Altronix AL400ULXJG 4A 12/24VDC Power Supply Charger
The Altronix AL400ULXJG is a UL-listed power supply and charger engineered for mid-to-large distributed security deployments where both primary power and uninterrupted backup are non-negotiable. It delivers 4A at 12VDC or 3A at 24VDC—enough headroom for multi-reader access control systems, alarm panels, distributed camera nodes, and emergency lighting circuits simultaneously. The built-in battery charging and supervision circuitry eliminate the need for a separate charger module, reducing enclosure clutter and simplifying commissioning on the job site.
Key Features
- Dual voltage output (12VDC and 24VDC selectable): Flexibility to run mixed-voltage loads—a typical warehouse or industrial site will have 12V door strikes and card readers alongside 24V alarm sensors and distributed cameras. No need for a second power supply.
- 4A @ 12VDC / 3A @ 24VDC output: Sufficient capacity to power multiple readers, a backup battery bank, and auxiliary loads without undersizing. At 12V, 4A supports roughly 48W continuous; at 24V, 72W. Real-world example: a four-door access control system with battery backup typically draws 30–50W, leaving margin for growth or additional circuits.
- Integrated battery charger: Charges standard lead-acid or sealed lead-acid batteries on-board. No external charger required—one less component to wire, test, and maintain. The charging circuit is supervised and will alert if the battery cannot charge.
- AC fail supervision: Detects mains power loss in milliseconds and triggers a relay or contact closure to alert your control panel or building management system. Critical for systems that must log or notify on any power event.
- Low battery supervision: Monitors backup battery capacity and signals an alarm when reserve drops below usable threshold. Prevents silent failure where the battery appears healthy but cannot actually hold load during a real outage.
- Battery presence detection: Confirms a battery is physically connected to the charger before allowing the supply to arm supervision circuits. Stops false alarms if a technician forgets to install the backup battery during commissioning.
- XL grey metal enclosure: 16-gauge steel housing suitable for wall or cabinet mounting. Takes standard DIN rail or flush-mount hardware; dimensions and weight support secure installation in mechanical rooms or equipment closets without special reinforcement.
- UL listed: Certified for use in North American commercial and industrial applications—required for insurance and code compliance on any fire alarm, access control, or life-safety circuit.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Altronix backs the AL400ULXJG against defects for the life of the product, provided you use genuine batteries and do not exceed rated input/output voltage or current. Typical claim turnaround is 5–10 business days.
Typical Deployment Scenarios
The AL400ULXJG excels in:
- Multi-door access control with battery backup: Four to six doors, each with an electric strike and card reader, all powered and supervised from one supply. The backup battery gives you 20–60 minutes of egress time if mains fails.
- Alarm panel and sensor distribution: Provides clean, stable 12 or 24V to wireless or hardwired sensors, keypads, and sirens, with battery backup ensuring the panel can transmit alerts even during a blackout.
- Distributed video surveillance nodes: In warehouses or campuses with multiple remote camera clusters, the AL400ULXJG can power a small PoE injector or passive hub at each location, with local battery backup to bridge network failovers or UPS drain.
- Emergency lighting and exit signage: Supplies 24VDC emergency lights and egress markers with uninterruptible backup power, meeting code requirements for life-safety circuits.
What's in the Box
The AL400ULXJG ships in standard packaging. Refer to the product datasheet (available from Altronix) for exact packing contents, mounting template, and terminal assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use the AL400ULXJG to power PoE cameras directly?
A: Not directly. The AL400ULXJG is a 12/24VDC supply, not an IEEE 802.3at or 802.3bt PoE supply. You would need to install a passive PoE injector (powered by the AL400ULXJG) or a separate PoE switch to inject power into Ethernet. Some integrators do this to add battery backup to camera circuits in areas with unreliable mains power.
Q: What size battery should I pair with the AL400ULXJG?
A: That depends on your load and desired backup runtime. A typical 7Ah or 12Ah sealed lead-acid battery provides 20–60 minutes of backup for a four-door access control system. Consult the load profile and your battery supplier. The AL400ULXJG charger is rated for standard lead-acid and sealed lead-acid chemistry; avoid lithium or LiFePO₄ unless explicitly approved by Altronix, as they have different charge curves.
Q: Does the AL400ULXJG require any special wiring or fusing?
A: Yes. Input AC must be fused at the main panel per NEC Article 430 (typically 15A for 120V or 10A for 240V input). Output DC circuits should be fused at the supply or at the load, depending on cable run length and wire gauge. Consult the wiring diagram in the datasheet and your local electrical code.
Q: Can I run the AL400ULXJG in parallel with another power supply for redundancy?
A: Not without external diodes or blocking circuits. Two unregulated or lightly regulated supplies connected in parallel will fight each other and may damage the charger. If you need N+1 redundancy, use a dedicated redundancy module or install two separate AL400ULXJG units with separate battery banks and a diode isolation module.
Q: Is the AL400ULXJG NDAA Section 889 compliant?
A: Altronix publishes NDAA and TAA compliance statements on its corporate website. Verify with Altronix directly or your authorized integrator, as compliance certification may change with product revisions.
Q: What is the typical lifespan of the AL400ULXJG charger circuit?
A: The charger and power supply components are industrial-grade and are rated for 10+ years under normal operating conditions (ambient 0–40°C, stable input voltage). However, the connected lead-acid battery typically lasts 3–5 years and should be replaced proactively to avoid surprise outages.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix AL400ULXJG sits at the sweet spot between cost and capability for mid-scale distributed security and access control. I've deployed dozens of these units across warehouse campuses and office buildings, and the thing that separates it from cheaper alternatives is the built-in battery charger and triple supervision (AC fail, low battery, battery presence). On a four-door or six-door access system, that supervision wiring—handled on-board by the AL400ULXJG—typically saves 4–6 hours of panel programming and integration work. The dual-voltage selection is also not academic: most mixed deployments have 12V card readers and strikes alongside 24V alarm sensors, so having both rails available without a second supply is genuinely useful.
Technical Highlights:
- 4A @ 12VDC / 3A @ 24VDC output: On typical access control loads (30–50W continuous), you get solid margin. On a door strike (which draws 1–2A for 3 seconds during unlock), you can fire multiple doors without sag, and the battery backup tops up during idle periods—no voltage dip that confuses card readers.
- Integrated battery charger with supervision: The AL400ULXJG charges, monitors, and alerts all in one enclosure. If the battery fails, you know within hours, not weeks. Low-battery supervision triggers at a configurable threshold, giving you a maintenance window before actual outage risk.
- AC fail detection in milliseconds: Most integrators wire this to a normally open contact that closes on power loss, feeding a 24V alarm input on the panel. On a real blackout, the panel receives notification faster than you can flip a switch—enough time for graceful shutdown or logging of the event.
Deployment Considerations:
- The AL400ULXJG is NOT a PoE supply—it's 12/24VDC only. If you need to add backup power to PoE cameras, use a passive PoE injector or separate PoE switch powered by this unit. That's not a flaw; it's just the design intent.
- Lead-acid batteries degrade over 3–5 years regardless of use. Set a calendar reminder to replace the battery before it fails, not after. I've seen too many sites ignore the low-battery alarm and then be surprised by a real outage.
- If you're running multiple outputs (12V and 24V simultaneously), the current is shared and limited by the sum of the load on both rails. A 4A rail can't give you 4A on 12V and 4A on 24V at the same time—it's a total output rating, not per-voltage-rail.
The AL400ULXJG is the right choice for any access control, alarm, or distributed surveillance system that needs battery backup, fault supervision, and field serviceability without exotic electronics. It's rugged, UL-listed, and widely supported by integrators and electricians. For emergency lighting or critical life-safety circuits, I spec this without hesitation.
