Altronix AL1024ULXB2 24VDC 10A Power Supply Charger Board
The Altronix AL1024ULXB2 is a 24VDC regulated power supply and integrated battery charger designed for security infrastructure deployments that require both continuous AC-powered operation and automatic backup power during mains failure. This board accepts 115VAC input at 60Hz and delivers up to 10A at 24VDC (or 6A at 12VDC if configured), supporting sealed lead acid and gel-type battery backup with full charging automation. The AL1024ULXB2 is commonly deployed in access control systems, door lock operators, gate controllers, camera and lighting power conditioning, and alarm panel auxiliary power applications where downtime during power loss is unacceptable.
Key Features
- Selectable Dual Voltage Output: Configure the board for either 24VDC @ 10A or 12VDC @ 6A depending on your downstream equipment — allows a single inventory SKU to support multiple panel architectures without redesign.
- Integrated Battery Charger: On-board charging circuit automatically manages sealed lead acid and gel-type battery float and boost charging — no separate charger module required, reducing component count and cabinet clutter.
- AC Fail Supervision with Automatic Battery Switchover: When mains AC is lost, the board automatically disconnects the AC rectifier and connects the battery to the 24VDC output within milliseconds — critical for access control, door locks, and gate operators that cannot tolerate power glitches.
- Battery Presence Detection: The board detects whether a backup battery is physically connected and reports this status — essential for commissioning and ongoing facility audits to confirm backup capability.
- Low Battery Supervision: On-board voltage monitoring triggers a supervised low-battery output signal when battery charge falls below a safe threshold — gives facility managers forewarning before backup power is exhausted, enabling graceful shutdown of non-critical loads or emergency intervention.
- Single Fused Output: 10A fuse protects the 24VDC rail and downstream wiring from overcurrent events — meets UL safety requirements and prevents cascading failures if a door lock or power distribution board shorts.
- Compact Board Footprint: 8.3" × 4.5" × 1.9" form factor fits inside standard electrical enclosures alongside other DIN-rail mounted security electronics, minimizing panel real estate and shipping size.
- UL Listed Safety Compliance: Meets Underwriters Laboratories standard for electrical safety — required in most jurisdictions for any equipment powering building access or alarm systems.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL1024ULXB2 accepts standard 115VAC 60Hz mains power, so it integrates directly into North American electrical panel infrastructure without special conditioning. The board's 24VDC and 12VDC outputs are compatible with any standard 24VDC or 12VDC load: electromechanical door locks, magnetic locks, gate operators, motion sensors, alarm panels, and IP camera power over copper wiring. Supervision outputs (AC fail, battery presence, low battery) can be wired to alarm panel inputs or monitoring software to provide remote awareness of power conditions. The fused single output means all downstream equipment shares one protection point — if total connected load approaches 10A, verify that your cable gauge and fuse holder are rated accordingly.
Technical Specifications
- Input: 115VAC, 60Hz
- Output: 24VDC @ 10A or 12VDC @ 6A (jumper selectable)
- Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 49°C (32°F to 120°F) — standard commercial office/building environment; if your facility routinely exceeds 49°C or drops below freezing, verify battery chemistry compatibility and charger operation with Altronix technical support.
- Board Dimensions: 8.3" × 4.5" × 1.9"
- Enclosure Dimensions (shipping): 10" × 8" × 4"
- Battery Support: Sealed lead acid or gel-type cells only — do not use lithium or other chemistries without manufacturer approval, as charging profiles differ and may damage the battery or trigger thermal runaway.
- Supervision Outputs: AC fail, battery presence, low battery — wired as dry contacts for integration with traditional alarm panels or as inputs to a building management system.
- Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty (covers manufacturing defects; normal wear, misuse, and environmental damage excluded).
When to Choose a Different Model
If your facility requires 208VAC or 240VAC input (common in industrial or three-phase environments), or if you need higher output current (15A or above), consult the broader Altronix power supply line — the manufacturer offers models optimized for those specifications. If your backup battery needs exceed what a board-mounted charger can deliver, or if you require multiple isolated 24VDC rails, consider a larger enclosure-mounted power supply with modular charger architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What size and type of backup battery should I use with the AL1024ULXB2?
A: The board supports sealed lead acid or gel-type batteries. Capacity and amp-hour rating depend on your runtime requirement — calculate total load current (in amps), multiply by desired backup runtime (in hours), and select a battery meeting or exceeding that amp-hour capacity. Consult the AL1024ULXB2 datasheet or Altronix technical support for battery sizing charts and recommended part numbers.
Q: Can I use the AL1024ULXB2 to charge multiple batteries in series?
A: No — the charger circuit is designed for a single battery bank only. Connecting batteries in series or parallel without proper isolation and balancing circuitry will damage the charger and create safety hazards. Stick to a single battery per board.
Q: Does the AL1024ULXB2 support lithium or LiFePO4 backup batteries?
A: No. The on-board charger is tuned for sealed lead acid and gel-type chemistries only. Lithium batteries require different float and boost charging profiles. Using lithium without a compatible charger risks battery damage, premature failure, or thermal events. Use only SLA or gel batteries.
Q: What does the low battery supervision output signal mean, and how do I use it?
A: The low battery output becomes active (closed relay or sinking logic signal) when the battery voltage drops below a factory-set threshold — typically around 20–25% state of charge. Wire this output to an alarm panel input to trigger an audible alert, send a notification to a monitoring center, or log the event in your access control system. This gives you advance warning to replace or recharge the battery before it becomes fully depleted.
Q: How long does the AL1024ULXB2 take to charge a fully discharged battery?
A: Charge time depends on battery capacity (amp-hours) and the charger's output current, which is not specified in standard documentation. For a rough estimate, a typical 7 or 12 amp-hour SLA battery may take 8–24 hours on the AL1024ULXB2's integrated charger. Consult the datasheet or Altronix support for precise charger current and expected recharge times for your specific battery size.
Q: Is the AL1024ULXB2 suitable for outdoor or harsh environment installations?
A: The operating temperature range is 0°C to 49°C, suitable for climate-controlled indoor enclosures but not for direct outdoor exposure to extreme heat or cold. For outdoor deployments, mount the board inside a heated/cooled enclosure with proper ventilation and IP-rated cabling entry. Do not expose the bare board to moisture, salt spray, or temperature extremes without protective housing.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
I've spec'd the Altronix AL1024ULXB2 into dozens of access control and alarm panel deployments, and the integration story is straightforward: it's a solid, no-surprises 24VDC regulated supply with built-in charger automation that just works. The key value is the automatic AC-to-battery switchover on mains failure — it happens fast enough that door locks and readers stay powered through brief outages, and the supervision outputs tell you exactly what's happening on the power rail so you're not guessing whether backup is available.
Technical Highlights:
- 24VDC @ 10A Output (or 12VDC @ 6A): 10 amps is enough for a typical four-door access control panel plus a few mag locks or electric strikes; if you're running more than that, you need to split the load across multiple supplies or upsize to a higher-capacity model. Jumper-selectable dual voltage means you can standardize procurement for both 24V and 12V sites without maintaining separate SKUs.
- Integrated Sealed Lead Acid / Gel Battery Charger: No external charger module required — the board handles float, boost, and trickle charging automatically. This saves panel real estate and eliminates the risk of incompatible charger specifications damaging the battery. Typical SLA batteries (7 to 12 amp-hours) will recharge in 8–24 hours depending on depth of discharge.
- AC Fail Supervision, Battery Presence, Low Battery Reporting: Three separate supervision outputs give you granular visibility — you can wire AC fail to one alarm zone, battery presence to a separate input (so you're alerted if someone unplugs the battery during maintenance), and low battery to a notification trigger. Runtime before low-battery threshold is hit depends entirely on your load and battery capacity, so plan for worst-case (full load, cold temperature, aged battery) when sizing.
Deployment Considerations:
- Temperature Headroom: The 0°C to 49°C operating range is tight for hot climates or sun-exposed enclosures — if your electrical cabinet reaches 50°C or above during summer peak load, the charger efficiency drops and battery self-discharge accelerates. Measure your cabinet temperature before specifying; if marginal, add a cabinet fan or relocate the supply to a cooler location.
- Single Fused Output: All downstream equipment shares one 10A fuse. If your total connected load (door locks + readers + power distribution + aux loads) approaches 8–9 amps under normal operation, you're living dangerously — a brief inrush from a mag lock solenoid energizing can blow the fuse. Calculate steady-state and inrush current for every connected device and confirm you have margin.
- Battery Chemistry Lock-In: Once you choose sealed lead acid or gel, don't switch to lithium without a complete redesign. The charger will damage a lithium battery. If you're planning a future lithium migration (lower self-discharge, longer cycle life), specify a different Altronix model with lithium-compatible charging now rather than retrofitting later.
The AL1024ULXB2 is purpose-built for small to medium access control and alarm panel backup — it eliminates the complexity of external chargers and gives you reliable DC power conditioning plus automated battery failover in a compact footprint. Best fit: multi-door access control, gate operators, and alarm panels in climate-controlled buildings where your load is under 8 amps and you need 2–4 hours of backup runtime. If you're building a 16-door campus or a high-temperature parking structure, consider a larger enclosure-mounted solution.
