Altronix AL400ULX Single-Output 12/24VDC Power Supply & Battery Charger
The Altronix AL400ULX is a regulated DC power supply with integrated sealed lead-acid battery charger, housed in a compact BC300 enclosure. It functions as both primary power source and automatic backup charger, making it the foundation for access control, CCTV, and alarm deployments that require seamless power continuity when AC fails. Selectable 12VDC or 24VDC output—choose based on your door locks, cameras, or panel voltage requirements—eliminates the need for separate units.
Key Features
- Selectable 12VDC or 24VDC output: Configure at installation to match your existing infrastructure without redesigning wiring. A single SKU covers both low- and mid-voltage security systems.
- 4A @ 12VDC or 3A @ 24VDC rated output: Sufficient headroom to run multiple door strikes, card readers, sensors, or low-power camera PSUs while simultaneously charging a backup battery. At 12V, you're looking at roughly 48W available; at 24V, 72W—real capacity for multi-device installs without overload risk.
- Integrated automatic battery charger: Condition sealed lead-acid (SLA) and gel-type batteries in the background. When AC power drops, transistor switching transfers load to the battery in milliseconds—no buzzer, no manual intervention. Supervised transition means the system never goes blind during a power event.
- AC Fail, Battery Fail, and Battery Presence supervision signals: Wired dry contacts (or relay outputs where applicable) alert your control panel or monitoring station the instant AC is lost, a battery fails, or a battery disconnects. Critical for audited facilities where power events must be logged and reported.
- Compact BC300 enclosure: Wall or DIN rail mounting—fits in equipment cabinets, under desks, or in utility closets without claiming cabinet real estate. Smaller footprint than larger industrial PSUs, easier to document and swap in the field.
- UL Listed (U.S. and Canada), CSFM Approved, MEA Approved: Insurance companies and fire marshals recognize this unit. Use it in monitored alarm systems, life-safety access control, and commercial CCTV without compliance questions. Certifications mean the charger topology, thermal protection, and fault handling have passed rigorous third-party audit.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL400ULX pairs naturally with access control systems needing continuous power to mag locks and electronic strikes, network video recorders and camera PSUs that draw modest current, and hardwired alarm panels requiring backup during power loss. The supervision outputs integrate with any panel that accepts dry-contact alarm inputs, or feed into a networked monitoring system via relay expansion modules. Install guidelines recommend pairing with a battery sized for your load duration—typical configurations pair the AL400ULX with a 7Ah to 17Ah sealed lead-acid battery to achieve 4–8 hours of backup runtime depending on connected device draw.
When to Choose a Different Model
If you need higher output current (above 4A @ 12V or 3A @ 24V), or if you require multiple independently controlled outputs with separate battery-backup logic per channel, consider higher-capacity models in the Altronix regulated PSU line. For systems needing redundant power supplies or load-sharing across parallel units, consult the broader Altronix catalog.
Deployment Context
Use the AL400ULX as your baseline for any single-zone access control retrofit, small multi-camera backup PSU, or alarm panel power/charging hub. Its supervision outputs integrate cleanly into access control architecture planning, and the automatic battery management removes the guesswork of manual charger selection. The small footprint and wall-mount option make it practical for sites where cabinet space is scarce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the AL400ULX charge a larger 24Ah battery?
A: Yes, but charge time extends proportionally. The unit uses a constant-voltage float charger topology suitable for sealed lead-acid and gel batteries of any reasonable capacity. Consult the datasheet for recommended maximum battery size and charge time curves.
Q: What happens if AC power fails while the battery is already in use?
A: The AL400ULX continues to supply DC power from the battery until either the battery is depleted or AC is restored. The Battery Fail signal alerts your control panel if the battery voltage drops below acceptable threshold, prompting escalation or graceful shutdown of non-essential loads.
Q: Does the AL400ULX support 110VAC input only?
A: Yes. Input is 115VAC, 60Hz. For 220VAC or international sites, select an alternate Altronix PSU model rated for your local mains voltage.
Q: Can I wall-mount the AL400ULX directly or do I need a bracket?
A: The BC300 enclosure supports both wall and DIN rail mounting. Mounting hardware and template are included; no external bracket required for standard installations.
Q: Is the AL400ULX suitable for outdoor equipment racks?
A: The unit itself is designed for indoor/protected environments. For outdoor cabinets, mount it inside a weatherproof enclosure or select a weather-rated PSU model from the Altronix line.
Q: What warranty does Altronix provide?
A: Lifetime Limited Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Consult the warranty terms document for exclusions and claim procedures.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix AL400ULX strikes a practical balance for access control and small-scale security backup deployments. Its selectable 12/24VDC output and integrated charger eliminate the need to stock multiple SKUs or source separate battery management circuits. The supervision signal architecture—AC Fail, Battery Fail, Battery Presence—integrates cleanly into any hardwired or networked control panel that accepts dry-contact alarm inputs, a requirement I see across most commercial access control and alarm rollouts.
Technical Highlights:
- 4A @ 12VDC / 3A @ 24VDC output: Delivers 48–72W nominal capacity, enough to handle a mag lock and card reader simultaneously, or a modest camera PSU and door controller in parallel. Not a power-hungry system, but realistic headroom prevents nuisance resets.
- Integrated sealed lead-acid charger: Float-charge topology maintains battery health across gel and SLA types without manual intervention. Automatic current limiting and thermal management mean the unit doesn't cook batteries or themselves—field reliability improves when the charger runs in the background.
- Millisecond AC-loss transfer: Transistor switching to battery is instantaneous; no brownout window, no momentary glitch on the 12/24V rail. Critical for mag locks that drop on momentary power sag—you don't want a false unlock event.
- UL, CSFM, MEA approvals: Three separate third-party seals mean insurance underwriters and fire marshals will accept this unit in monitored alarm systems and life-safety access control without re-engineering the approval process.
Deployment Considerations:
- Match your backup battery capacity to your actual load runtime requirement. I typically spec a 7–12Ah SLA for most single-door or two-reader sites running 4–6 hours on battery. If you need 8+ hours, oversizing the battery at install time is cheaper than scrambling to retrofit a larger unit later.
- The BC300 enclosure is compact, but thermal dissipation assumes adequate airflow. Don't mount it inside a sealed metal cabinet directly adjacent to a heat source—verify the internal temperature doesn't creep above 40°C under sustained full-load charging.
- Supervision outputs are dry relay contacts; they're not powered signals. If you're feeding them into a networked alarm panel, verify the panel pulls the supervision relay, not the reverse. Polarity matters on some older systems.
Position the AL400ULX as your power backbone for sub-100W access control and alarm deployments: single-zone retrofit sites, small multi-reader clusters, and low-power camera backup scenarios where you need UL-listed battery management in a wall-mounted form factor that doesn't demand cabinet space.
