Buying
What Drives the Cost of a 20 kW Three-Phase UPS in Canada
Four things set the cost of a 20 kW three-phase UPS: the unit class (a compact unit with internal batteries or a modular frame), the battery runtime, the redundancy (N or N+1) and the installation. We quote each project: send your load, voltage and runtime target and you get a written quote within 4 business hours.
Unit class: compact or modular
A compact unit is the budget floor at 20 kW. The APC Easy UPS 3S 20 kVA at 208 V is an example: one enclosure, internal batteries, no modules to add. A modular frame such as the APC Galaxy VS 20 kW, or a transformer-based unit such as the Tripp Lite (Eaton) SmartOnline S3M with a 480 V input/output transformer, costs more and leaves room to grow.
A modular N+1 configuration carries one module more than the load needs, so a module can fail or be serviced while the load stays protected. Ask every supplier for the N+1 configuration explicitly, not the frame alone.
What the unit price leaves out
- Batteries: a runtime-matched battery bank is the largest addition. For long-autonomy sites it can cost more than the UPS itself.
- Startup: factory or certified startup, required by most manufacturers for the warranty.
- Electrical installation: distance to the panel, conductors, and a maintenance bypass if the switchgear has none.
- Floor and space: battery cabinets are heavy; check the floor loading.
- Maintenance: preventive maintenance over five years, which is the fair basis for comparing offers.
How to get a quote
Send four facts: the load in kW, the input voltage (208, 480 or 600 V), the runtime target and the redundancy (N or N+1). Add the site constraints if you know them. You get a written quote within 4 business hours, with the unit, batteries, startup and installation itemized. We supply every major brand, install across Canada and service what we install.
Current 20 kW units are listed among the 20 kW three-phase units online, and the five-year maintenance that belongs in the comparison is described on the UPS preventive maintenance page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 20 kW three-phase UPS cost in Canada?
It depends on the unit class, the battery runtime, the redundancy and the installation, so each project is quoted. Send your load, voltage and runtime target and you get a written quote within 4 business hours.
What does installation and startup add?
Startup by a certified technician, the electrical work (distance to the panel, a maintenance bypass if the switchgear has none) and the floor loading for battery cabinets. Each one is site-specific and itemized in the quote.
Is a modular 20 kW UPS worth the extra cost?
When the load will grow or must stay protected during service, yes: a modular frame in N+1 keeps the load on the inverter while one module is replaced. For a fixed load with planned shutdowns, a compact unit is enough.
Where can I buy a three-phase UPS in Canada without going through the manufacturer?
Specialist suppliers such as ThreePhaseUPS sell and engineer all major brands across Canada, with installation and long-term service. IT distributors also sell hardware but do not engineer runtime or redundancy.
Related guides and systems
Request a system quote
Tell us the application and we reply within 4 business hours with the sizing, the right system, the installation and a written quote. Three-phase installs usually need a licensed electrician, so let us know if you have one.
Brand names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the equipment we service. We are not the manufacturer and are not affiliated with it.