Altronix OLS250220 24VDC 10A Power Supply Board
Overview
The Altronix OLS250220 is a 24VDC, 10-amp open-board power supply designed for international surveillance and security installations running 220VAC mains. It accepts 198–256VAC at 50/60Hz, giving it the input tolerance to handle grid fluctuations common in commercial and industrial environments outside North America. At 7.25" x 4.5" x 1.75" and just 0.8 lb., it integrates cleanly into enclosure-based system builds where a self-contained power chassis isn't the right fit. If you're speccing a camera cluster, access control panel, or perimeter intrusion system on a 220VAC circuit, this board covers the power side without demanding a separate enclosure purchase.
CE agency listing confirms the OLS250220 meets European safety and EMC directives — a hard requirement for any deployment destined for EU member states or other CE-mark jurisdictions. Don't field a board without it if you're working internationally.
Key Features
- 24VDC / 10A Output: 240 watts of regulated DC output covers a meaningful camera or access control load — enough for four to six 24VAC/DC cameras with margin to spare, depending on draw per device. Fixed output voltage means no trimmer-pot drift over time.
- 220VAC Input Range (198–256VAC): The ±10% tolerance on the input isn't just a spec — it's protection against real-world voltage sag on underpowered commercial circuits. If the site's mains run low under load, the board keeps outputting clean 24VDC rather than dropping out and triggering nuisance alarms.
- Universal 50/60Hz Frequency Acceptance: Whether your site runs 50Hz (EU, Asia, most of the world) or 60Hz (parts of Latin America, some industrial sites), no rewiring or transformer is required. One SKU handles both.
- Form C Input Supervision Contacts: The input supervisory relay gives your panel or controller a dry-contact signal when AC input is present or lost. Wire this into your alarm panel's tamper/trouble zone and you get an automatic alert the moment mains power is interrupted — critical for UL-compliant installations and any site where power loss is a security event.
- Form C Battery Supervision Contacts: Separate battery supervision contacts let you monitor a connected backup battery's health or presence through your control system. If the battery disconnects or fails, the supervisory relay signals it — closing the monitoring loop without requiring a technician to manually inspect the board.
- 0°C to 49°C Operating Range: Covers standard indoor mechanical rooms, telecom closets, and equipment cabinets. Storage is rated to -20°C to 70°C, so the board survives staging, shipping, and warehouse conditions without issue.
- Compact Board Form Factor (7.25" x 4.5" x 1.75"): Designed to mount inside a customer-supplied enclosure alongside other system components. The small footprint leaves room for a battery, terminal blocks, and secondary boards in a standard 12" x 12" backbox.
- CE Agency Listing: Confirms compliance with EU Low Voltage and EMC directives. Required for legal sale and installation in CE-mark jurisdictions — don't substitute an unlisted board where this matters.
- 123 BTU/Hr. Heat Output: At full 10A load, the board dissipates 123 BTU/Hr. Plan your enclosure ventilation accordingly — sealed metal boxes without vents will thermally saturate faster than you expect at sustained high loads in warm environments.
Integration and Compatibility
The OLS250220 is a bare board, not a complete enclosure-based power supply. It's intended for integrators building custom power distributions inside their own enclosures or within larger system panels. The dual Form C supervisory contacts — one for AC input, one for battery — integrate directly with alarm panels, access control controllers, or any system that monitors dry-contact inputs for trouble conditions.
For 24VDC device loads, this board pairs naturally with commercial-grade power supplies and distribution accessories from the broader Altronix product line, including their enclosure and battery backup solutions. If you're speccing a full access control system or IP camera installation on a 220VAC circuit, the OLS250220 handles the regulated DC output side while the supervisory contacts feed status back to the head-end. Review your enclosure's thermal rating before installation — 123 BTU/Hr. at full load in a sealed box is a real constraint.
For installations on North American 120VAC circuits, this board is not the right pick — look to other models in the Altronix line designed for 120VAC input. The OLS250220 is specifically optimized for 220VAC deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What input voltage does the OLS250220 require?
A: The OLS250220 accepts 220VAC with a tolerance range of 198–256VAC at 50 or 60Hz. It is not designed for North American 120VAC circuits.
Q: What do the Form C supervisory contacts on the OLS250220 do?
A: The board includes two sets of Form C dry-contact relay outputs: one monitors AC input presence (alerts if mains power is lost), and a second monitors the connected backup battery. Both can wire directly into an alarm panel or access control system trouble zone for automated status monitoring.
Q: What agency listing does the OLS250220 carry?
A: The OLS250220 carries a CE listing, confirming compliance with European Low Voltage and EMC directives. This is required for legal installation in EU member states and other CE-mark jurisdictions.
Q: Is the OLS250220 a complete power supply unit or a bare board?
A: It is an open board (no enclosure included). It is designed to be mounted inside an integrator-supplied enclosure alongside batteries, terminal blocks, and other system components.
Q: What is the maximum continuous output of the OLS250220?
A: The board is rated at 24VDC / 10A continuous output — 240 watts total. This is sufficient to power multiple 24VDC cameras or access control devices, depending on individual device draw.
Q: What are the thermal output and operating temperature limits of the OLS250220?
A: The board dissipates 123 BTU/Hr. at full load and is rated for operation between 0°C and 49°C (32°F to 120°F). Enclosure ventilation planning is important when operating at sustained high loads in warm environments.
The OLS250220 is one of those boards that earns its place specifically because of what it doesn't do — it doesn't complicate your enclosure build, doesn't require a separate monitoring loop, and doesn't need you to source a transformer for 220VAC sites. The dual Form C supervisory contacts are the real differentiator here: most integrators building a 220VAC-input panel for international deployments want AC supervision and battery supervision wired back to the head-end as trouble contacts, and the OLS250220 gives you both on a single compact board.
Technical Highlights:
- 198–256VAC Input Tolerance: The ±10% window around 220VAC handles grid sag on commercial circuits without dropping the output — important in regions where nominal voltage is 220V but real-world delivery runs 5–8% low under peak load.
- Dual Form C Supervisory Contacts: Independent AC-input and battery supervision relays let you wire trouble conditions directly into an alarm panel or controller trouble zone — no external monitoring relay required, which simplifies wiring and reduces component count in the enclosure.
- 123 BTU/Hr. at Full Load: At 10A continuous, this board generates meaningful heat. A sealed 12" x 12" steel backbox without ventilation will exceed the 49°C operating ceiling faster than you'd expect in a warm mechanical room — spec the enclosure with a vent or thermostatically controlled fan if your site runs warm.
Deployment Considerations:
- This is a bare board — you're supplying the enclosure, battery, and terminal infrastructure. Factor enclosure cost and depth into your BOM; the board's 7.25" x 4.5" footprint fits most standard backboxes, but verify depth clearance with your terminal block layout before ordering.
- The CE listing covers EU and CE-mark jurisdictions, but if your project requires UL or ETL listing for North American code compliance, this board does not satisfy that requirement — verify the listing requirement with your AHJ before specifying.
The OLS250220 is the right call for international perimeter security builds, access control panels, or camera power distribution enclosures where 220VAC is the available input, supervisory monitoring is a project requirement, and the integrator is supplying their own enclosure. It's a poor fit for North American 120VAC installations or projects requiring UL-listed power components.
