Is it safe to change the plug on a Smart-UPS 2200 or 3000 unit for a standard 15 amp or 20 amp plug instead of the 20 amp or 30 amp twist lock plug?
A. We highly recommend wiring the building with the proper plug for the UPS unit, but under certain conditions, it may be safe to use a smaller plug. First, and most importantly, the building electrical circuit must have a circuit breaker that is rated at the same or less amperage than the plug’s rating. For example, if an existing 20 amp plug is changed for a 15 amp plug, the circuit breaker for the circuit of the UPS must be a 15 amp breaker. For a 20 amp plug, the breaker must be 20 amp. Second, the UPS must not have a load which is too large for the plug size. For example, the national electrical code requires that a unit with a 15 amp plug cannot exceed 12 amps which includes both the load plugged into the UPS and the internal UPS charger. If there is any question if the maximum current will exceed the limit of a smaller plug, do not use a smaller plug. In order to utilize the full capacity of larger UPS units, the default plug must be used (20 amp for a 2200 VA unit and 30 amp fo
