Altronix AL1024ULX 24VDC 10A Power Supply with Battery Charger
The Altronix AL1024ULX is a regulated 24VDC power supply rated for 10A continuous output, purpose-built for security infrastructure requiring both primary power delivery and automatic battery backup. Operating from standard 115VAC, 60Hz input, this single-channel unit combines AC-DC conversion with sealed lead acid and gel-type battery charging in one compact form factor—eliminating the need for separate charger hardware in access control, CCTV, and alarm system deployments.
Key Features
- Regulated 24VDC at 10A maximum output: 240W available power headroom supports multiple concurrent loads—electric strikes, card readers, dome camera power supplies, and relay modules—without undersized auxiliary charging equipment.
- Integrated sealed lead acid and gel-type battery charger with instantaneous transfer: When AC input fails, the AL1024ULX switches battery power immediately, delivering uninterrupted supply to critical access control readers and alarm sensors. No manual intervention or external transfer switch required.
- AC fail supervision: Detects loss of input voltage and triggers automatic battery operation, ensuring you know when mains power is lost rather than discovering the outage after hours.
- Battery fail supervision: Monitors charging circuit health and battery condition, alerting to faults before backup capacity is exhausted. Prevents silent battery degradation that could leave you without power when needed most.
- Battery presence supervision: Confirms a compatible battery is connected and ready before relying on backup. Avoids the scenario of assuming backup protection exists when the battery is missing or disconnected.
- UL listed (UL294, UL1481): Meets U.S. and Canadian safety standards for power supplies and battery chargers, required by most jurisdictions for security and life-safety applications. CSFM and MEA approvals certify suitability for California and other regulated markets.
- Single 24VDC output channel: Simplifies field wiring—one load bus for all connected devices. Pair multiple AL1024ULX units if distributed power zones are required.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Manufacturer covers defects for the life of the unit, reducing long-term replacement risk in security infrastructure expected to operate 10+ years.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL1024ULX interfaces with standard 24VDC security devices: electromagnetic lock controllers, door readers, motion detectors, alarm panels, and CCTV power supplies rated for 24VDC input. Supervision outputs (AC fail, battery fail, battery presence) connect to alarm panels or networked monitoring systems to trigger alerts and logging. The charger accommodates sealed lead acid batteries (common SLA types: 7Ah, 12Ah, 18Ah) and gel-cell equivalents; verify battery voltage and ampere-hour rating compatibility before deployment.
Applications
Access Control with Standby Power: Powers electric strikes, mag locks, credential readers, and request-to-exit devices with battery backup for evacuation and emergency unlock during power loss. Supervision functions feed fault alerts to access control management systems for audit trails.
CCTV Power Conditioning: Supplies 24VDC to camera power injectors, dome motorized lens controllers, and pan-tilt-zoom motor circuits. Battery backup maintains surveillance during brief AC outages without requiring backup generators for smaller sites.
Alarm Sensor Networks: Powers distributed contact sensors, motion detectors, and siren drivers with built-in battery switchover. Eliminates dependency on UPS systems for small to mid-sized alarm deployments.
Intercom and Gate Control: Provides consistent, clean DC power to IP intercom PoE injectors, gate release solenoids, and call-station modules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What battery types does the AL1024ULX support?
A: The AL1024ULX charger is compatible with sealed lead acid (SLA) and gel-type batteries. Verify the battery voltage (should be 24VDC nominal) and ampere-hour capacity match your backup duration requirement before installation. Always confirm with the battery manufacturer that the charger voltage profile is suitable.
Q: How long will battery backup last on the AL1024ULX?
A: Backup runtime depends entirely on the battery capacity (amp-hours) and total connected load draw. A 7Ah battery with a 2A load yields roughly 3–3.5 hours of backup. Calculate your requirement: backup hours = (battery Ah × 0.8 safety margin) ÷ average load amps. Consult the datasheet for specific battery recommendations.
Q: Does the AL1024ULX require a separate UPS or backup generator?
A: For brief outages (under 30–60 minutes), the built-in battery charger and backup battery handle failover. For extended downtime, a generator or UPS should feed the 115VAC input. The AL1024ULX will charge the battery while drawing from the backup power source.
Q: Can I daisy-chain multiple AL1024ULX units for higher current capacity?
A: No. Each AL1024ULX is a standalone unit. Do not parallel the outputs. For deployments requiring more than 10A, use a larger capacity supply (if available in the Altronix line) or segment loads across separate AL1024ULX power zones, each with its own battery backup.
Q: What are the supervision outputs for, and how do I integrate them?
A: AC fail, battery fail, and battery presence outputs connect to alarm panel inputs or networked monitoring to trigger alerts and logging. These dry-contact signals inform you of power conditions in real time, enabling rapid response to faults before they impact security operations.
Q: Is the AL1024ULX compliant with California Title 24 or MEA requirements?
A: Yes. The AL1024ULX carries CSFM and MEA approval, meeting California and other regulated market standards for security and emergency system power supplies. Verify your jurisdiction's specific requirements with your system integrator or AHJ.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix AL1024ULX sits at the center of most small-to-mid-size access control and alarm power distributions. At 10A continuous output, you're looking at roughly 240W of available capacity—enough to carry four standard mag locks plus readers, sensors, and intercoms without strain. The integrated battery charger removes a separate device from the cabinet, saving rack space and eliminating a potential single point of failure.
Technical Highlights:
- Instantaneous transfer on AC fail: The AL1024ULX switches to battery in milliseconds, not seconds. For mag locks and readers, that's the difference between remaining unlocked during a power dip versus nuisance unlock cycles that audit and log falsely.
- Three-layer battery supervision: AC fail, battery fail, and battery presence detection wired to an alarm panel or NMS creates a monitored power tree. You'll know battery health degradation weeks before it becomes a problem, not at 2 AM when you need it.
- UL294 + UL1481 listing: Non-negotiable for jurisdictions enforcing life-safety code. Saves the back-and-forth with AHJs during permit review. CSFM/MEA approval matters for California, Texas, and other regulated markets—check before specifying if you're outside North America.
Deployment Considerations:
- Battery capacity planning: The AL1024ULX does not specify maximum battery size. In practice, use SLA/gel batteries rated 7Ah to 18Ah to avoid overcharging or undersizing backup runtime. Calculate load draw first, then size the battery—not the other way around.
- Single output channel limits flexibility: If your site needs two isolated power zones (main lobby and back corridor), you'll need two AL1024ULX units. That's doubled cost and wiring complexity, but it isolates failures and allows zone-specific battery swaps without powering down the entire site.
- AC input only at 115VAC 60Hz: No 208VAC, 277VAC, or 240VAC variants listed. If your facility has 240VAC mains and no 120V outlet near the cabinet, you'll need a step-down transformer—another cost and point of failure.
The AL1024ULX excels in small commercial sites (offices, clinics, retail) and distributed deployments where each location has modest power needs and local AC power. Avoid it if you're building a mega-site with 100+ doors or multiple distributed power zones—at that point, a larger industrial PSU or modular rack-mount supply pays for itself in engineering time and operational simplicity.
