Schneider Electric AP9640 APC Network Management Card 3 (NMC3)

AP9640 Network Management Card 3 (NMC3) for APC UPS

The AP9640 is the APC Network Management Card 3, a plug-in card that gives a compatible UPS its own network connection for remote monitoring and management. The datasheet describes it as a device for monitoring and management with secure remote access, a 10/100/1000BASE-T network interface and a micro-USB cable in the box. Seven Star LLC supplies the AP9640 in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier based in Muscat.

A UPS without a network card can only warn locally. With the AP9640 installed, the UPS can be viewed and configured over the network, send notifications and report to monitoring software. The key question when ordering is compatibility: the datasheet lists the families the card is intended for, and the list is reproduced below.

What the AP9640 adds beyond a basic UPS interface

Compared with a simple contact or serial interface, an NMC gives each UPS an address on the LAN. The card in this page is the third generation, and the datasheet places it across single-phase and three-phase UPS ranges, from Smart-UPS to Galaxy and Symmetra families. That breadth is useful for a site with mixed UPS sizes because one management approach can cover them.

AP9640 technical specifications

UPS families supported by the AP9640

The datasheet names the following UPS ranges under range compatibility. Always confirm the exact UPS model and its card slot before ordering, because the list is by family and not by individual part number.

• Galaxy VM
• Galaxy VX
• Symmetra PX
• Easy UPS 3M Advanced
• Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular
• Galaxy PX
• Galaxy 3L Pro
• Smart-UPS
• Smart-UPS Ultra
• Smart-UPS Online
• Smart-UPS Modular Ultra
• Smart-UPS Battery Systems
• Back-UPS SX3
• Refurbished Smart-UPS

Protocols and security features of the AP9640

For management access the datasheet lists these communication protocols: HTTP over secure sockets; Layer (HTTPS); SSH; FTP; HTTP; SNMP; DHCP; BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol); TCP/IP. Authentication options are Radius; Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Having HTTPS and SSH alongside plain HTTP and FTP means the card can be run in a secured mode, but the unsecured services should be disabled in line with your network policy.

Management traffic runs over a 10/100/1000BASE-T interface. A micro-USB cable is provided for local configuration, which is the usual way to give the card its first IP settings before it joins the network.

EMC and approval information for the AP9640

Standards listed include EN 55024, BS EN 55024, EN 61000-4-2, BS EN 61000-4-2, EN 61000-4-3, BS EN 61000-4-3 and others in the EN 55024, EN 61000-4 and EN 62040-2 groups, with certifications FCC Class A; AS/NZS; AS/NZS 3548 (C-Tick) class A; FCC part 15 class A; GOST; UK PSTI. These are the figures on the datasheet; for any project that needs a specific approval document, tell us the requirement and we will confirm what is available.

Selection checklist for the AP9640

• UPS family and model are on the compatibility list.
• The UPS has a free card slot and is not already fitted with a management card.
• Network port speed is 10/100/1000 Mbit/s copper.
• Security policy: which protocols may stay enabled.
• Monitoring software or building-management system that will read the card.
• Operating environment: -5 to 45 °C, 0 to 95 % relative humidity.

Installation and commissioning of the AP9640

Fit the card in the UPS accessory slot according to the installation manual supplied in the box, connect the network cable and use the micro-USB cable for first-time setup. Assign a fixed address or reserve one on the DHCP server so the device always comes up at a known address.

After configuration, change the default credentials, set up e-mail or SNMP notifications and run a test alarm. Keep the configuration backup with the site documentation so a replacement card can be set up quickly.

Plan the network side as carefully as the electrical side: put the card on a management VLAN where possible, restrict access to the monitoring station, and document the address, community strings or accounts in the site records. A card that is reachable from anywhere on a flat network is a security risk, however useful the data is.

Where the AP9640 is used in Oman and the GCC

Remote UPS visibility matters in unmanned sites: telecom rooms, pumping stations, substations, data rooms and branch offices spread across Oman. Battery condition, input quality and load level reported over the network let operators plan site visits instead of reacting to a failed bypass or battery. Mind the operating range of -5 to 45 °C: UPS rooms in hot locations need adequate cooling for both the UPS and the card.

A common arrangement is one monitoring system collecting every UPS card across a company, with e-mail alerts to the maintenance team for on-battery events. The same cards can feed a building-management or SCADA system through SNMP, which the datasheet lists among supported protocols.

Documents and quotation

The official Schneider Electric datasheet of this unit is attached on this page for download, so every figure above can be checked against the source.

To request a quotation, send us the part number AP9640, the quantity and the delivery location through the RFQ form. Seven Star LLC replies with availability and lead time.