Altronix AL400ULMR 5-Output Power Supply Charger
The Altronix AL400ULMR is a UL Listed power supply and integrated battery charger built for security infrastructure requiring dual-voltage distribution and continuity-of-power support. It delivers selectable 12VDC or 24VDC output across five independent channels, with current capacities designed to handle both low-draw sensor networks and mid-power access control or fire alarm auxiliary circuits. The AL400ULMR is purpose-built for distributed security deployments where mixed voltage devices and backup power conditioning matter.
Key Features
- Five independent outputs: Allows you to power multiple device types from a single supply, reducing the clutter of multiple power bricks and simplifying wiring in wall-mounted or DIN-rail installations.
- Selectable 12VDC or 24VDC output voltage: Avoids the need to stock separate supplies for different voltage requirements—you configure once at installation and move on.
- 0.5A maximum at 12VDC: Sufficient for low-power auxiliary circuits, sensor loops, and notification devices that operate at 12V.
- 10A maximum at 24VDC (primary output): Delivers adequate current for larger access control panels, door strike coils, and distributed 24V sensor networks without undersizing the supply. This is your headline spec for 24V workloads.
- 8A maximum at 24VDC (secondary configuration): Provides a second 24V output path if you need to separate loads or isolate circuits for troubleshooting or redundancy tuning.
- Integrated battery backup support: The AL400ULMR will charge and maintain a backup battery, ensuring that critical circuits (door strikes, fire alarm supervisory loops, access logs) remain powered if AC fails. This is essential in any installation where a power dropout creates a security gap or compliance violation.
- UL Listed: Meets recognized safety and construction standards, required for commercial security and life-safety installations.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Altronix backs the unit for the long term, reducing lifecycle cost risk on infrastructure that may stay in place for 10+ years.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL400ULMR integrates with Redfire and compatible access control system platforms, making it a natural fit in access control-centric security designs. Its multi-output architecture supports fire alarm auxiliary power circuits, supervised notification device charging, and mixed-voltage sensor networks—the kind of hybrid infrastructure that is common in mid-to-large commercial facilities where access control, intrusion detection, and life-safety systems share infrastructure.
In access control deployments, the AL400ULMR handles both panel power and battery charging in one footprint. In fire alarm applications, it can supply auxiliary power to notification devices while maintaining charger readiness. The flexible voltage selection means one model covers both 12V and 24V device populations without redesign.
Typical Deployment Scenarios
Access control installations benefit most: the unit's battery backup capability ensures that door strikes, REX buttons, and control logic remain operational during AC outages—mandatory in many jurisdictions and essential for maintaining evacuation and security protocol integrity. Fire alarm integrations use the AL400ULMR to power supervised auxiliary circuits, keeping notification loops and control interface devices charged and ready. Warehouse or facility automation environments with mixed 12V and 24V sensor networks can consolidate power distribution through the five outputs, reducing cabinet clutter and single-point-of-failure risk.
When to Choose a Different Model
If your deployment requires higher current capacity at 12VDC (beyond 0.5A), or if you need more than five outputs, evaluate higher-capacity models in the Altronix power supply family. If battery backup is not required, a passive 12/24VDC supply without charger capability may deliver cost savings. If your integration is strictly single-voltage, a dedicated model tuned to that voltage alone may simplify configuration and reduce unused capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the AL400ULMR support both 12VDC and 24VDC simultaneously?
A: No. The output voltage is selectable at configuration—you choose 12VDC or 24VDC for the entire unit. If you require both voltages in the same installation, you would need to deploy multiple AL400ULMR units or a different supply with multi-voltage capability.
Q: What battery types does the AL400ULMR charge?
A: The AL400ULMR supports integrated battery backup capability and will charge compatible backup battery systems used in access control and fire alarm applications. Consult the product manual or contact the manufacturer for the list of tested battery types and ampere-hour ratings to ensure compatibility with your chosen battery.
Q: Is the AL400ULMR suitable for outdoor or harsh-environment deployments?
A: The AL400ULMR is designed for indoor installation in secured enclosures, control rooms, or equipment racks. If outdoor deployment is required, the unit must be mounted in a weatherproof enclosure (NEMA 4X or equivalent). Check the product documentation for operating temperature and humidity ranges.
Q: Can I configure different outputs for different voltages on the same AL400ULMR unit?
A: No. The AL400ULMR's output voltage is a global setting. All five outputs deliver either 12VDC or 24VDC—whichever you select. Mixed-voltage requirements require either separate units or a different power supply architecture.
Q: What is the current draw of the AL400ULMR itself (no-load AC power consumption)?
A: This specification is not documented in the available evidence. Contact the manufacturer or consult the technical datasheet for no-load and standby power consumption figures.
Q: Is the AL400ULMR compatible with Milestone XProtect or other video management systems?
A: The AL400ULMR is a power supply and battery charger, not a networked device. It does not integrate directly into VMS platforms. It is used to power access control panels, fire alarm interfaces, and sensor networks that may feed data into a VMS or security management system, but the supply itself is not a managed component.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix AL400ULMR solves a specific and recurring problem in hybrid security deployments: you have access control panels, fire alarm auxiliary circuits, and sensor networks that demand both 12V and 24V power, plus you need battery backup to survive AC loss without sacrificing door strike or supervisory circuit uptime. The AL400ULMR consolidates all of that into one UL-listed supply with integrated charger capability, which cuts installation time and reduces the number of single-point-of-failure elements in your power infrastructure.
Technical Highlights:
- 10A at 24VDC primary output: This is adequate for most access control panels and distributed sensor networks. It avoids undersizing—a common mistake that leads to nuisance brownouts during load spikes—but it's not unlimited. Size your loads carefully; if you're pushing past 8–9A sustained, you're near ceiling and should evaluate a higher-capacity model.
- Five independent outputs with configurable voltage: The multiple outputs decouple different circuit families (access control vs. fire vs. intrusion sensors), which simplifies troubleshooting and allows you to isolate load faults without bringing down the entire security posture. The global voltage selection means you pick once and avoid confusion during commissioning.
- Integrated battery charging: The charger is built in, so you don't need a separate battery management module. This reduces BOM cost and footprint, especially in small electrical closets or DIN-rail cabinets where space is contested.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 0.5A limit at 12VDC is a hard constraint for low-voltage devices. If your 12V loads exceed roughly 6W total, you'll need a different topology or parallel supplies.
- Voltage is not mixed—all five outputs are the same voltage. This is a simplification that reduces cost and failure modes, but it means you cannot use the AL400ULMR alone if you truly need both 12V and 24V feeding different subsystems from a single unit.
- Battery backup requires that you actually connect and maintain a compatible battery. Many installations skip this or under-provision the battery capacity. If backup runtime is a design requirement, confirm the battery type and AH rating against your calculated load draw and required hold-up time—this is a pre-deployment detail that often gets missed.
Best fit: access control-centric facilities where the panel is the dominant 24V load, fire alarm supervisory circuits need power conditioning, and AC failure is a real risk (hospitals, data centers, government buildings). If your deployment is a mix of low-voltage sensors with no battery requirement, a simpler passive supply will cost less and be just as reliable.
