Count1.0 Count
Form FactorRack/Tower
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberSMART500RT1U
Input Voltage120 Volts (AC)
Maximum Power300 Watts
Built-In MediaMounting Hardware, Cabling for USB & DB9 Monitoring and EPO Switching, Poweralert Unattended Shutdown and UPS or Power Monitoring Software, Instruction Manual
Connector TypeNEMA 5-15R
Item Type NameUPS
Output Current2.5 Amps
Output Voltage120 Volts (AC)
Output Wattage300 Watts
Item Dimensions11.26 x 17.32 x 1.73 inches
Mfr Part NumberSMART500RT1U
Full listing titleTripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up, 300W Line-Interactive, 1U Rackmount, Network Card Options, USB, DB9 Serial, 2 & 3 Year Warranties, $250,000 Insurance (SMART500RT1U)

Ready to buy?

Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up, 300W Line-Interactive, 1U Rackmount, Network Card Options, USB, DB9 Serial, 2 & 3 Year Warranties, $250,000 Insurance (SMART500RT1U) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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Tripp Lite 500VA Smart UPS Back Up, 300W Line-Interactive, 1U Rackmount, Network Card Options, USB, DB9 Serial, 2 & 3 Year Warranties, $250,000 Insurance (SMART500RT1U)
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