The Tripp Lite UPS Lineup: SMART, SmartPro, OmniSmart, SmartOnline and More

Tripp Lite was a long-standing independent, Chicago-based maker of UPS systems, surge protectors, PDUs and rack gear before Eaton acquired it in 2021. Since then, the brand has increasingly appeared as "Tripp Lite by Eaton", and its website and support resources have moved under Eaton. The UPS families themselves remain recognizably Tripp Lite. This page maps those families at a level that stays useful across generations. Capacities, runtimes, prices and warranty terms vary, so treat the spec sheet for the exact part number as the final word.

What the Eaton acquisition means for buyers

For most buyers today, very little changes at the point of purchase. Tripp Lite part numbers, PowerAlert software and Tripp Lite network cards continue to exist alongside Eaton's own 5 and 9 series, IPP/IPM software and Network-M cards. The two ecosystems are not interchangeable: a Tripp Lite network card does not fit an Eaton 5PX, and vice versa.

What happens next is genuinely unknown from the outside. Families may be merged, renamed, or narrowed so that Tripp Lite and Eaton models stop overlapping. If you are buying for a deployment you expect to run for many years, check the current availability of replacement batteries, network cards and software updates for the specific model, which is good practice with any brand. For Eaton's own range, see the Eaton UPS lineup.

The families

Tripp Lite's part numbers are dense but informative. The leading letters indicate the family (for example, SU for SmartOnline), followed by a capacity figure and suffix letters for features like LCD, rack height, extended-run support or network capability. Our guide to reading UPS model numbers covers how to decode these, but the product page is authoritative.

Standby: BC Personal and Internet Office

These are Tripp Lite's entry-level standby units. The load runs on filtered utility power, and the unit switches to battery only when the input fails or leaves its acceptable range. They are well suited to modems, routers, ONTs, a small PC or a home phone base station. Expect outlets split between battery-backed and surge-only groups, and limited or no software integration on the smallest models. See UPS for modem and router for that use case in depth.

Line-interactive: OmniSmart, SMART and SmartPro

OmniSmart

OmniSmart is a compact line-interactive family with automatic voltage regulation. Its appeal is footprint: a lot of capacity in a small tower. Many OmniSmart models output a PWM sine wave on battery, which Tripp Lite distinguishes from a true pure sine wave. That is fine for most electronics, but check compatibility with large active PFC power supplies; see active PFC power supplies.

SMART

SMART is a broad line-interactive family spanning desktop towers with LCDs through 1U and 2U rackmount and rack/tower convertible models. The waveform is not uniform across the family: many towers output PWM sine, while other models are pure sine. Many rack models offer USB and serial ports, and some support extended-run battery packs or an internal network card slot.

SmartPro

SmartPro is the higher-end line-interactive tier, aimed at servers and network equipment. Many SmartPro models output pure sine wave, offer more configuration and outlet control, and include a slot for a network card. If you want Tripp Lite line-interactive with pure sine, SmartPro is usually the family to search first, then confirm the waveform per model.

Online: SmartOnline

SmartOnline units, identifiable by the SU prefix, are online double conversion. The inverter powers the load continuously, so there is no transfer time and the output is regulated against sags, swells and generator frequency drift. The trade-offs are the same as for any online UPS: more heat, continuously running fans, higher standby losses, and, on larger models, hardwired input or high-current plugs such as NEMA L5-30 or L6-30. See line-interactive vs online and UPS outlets and plugs.

A buyer's checklist for picking within the lineup

1. Measure the load in watts. Use a plug-in meter; see how to measure power draw. Size against the watt rating with headroom.
2. Decide topology from your power quality. Standby for small, simple loads; line-interactive (OmniSmart, SMART, SmartPro) for most homes and offices; SmartOnline for bad power or generators.
3. Confirm the waveform. Look for "pure sine wave" if the load includes active PFC power supplies drawing a significant share of capacity.
4. Count battery-backed outlets. Surge-only outlets do not stay on during an outage.
5. Plan management. One PC: USB and PowerAlert Local. Several hosts: a model with a network card slot plus WEBCARDLX, or PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent.
6. Check voltage and plug. Tripp Lite sells 120 V North American models and 230 V international variants with different input plugs and outlets. Do not assume a part number is the same across regions.
7. Check the battery part and warranty terms. See the battery section below and UPS warranties and equipment guarantees.

PowerAlert software and WEBCARDLX

Tripp Lite's software family is PowerAlert, which has several components that have evolved over time:

• PowerAlert Local: installed on the computer connected to the UPS by USB or serial. It monitors the UPS, logs events and performs shutdown.
• PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent: installed on other computers and virtualization hosts that need to shut down when a monitored UPS goes on battery.
• PowerAlert Device Manager: the management interface used on network cards and appliances, with monitoring for multiple devices in some configurations.

The WEBCARDLX is Tripp Lite's network management card for UPS models with a compatible internal slot. It adds a web interface, SNMP, email alerts and network-triggered shutdown. Supported UPS models and features vary by card firmware and hardware revision, so check Tripp Lite's compatibility list. For what a network card does in general, see UPS network management cards and SNMP; for the wider software landscape, see the UPS software overview.

Many Tripp Lite USB models are also recognized as HID power devices by operating systems and NAS platforms, and many are supported by Network UPS Tools. Some older models use protocols that need a specific NUT driver; check the NUT compatibility list.

Battery replacement notes

Tripp Lite sells replacement battery cartridges and kits under its own part numbers, typically with an "RBC" style naming scheme, and lists the correct one for each UPS model. Some kits are pre-wired multi-battery assemblies; smaller units take a single 12 V VRLA block.

• Many SmartPro and SmartOnline rack models support hot-swappable batteries; many desktop standby and OmniSmart units require shutdown. Read the manual first.
• Use the specified kit, or matched batteries of identical type, voltage, capacity, terminals and dimensions. See OEM vs aftermarket UPS batteries.
• Recycle the old batteries; lead-acid batteries are widely accepted at retailers and recycling centers. See UPS battery recycling.

Things that trip Tripp Lite buyers up

• "PWM sine" read as pure sine, covered above. This is the most common mismatch with gaming PCs.
• Surge-only outlets. Plug critical gear into the battery-backed group, and keep laser printers and heaters off battery outlets entirely.
• Brand confusion after the acquisition. Search results mix Tripp Lite, Tripp Lite by Eaton and Eaton product pages. Use the exact part number when looking up manuals, batteries and firmware.
• Network card assumptions. A rack model does not automatically have a card slot, and WEBCARDLX compatibility is model-specific.
• Regional variants. 120 V and 230 V models differ in plug, outlets and sometimes part numbers.