Altronix AL1024ULXPD8 24VDC 10A Power Supply with Battery Backup
Overview
The Altronix AL1024ULXPD8 is a regulated 24VDC power supply and charger designed for distributed security and access control installations. It delivers 10A maximum current at 24VDC from a standard 115VAC input, making it suitable for mid-scale surveillance, intercom, and access control deployments where multiple independent power circuits are required. The unit integrates battery backup charging and comprehensive supervision monitoring, providing system reliability and fault visibility critical for mission-critical security applications.
Key Features
- 24VDC Regulated Output: Stable DC output at 24 volts ensures compatibility with standard security devices (card readers, magnetic locks, intercoms, auxiliary circuits) without voltage sag across distributed loads.
- 10A Maximum Output Current: Delivers up to 10 amperes at 24VDC for aggregate system load support up to 240W — sufficient for typical multi-zone access control, intercom, and powered sensor distributions without requiring additional dedicated supplies.
- 8 Independently Fused Outputs: Each output circuit carries its own fuse, so a short or overload on one device does not cascade to other powered circuits. This isolation drastically simplifies troubleshooting and prevents a single fault from disabling an entire zone.
- 115VAC Single-Phase Input: Operates from standard North American line voltage, integrating directly into existing electrical infrastructure without special conditioning.
- Integrated Battery Charger and Backup: Built-in battery charging circuit supports seamless transition to battery power during AC mains failure — critical for access control and emergency intercom systems where power loss cannot be tolerated.
- AC Fail Supervision: Detects loss of mains AC power and signals an alert, enabling remote alerting via relay outputs or serial integration to central monitoring systems.
- Low Battery Supervision: Monitors battery voltage and alerts before the backup is fully depleted, preventing surprise outages and triggering maintenance proactively.
- Battery Presence Detection: Verifies that a backup battery is installed and properly connected before relying on it for backup power, eliminating blind spots in system readiness.
Integration and Load Planning
The AL1024ULXPD8 output configuration supports parallel or distributed device architectures common in access control power distribution and intercom systems. The eight fused outputs allow integrators to segment power distribution by functional zone or device type — for example, dedicating separate outputs to card readers, door locks, and auxiliary circuits. This granular isolation reduces fault propagation and simplifies root-cause analysis during troubleshooting.
Battery backup runtime depends on installed battery capacity and aggregate load draw. With a typical 12Ah or 18Ah battery, runtime for a 5A load can support 2–3 hours of continued access control operation. Consult Altronix specifications for precise runtime calculations based on your chosen backup battery model and expected load profile.
The unit integrates with central monitoring systems via relay outputs (for AC fail and low battery events) or serial interfaces, enabling remote status visibility and alerting — essential for facilities where a loss of power monitoring is itself a security liability.
Compact Installation
The AL1024ULXPD8 ships in a BC400 enclosure, sized for DIN-rail mounting or wall installation in electrical cabinets and equipment rooms. Its compact form factor allows deployment in space-constrained locations without sacrificing output fusing, battery backup, or supervision capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum aggregate load the AL1024ULXPD8 can support?
A: At 10A maximum output, the unit supports aggregate loads up to 240W at 24VDC. Each of the 8 outputs must be sized within its individual fuse rating, and total system current demand must not exceed 10A.
Q: Can I add battery backup to an existing AL1024ULXPD8 installation?
A: Yes. The AL1024ULXPD8 includes an integrated battery charger and is designed to support battery backup. Consult Altronix documentation for compatible battery models and installation procedures.
Q: How does the battery presence detection feature work?
A: The AL1024ULXPD8 detects physical connection and basic voltage presence on an installed backup battery. If no battery is detected, the unit signals an alert, preventing false confidence in backup availability.
Q: Can the AL1024ULXPD8 be integrated into a central monitoring or building management system?
A: Yes. AC fail and low battery supervision signals are available via relay outputs and serial interfaces, allowing integration with SNMP traps, email alerts, or syslog forwarding to NOC systems.
Q: What is the typical battery backup runtime with a standard Altronix battery?
A: Runtime varies based on battery capacity (commonly 12Ah or 18Ah) and total load draw. A 12Ah battery supporting a 5A load typically delivers 2–3 hours of backup operation. Consult Altronix runtime charts for your specific battery and load combination.
Q: Is the AL1024ULXPD8 suitable for outdoor installations?
A: The AL1024ULXPD8 is designed for indoor electrical cabinet or equipment room deployment. For outdoor or harsh-environment installations, consult Altronix on enclosure upgrade options or alternative models rated for the required IP/IK ratings.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
I've evaluated the Altronix AL1024ULXPD8 during planning phases for multi-zone access control retrofit projects. The eight independently fused outputs and integrated battery backup monitoring address a critical integration challenge: how to power and supervise multiple security circuits from a single, compact source without sacrificing fault isolation or system visibility. The AL1024ULXPD8 is particularly well-suited when you need to know that power is available and that backup is ready, not just assume it.
Technical Highlights:
- Fused Output Isolation: Eight independent fuses mean a single device fault (short, overcurrent, or misconfiguration) cannot propagate to other circuits. In a multi-zone facility, this is the difference between one door reader going offline versus the entire access control system failing simultaneously.
- 240W Aggregate Capacity: At 10A and 24VDC, the unit supports typical distributed loads — multiple card readers, a pair of electric strikes, auxiliary sensors, and intercom circuits — all from one supply, eliminating the need for multiple smaller supplies scattered across the cabinet.
- Battery Supervision Triple-Layer: AC fail detection, low battery alerts, and battery presence verification ensure you have visibility into backup readiness before an outage occurs. Most installations lack this visibility until the power fails and the backup is already depleted.
Deployment Considerations:
- Aggregate load planning is non-negotiable. At 10A maximum, you cannot exceed 240W total. If your door locks, readers, and intercom aggregate to 12A under peak load, you need a larger supply or distributed architecture.
- Battery runtime is load-dependent. Many integrators assume a 12Ah battery provides hours of backup without calculating actual load draw. Document your expected load and verify runtime against Altronix charts before final commissioning.
- Supervision relay outputs are not self-powered; they require integration into your monitoring system or a relay module that can trigger external alerting. Standalone AL1024ULXPD8 units without monitoring integration provide fault isolation but no remote visibility into outages.
Position the AL1024ULXPD8 in multi-zone access control retrofits where you need to consolidate multiple small supplies and add backup power visibility without redesigning the entire cabinet wiring. It is not a suitable choice for single-device powering or for high-current loads (above 10A aggregate). For warehouse automation or large access control matrices, evaluate other Altronix power supply models rated for higher current or modular stacking.
