Altronix AL1024ULXPD4CB 4-Output 24VDC Power Supply
The Altronix AL1024ULXPD4CB is a UL Listed 4-output power distribution and battery charging platform designed for security infrastructure that demands redundancy and fault visibility. Each of the four independent 24VDC outputs delivers 10A continuously, eliminating the need for multiple single-channel supplies and reducing installation labor in distributed access control, surveillance, and alarm deployments. Built-in battery charging and backup functionality means your system doesn't go dark during AC mains loss—a hard requirement for life-safety and perimeter-critical installations.
Key Features
- Four independent 24VDC outputs at 10A per output: Run separate power branches to card readers, electrified locks, controllers, and cameras from one supply. No need to daisy-chain or overload a single channel when scaling to 4 or more devices per location.
- Integrated battery charging and UPS capability: Automatically charges an external backup battery and seamlessly switches to battery power when AC fails. This keeps access control readers and alarm panels alive during a brownout or grid event—no external UPS box required.
- AC Fail supervision: Actively monitors mains voltage and alerts your control system or central station immediately when power is lost. You're not waiting for a technician to discover a silent outage.
- Low Battery supervision: Prevents over-discharge of your backup battery, extending its service life and ensuring there's still charge when you need it most during an extended outage.
- Battery Presence detection: Confirms a backup battery is installed and functional before relying on it. Catches missing or failed batteries before you're caught without backup power.
- UL Listed for North America: Meets UL electrical safety standards, simplifying code compliance and insurance approval for commercial security installations.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Altronix backs long-term reliability with a no-nonsense warranty, reducing replacement risk on deployed equipment.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL1024ULXPD4CB integrates with any 24VDC security device: card access systems, IP camera PoE injectors, alarm panels, door locks, and intercoms. Supervision outputs (AC Fail, Low Battery, Battery Presence) wire directly to your control panel's alarm input, allowing real-time fault alerting without separate monitoring hardware. No proprietary ecosystem lock-in—just standard 24VDC signaling.
Typical Deployments
Multi-reader access control: Distribute 10A per output across four card readers in a single entrance, each with its own power branch for isolation. If one reader draws fault current, the others remain unaffected.
Distributed surveillance: Feed independent power to multiple PoE injectors or 24VDC camera supplies, each protected by its own 10A output. Scales cleanly to mid-size installations without requiring external UPS infrastructure.
Alarm system power topology: Back up a control panel, siren, and strobe independently while monitoring battery health. AC Fail and Low Battery supervision feed back to the panel for automated system alerts.
Central station integration: Provides local backup power and fault reporting at distributed nodes (lobby controllers, loading dock readers, camera locations) without requiring a separate UPS at each site.
Why Output Isolation Matters
A single 40A supply can fail catastrophically, or a fault in one device can drag down every connected load. The AL1024ULXPD4CB AL1024ULXPD4CB isolates four branches so a shorted lock reader doesn't black out your access panel or camera. Each 10A output can be independently supervised and fused by your installer, creating a fault-tolerant power tree.
Battery Selection & Sizing
The unit charges and backs up an external 24VDC battery (sealed lead-acid or compatible chemistry). Your installer selects battery capacity based on runtime requirement: a 7Ah battery provides roughly 30–40 minutes of backup at full 10A draw, assuming normal load is lower. The Low Battery supervision threshold prevents deep discharge, extending battery lifespan to 3–5 years depending on cycling frequency and environmental temperature.
When to Choose a Different Model
If you need only single-output 24VDC distribution, look for a single-channel variant in the Altronix line—they cost less and save panel space. If you require higher output current (more than 40A total or more than 10A per branch), consider a higher-capacity Altronix platform. If battery backup is not a requirement, a non-UPS power supply cuts cost further. For PoE-powered cameras, integrated PoE switches eliminate the need for separate 24VDC distribution entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the AL1024ULXPD4CB require an external battery?
A: Yes. The unit integrates charging and backup switching, but you supply the 24VDC backup battery separately. This modular design lets you choose battery capacity to match your runtime requirement.
Q: How do I monitor AC Fail and Low Battery alerts?
A: Supervision outputs wire to your control panel's digital alarm input (contact closure). Your panel firmware interprets the signal and triggers an alert or logs the fault to a central station.
Q: Can I run all four outputs at 10A simultaneously?
A: Yes. The AL1024ULXPD4CB is rated for 10A per output continuously, so all four can draw their full load at the same time—40A total available from the AC mains.
Q: Is the AL1024ULXPD4CB suitable for outdoor installations?
A: The unit itself is typically indoor-rated. For outdoor use, install it in a weatherproof or heated enclosure. Verify the actual environmental rating in the AL1024ULXPD4CB datasheet for your climate zone.
Q: What happens if the backup battery fails or is unplugged?
A: Battery Presence detection alerts you immediately via supervision signal. The unit continues supplying power from AC mains, but UPS capability is lost until the battery is restored or replaced.
Q: Does the AL1024ULXPD4CB work with both sealed lead-acid and lithium batteries?
A: Check the datasheet for battery chemistry compatibility. Sealed lead-acid is standard; lithium requires verification of charging parameters to avoid damage.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The AL1024ULXPD4CB earns a spot in distributed security architecture because it does one thing well: isolate and supervise multiple 24VDC power branches without requiring separate UPS hardware at each node. The four independent 10A outputs are the real value—isolation means a fault in one reader or lock doesn't cascade and black out your entire access floor. Battery backup and supervision circuits add the fault visibility that central stations and large integrators demand.
Technical Highlights:
- Four independent 10A outputs (40A total): Eliminates the need for multiple single-channel supplies or daisy-chaining. Each branch can be independently fused and supervised, reducing mean-time-to-recovery when a device faults.
- AC Fail, Low Battery, and Battery Presence supervision: Three independent alarm contacts keep your control panel and central station informed in real time. No silent failures—the panel knows immediately when mains power drops or battery charge is exhausted.
- Integrated charging and UPS switching: One supply handles both trickle charging during normal operation and seamless failover to battery power. No external relay or contactor logic required—simplifies wiring and reduces points of failure.
- UL Listed for North America: Meets electrical and safety code requirements, eliminating design approval loops and insurance complications for commercial deployments.
Deployment Considerations:
- Battery selection and capacity are your responsibility—the AL1024ULXPD4CB charges whatever 24VDC battery you install, but you must size it for your required backup runtime. A 7Ah battery gives roughly 30–40 minutes at full load; larger capacity extends runtime but increases footprint and cost.
- Supervision outputs are simple alarm contacts (open/closed)—no analog reporting or digital protocol. Integration into a control panel requires a digital input; if your panel lacks spare inputs, you'll need to multiplex or prioritize which faults you monitor.
- Ambient temperature matters: sealed lead-acid batteries lose capacity in cold environments, so outdoor or unheated locations may require undersizing your load or accepting reduced backup window in winter months.
The AL1024ULXPD4CB is the right choice for mid-scale access control and alarm deployments where you need local UPS functionality and fault reporting without the cost and complexity of a full-site power distribution system. If you're building a 4–12 reader site with distributed readers across multiple doors or a multi-zone alarm system, output isolation and battery supervision justify the cost. For single-reader or small alarm locations, a simpler single-channel 24VDC supply suffices.
