APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK 500VA 300W UPS – 8 UK Outlets, USB Charging & Surge Protection

The APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK is a compact 500VA / 300W uninterruptible power supply designed to protect home-office computers, networking equipment, broadband routers, gaming systems and other compatible electronics against unexpected mains power failures, voltage disturbances and electrical surges.

Designed specifically for UK installations, the BE500G2-UK provides eight British BS1363A outlets. Six outlets provide both battery backup and surge protection, allowing connected equipment to continue operating temporarily during a power cut, while two additional outlets provide surge protection for equipment that does not require battery runtime.

The UPS also includes a USB Type-A charging port rated at 5V DC / 2.4A, 310-joule AC surge protection, data-line surge protection, LED status indicators, audible alarms and support for APC PowerChute Serial Shutdown software through its UPS data connection.

Quick answer: The APC BE500G2-UK is a 500VA / 300W Standby UPS with eight UK sockets: six battery-backup + surge outlets and two surge-only outlets. It provides temporary battery power during mains failures, 310J surge protection, a 5V/2.4A USB charging port, user-replaceable battery support and APC PowerChute compatibility for supported computers.

Key Features of the APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK

• 500VA / 300W UPS capacity
• APC Back-UPS series
• Model: BE500G2-UK
• Designed for UK 220–240V mains systems
• 8 × British BS1363A UK outlets
• 6 × battery-backup + surge-protected outlets
• 2 × surge-protection-only outlets
• 310J surge energy rating
• Full-time EMI/RFI filtering
• Standby / Offline UPS topology
• Stepped approximation to a sine-wave output while on battery
• 230V nominal output
• 6ms typical transfer time
• 10ms maximum transfer time
• 180V typical low-voltage transfer point
• 266V typical high-voltage transfer point
• USB Type-A charging port
• USB charging output: 5V DC / 2.4A
• USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2 compatible
• Data-line surge protection
• UPS communication/data port
• PowerChute Serial Shutdown software support
• User-replaceable battery
• Compatible replacement battery: APC RBC46
• Sealed maintenance-free lead-acid battery
• 12V internal battery
• Current manufacturer-listed battery capacity: 9Ah
• LED status indication
• Audible power and battery alarms
• Resettable input circuit breaker
• Floor / desktop installation
• Wall-mountable design
• Compact 365 × 130 × 120mm chassis
• Black finish
• Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C
• CE certified
• 2-year UK manufacturer repair-or-replace warranty, subject to APC terms

What Is the APC BE500G2-UK?

The APC BE500G2-UK is an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS. Its purpose is to provide short-term battery power when the mains electricity supply fails while also helping protect connected equipment against damaging electrical surges.

Unlike a conventional extension lead or surge protector, a UPS contains an internal battery. When incoming mains power is lost, the UPS automatically transfers supported equipment to battery power.

What Can a UPS Help Protect Against?

The BE500G2-UK can help protect compatible equipment against problems including:

• Complete power cuts
• Short mains interruptions
• Electrical surges
• Voltage dropping below the UPS transfer threshold
• Voltage rising above the UPS transfer threshold

The primary purpose of the battery is to provide enough temporary power to keep suitable equipment operating during a short outage or allow a connected computer to be shut down safely during a longer power failure.

500VA / 300W Power Capacity

The BE500G2-UK is rated at:

• 500VA apparent power
• 300W maximum real power

The 300W figure is particularly important when deciding which equipment can be connected to the battery-backed sockets.

Do Not Exceed 300W

The combined power demand of equipment connected to the battery-backed outlets should remain within the UPS's 300W maximum output rating.

Examples of equipment that may be suitable, depending on actual power consumption, include:

• Home-office PCs
• Small desktop computers
• Computer monitors
• Broadband routers
• Fibre ONT equipment
• Network switches
• NAS devices
• VoIP equipment
• Gaming consoles
• Smart-home hubs
• CCTV/network equipment

Always check the actual maximum power requirement of your equipment before connecting it to the UPS.

Eight UK BS1363A Power Outlets

The UK-specific BE500G2-UK provides eight standard British BS1363A outlets, allowing common UK mains plugs to connect directly without international plug adapters.

The eight sockets are divided into two different groups:

• 6 × battery backup + surge protection
• 2 × surge protection only

Six Battery-Backup and Surge-Protected Outlets

Six of the eight sockets provide both battery backup and surge protection.

Equipment connected to these outlets can remain powered temporarily when the mains supply fails, provided the total connected load remains within the UPS capacity and sufficient battery charge remains.

What Should Be Connected to Battery-Backup Outlets?

Battery-backed sockets are best reserved for equipment that you want to keep operating during a power cut, for example:

• Desktop PC
• Internet router
• Fibre broadband ONT
• Network switch
• NAS
• Small server within the UPS power limit
• Essential monitoring equipment

Two Surge-Protection-Only Outlets

The remaining two UK outlets provide surge protection without battery backup.

These sockets are useful for less critical equipment that benefits from surge protection but does not need to remain powered during an outage.

Why Separate Battery and Surge-Only Outlets?

Keeping non-essential devices away from the battery-backed outlets prevents them from consuming valuable battery capacity during a mains failure.

This can leave more runtime available for important devices such as a PC, router or network equipment.

310-Joule Surge Protection

The APC BE500G2-UK provides 310 joules of AC surge protection.

Surge protection helps absorb short-duration electrical spikes that could otherwise reach connected electronic equipment.

Full-Time Surge Protection

Surge protection operates continuously rather than only while the UPS is running from its battery.

Both the six battery-backed outlets and the two surge-only outlets provide surge protection.

EMI and RFI Filtering

The BE500G2-UK also provides full-time EMI/RFI filtering.

This helps filter certain electromagnetic and radio-frequency electrical interference from the mains supply before it reaches connected equipment.

Standby / Offline UPS Topology

The BE500G2-UK uses a Standby, also known as Offline, UPS topology.

During normal operation, connected equipment is powered from the mains supply. If incoming voltage falls outside the UPS's acceptable operating range or mains power disappears completely, the UPS transfers the battery-backed outlets to inverter power.

6ms Typical Transfer Time

APC specifies a transfer time of approximately:

• 6 milliseconds typical
• 10 milliseconds maximum

This short transfer interval is designed to allow compatible electronic equipment to continue operating when the UPS changes from mains to battery power.

Important: This Is Not a Line-Interactive AVR UPS

The BE500G2-UK uses Standby / Offline topology.

It should not be confused with an APC line-interactive model that provides Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) without transferring to battery.

If your installation experiences frequent low or high mains voltage and you specifically require AVR, consider an appropriate APC Back-UPS model that lists Automatic Voltage Regulation as a feature.

Stepped Approximation to a Sine Wave

When operating from its internal battery, APC specifies the BE500G2-UK output waveform as a stepped approximation to a sine wave.

This waveform is widely used in entry-level and home-office UPS systems.

Not a Pure Sine-Wave UPS

The BE500G2-UK should not be advertised as a pure sine-wave UPS.

If a specific device manufacturer requires pure sine-wave battery output, select a UPS model that explicitly provides a pure sine-wave inverter.

230V UK Power Operation

The BE500G2-UK is designed for UK and compatible European mains environments.

Key electrical specifications include:

• Input: 220–240V AC
• Nominal output: 230V AC
• Frequency: 50/60Hz
• Typical low-voltage transfer: 180V
• Typical high-voltage transfer: 266V

Battery Backup During a Power Cut

When the incoming mains supply fails, the six battery-backed outlets automatically switch to energy stored in the internal battery.

How long the UPS operates depends primarily on the connected load.

UPS Runtime Depends on Connected Power

A lightly loaded UPS can operate considerably longer than the same UPS close to its full 300W rating.

Runtime therefore depends on factors including:

• Total connected wattage
• Battery condition
• Battery age
• Battery state of charge
• Ambient temperature
• Individual equipment behaviour

For the most accurate estimate, use APC's runtime information for the BE500G2-UK and compare it with the actual wattage of the equipment you plan to connect.

Ideal for Keeping Your Internet Online

One of the most practical home uses for a small UPS is protecting broadband and network equipment.

Depending on your broadband infrastructure and connected load, the BE500G2-UK can provide temporary battery power for devices such as:

• Wi-Fi router
• Fibre ONT
• Modem
• Network switch
• Mesh Wi-Fi node
• VoIP equipment

This can help maintain local network operation during shorter electricity interruptions where the external internet service itself remains available.

Useful for Home-Office Computers

The 500VA / 300W rating makes the BE500G2-UK particularly suitable for modest home-office setups.

During a power cut, the UPS can provide enough time for a compatible PC to save work and shut down safely rather than switching off immediately.

Help Reduce the Risk of Data Loss

An unexpected power failure while files are being written can cause:

• Unsaved work to be lost
• File-system corruption
• Application data loss
• Unexpected operating-system shutdown

Combining UPS battery backup with compatible shutdown software provides a more controlled response to longer outages.

APC PowerChute Serial Shutdown Support

The BE500G2-UK can be used with APC PowerChute Serial Shutdown on supported computer systems.

PowerChute can monitor UPS power conditions and help perform an orderly operating-system shutdown if an outage continues until the battery becomes low.

What PowerChute Can Help With

Depending on the supported configuration, PowerChute can help provide:

• UPS status monitoring
• Battery-condition information
• Power-event information
• Graceful computer shutdown
• Protection against abrupt power loss during longer outages

UPS Communication Cable

The UPS provides a dedicated data connection for computer communication.

APC documentation specifies the use of an appropriate RJ45-to-USB UPS communication cable for this Back-UPS family. The communication cable is not listed as part of the standard BE500G2-UK package and may need to be purchased separately.

USB Type-A Charging Port

The BE500G2-UK includes a convenient USB Type-A charging port for compatible personal electronic devices.

APC specifies:

• Voltage: 5V DC
• Maximum current: 2.4A
• Maximum nominal charging output: approximately 12W
• Standard: USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2

Suitable USB Charging Uses

The charging port can be used with compatible devices such as:

• Smartphones
• Headphones
• Small USB accessories
• Other 5V USB devices within the supported charging specification

USB Charging Is Not USB-C Power Delivery

The BE500G2-UK provides a conventional USB Type-A 5V charging connection.

It does not provide high-power USB-C Power Delivery for laptops or other high-wattage USB-C devices.

Data-Line Surge Protection

In addition to mains-power surge protection, APC provides data-line protection.

The Back-UPS family supports protection for compatible data connections including:

• DSL / modem equipment
• Telephone/fax connections
• Compatible 10/100 Base-T Ethernet equipment

This provides an additional path for surge protection where an electrical transient could otherwise enter equipment through a communication line rather than the mains power cable.

Important Data-Line Speed Note

APC's documentation refers to 10/100 Base-T Ethernet for the protected data-line interface.

Do not use this protected path where Gigabit Ethernet throughput is required unless APC specifically confirms Gigabit support for the exact interface.

User-Replaceable Internal Battery

The BE500G2-UK has a user-replaceable battery.

This is valuable because UPS batteries are consumable components that naturally lose capacity as they age.

Instead of replacing the complete UPS when the battery reaches the end of its useful life, the internal battery can be replaced with the appropriate APC cartridge.

APC RBC46 Replacement Battery

Schneider Electric currently identifies the compatible replacement battery cartridge as:

APC RBC46

The replacement cartridge is sold separately.

12V Sealed Lead-Acid Battery

The internal battery is a sealed, maintenance-free lead-acid battery.

Current APC product data lists:

• Battery voltage: 12V
• Battery capacity: 9.0Ah
• Battery type: Sealed lead-acid
• User replaceable: Yes

Battery Life Depends on Use and Temperature

UPS battery life is affected by:

• Ambient temperature
• Number of discharge cycles
• Depth of discharge
• Time in service
• Charging conditions

APC's current product datasheet lists an expected battery-service range of approximately 2–5 years, although real-world battery life can vary.

Current Manufacturer-Listed Recharge Time

Schneider Electric's current product datasheet lists a typical battery recharge time of approximately 6 hours.

Actual recharge time may vary according to battery condition, discharge depth, temperature and operating conditions.

LED Status Indicators

The BE500G2-UK provides visual LED status indication so users can quickly understand the condition of the UPS and its incoming power supply.

Status information includes conditions such as:

• Online operation
• Battery operation
• Low battery
• Replace-battery condition
• Overload condition

Audible UPS Alarms

Audible alarms notify the user when important UPS conditions occur.

APC provides audible indications for conditions including:

• Operation from battery
• Low battery
• Overload
• Battery-related warnings

This means you do not need to continuously watch the UPS to know that mains power has failed.

Resettable Circuit Breaker

The AC input includes a resettable circuit breaker to help protect the UPS against overload conditions.

If the breaker trips, determine and correct the cause of the overload before resetting it.

Compact Floor or Desktop Installation

The APC BE500G2-UK has a compact low-profile design measuring approximately:

• Width: 130mm
• Height: 120mm
• Depth: 365mm

This makes it suitable for locations such as:

• Under a desk
• Beside a workstation
• Near broadband/network equipment
• Home entertainment areas
• Small office installations

Wall-Mountable Design

Schneider Electric markets the BE500G2-UK for both floor and wall mounting, giving users more flexibility where floor or desktop space is limited.

When wall mounting, make sure the supporting surface and fixings are appropriate for the UPS weight and follow APC installation guidance.

Current Manufacturer-Listed Weight

Schneider Electric's latest individual BE500G2-UK product datasheet lists a net product weight of approximately 3.9kg.

Some older BE500G2 documentation lists a lower weight, so the current product-specific Schneider Electric datasheet should be treated as the primary specification for current product-page data.

Operating Environment

APC specifies the following operating conditions:

• Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C
• Storage temperature: -15°C to 45°C
• Operating humidity: up to 90% relative humidity under current datasheet conditions

The UPS should be installed in a dry, ventilated indoor location within APC's environmental limits.

Who Is the APC BE500G2-UK Best For?

• Home-office computer users
• Broadband router and fibre ONT backup
• Small network switches
• NAS devices within the UPS power limit
• Small desktop PCs
• Computer monitors
• VoIP equipment
• Smart-home controllers
• Gaming systems within the 300W limit
• Home networking installations
• Small-business workstations
• Users wanting multiple UK sockets
• Users wanting a replaceable UPS battery

Who Should Consider a More Powerful UPS?

A different UPS may be more suitable if you specifically require:

• More than 300W output power
• Long battery runtime at high loads
• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
• Pure sine-wave battery output
• Rackmount installation
• Server-grade network management
• SNMP management
• High-power workstation backup
• Large gaming-PC backup
• Multiple high-power monitors

Is 500VA / 300W Enough for a Desktop PC?

It depends on the desktop computer's actual power consumption.

The UPS has a maximum output rating of 300W. A small or efficient office PC and monitor may remain comfortably within this limit, while a high-performance gaming PC can easily exceed it.

Check the actual expected power consumption of the complete system rather than relying only on the wattage printed on the PC power supply.

A 750W PC Power Supply Does Not Automatically Mean a 750W Load

A computer fitted with a 750W PSU does not continuously consume 750W. The PSU rating represents its maximum designed output capacity.

However, the computer's real power consumption under load must remain below the BE500G2-UK's 300W UPS limit if it is connected to battery backup.

Is the BE500G2-UK Suitable for a Gaming PC?

It can be suitable for lower-power gaming systems, consoles or related equipment whose total power requirement remains below 300W.

For a modern high-performance gaming PC with a powerful graphics card, a higher-capacity UPS is usually more appropriate.

Is the BE500G2-UK Good for a Router?

Yes. Routers and similar networking devices generally consume much less power than desktop PCs, making them a particularly practical use for battery backup.

Keeping a broadband router and associated network equipment on battery power can help maintain network connectivity during shorter power interruptions, assuming the external broadband infrastructure is still operational.

Is It Suitable for a NAS?

A compatible NAS can be connected provided the total system power remains within the UPS's 300W rating.

Using APC shutdown software or the NAS manufacturer's supported UPS communication functionality may also allow compatible storage systems to shut down more safely during an extended outage.

Always confirm communication compatibility with the exact NAS model.

APC BE500G2-UK Technical Overview

• Brand: APC by Schneider Electric
• Series: APC Back-UPS
• Model / MPN: BE500G2-UK
• UPS Type: Standby / Offline
• Rated Capacity: 500VA
• Maximum Output Power: 300W
• Nominal Input Voltage: 230V
• Supported Input: 220–240V AC
• Input Frequency: 50/60Hz
• Typical Low-Voltage Transfer: 180V
• Typical High-Voltage Transfer: 266V
• Nominal Output Voltage: 230V
• Battery Waveform: Stepped approximation to a sine wave
• Typical Transfer Time: 6ms
• Maximum Transfer Time: 10ms
• Total UK Outlets: 8
• Battery + Surge Outlets: 6
• Surge-Only Outlets: 2
• Outlet Type: British BS1363A
• Surge Energy Rating: 310J
• EMI/RFI Filtering: Yes
• USB Charging Port: 1 × USB Type-A
• USB Charging Output: 5V / 2.4A
• USB Charging Standard: USB Battery Charging 1.2
• Data-Line Surge Protection: Yes
• Computer Communication: UPS data port
• Shutdown Software: APC PowerChute Serial Shutdown
• Battery Type: Sealed Maintenance-Free Lead-Acid
• Battery Voltage: 12V
• Current Listed Battery Capacity: 9Ah
• User-Replaceable Battery: Yes
• Replacement Battery: APC RBC46
• Current Listed Recharge Time: Approximately 6 Hours
• Current Listed Battery Life: Approximately 2–5 Years
• LED Status Display: Yes
• Audible Alarms: Yes
• Resettable Circuit Breaker: Yes
• Colour: Black
• Dimensions: 365 × 130 × 120mm (D × W × H)
• Current Manufacturer Net Weight: 3.9kg
• Floor / Desktop Mount: Yes
• Wall Mount: Yes
• Rackmount: No
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C
• Storage Temperature: -15°C to 45°C
• Certifications: CE / EAC
• EAN / GTIN-13: 0731304738268
• UPC-12: 731304738268

Important Battery Runtime Note

UPS runtime is not a fixed number. Runtime decreases as connected wattage increases.

For this reason, do not assume that a runtime quoted for a router, office PC or 50% load will apply to a system operating close to the full 300W UPS rating.

Use APC's BE500G2-UK runtime information together with the actual measured or calculated load for the most realistic estimate.

Important 300W Maximum Load Note

500VA does not mean the UPS can provide 500 watts.

The BE500G2-UK is rated for a maximum real-power output of 300W.

When selecting equipment for the battery-backed outlets, use the 300W limit rather than the 500VA figure.

Important AVR Note

The BE500G2-UK uses Standby / Offline topology and should not be described as an AVR or line-interactive UPS.

If Automatic Voltage Regulation is a requirement, choose a model that explicitly lists AVR.

Important Pure Sine-Wave Note

The battery output is a stepped approximation to a sine wave, not pure sine wave.

If your equipment manufacturer specifically requires pure sine-wave battery power, select a suitable pure sine-wave UPS instead.

Important Outlet Note

Only six of the eight outlets provide battery backup. The remaining two sockets provide surge protection only and will not remain powered during a mains failure.

Important USB Port Note

The USB Type-A port is designed for charging compatible 5V devices at up to 2.4A. It should not be confused with the separate UPS data/communication connection used for PowerChute.

Important Replacement Battery Note

The current Schneider Electric product page identifies APC RBC46 as the compatible user-replaceable battery cartridge. Replacement batteries are sold separately.

Important Data-Line Note

The protected data-line interface is intended for compatible DSL/modem/telephone/fax and 10/100 Base-T equipment. It should not be assumed to provide Gigabit Ethernet pass-through.

Important High-Power Equipment Note

The BE500G2-UK is designed for electronic equipment within its 300W UPS capacity. High-power appliances and devices with large startup or heating loads may require a different type or capacity of UPS.

Important Warranty Note

Schneider Electric's current product datasheet lists a standard 2-year repair-or-replace warranty, with different terms applying in certain European Union countries.

Because the United Kingdom is not an EU member state, UK product pages should not automatically advertise European Union-only extended warranty or connected-equipment-protection benefits unless APC specifically confirms UK eligibility.

Why Choose the APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK?

The APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK provides an effective combination of battery backup, surge protection and UK-friendly connectivity for home and small-office electronics.

Its 500VA / 300W capacity is well suited to lower-power equipment such as broadband routers, home-office computers, network switches, monitors and compatible NAS systems, while six battery-backed outlets allow several essential devices to receive temporary power during an outage.

Two additional surge-only sockets allow less critical devices to benefit from electrical surge protection without consuming battery runtime.

The built-in 310J surge protection and EMI/RFI filtering provide additional protection against electrical disturbances during normal mains operation.

A 5V / 2.4A USB charging port provides convenient charging for compatible personal devices, while data-line surge protection extends protection beyond the mains power connections.

For compatible computers, APC PowerChute Serial Shutdown can provide UPS monitoring and controlled shutdown during prolonged outages, helping reduce the risk associated with an abrupt loss of power.

The user-replaceable RBC46 battery also extends the practical life of the UPS because the battery can be replaced when it eventually loses capacity rather than replacing the complete unit.

With eight UK outlets, compact floor/wall installation, clear LED status indicators and audible alerts, the BE500G2-UK is a practical power-protection solution for everyday home-office and network equipment.

Choose the APC Back-UPS BE500G2-UK if you need a compact 500VA / 300W UK UPS with six battery-backed outlets, two additional surge-protected outlets, USB charging, replaceable battery support and APC power-management capability.