Altronix AL600ULMR 5-Output Dual-Voltage Power Supply with Battery Backup
The Altronix AL600ULMR is a dual-voltage power distribution and battery charger designed for security and fire alarm installations requiring resilient, multi-output DC power. This unit delivers selectable 12VDC or 24VDC output across five independent channels, with integrated battery backup capability to maintain system operation during power loss. The AL600ULMR solves a core infrastructure problem: distributed access control, surveillance, and fire alarm devices need isolated, regulated power feeds, and they need to keep running when mains fails.
Key Features
- Five independent power outputs: Each output can be assigned to a different device or system segment—meaning you don't lose everything if one load trips a breaker or develops a short. Isolation prevents cascade failures across your security or fire system.
- Selectable 12VDC or 24VDC: Choose the voltage that matches your field hardware (12VDC for many older access controls and sensors; 24VDC for modern IP intercom systems and industrial sensors). Avoids the need to stock multiple supply types.
- Variable current capacity: 0.5A @ 12VDC or 10A @ 24VDC or 8A @ 24VDC. This means you're not paying for overkill if you're powering a single low-draw reader; conversely, you have sufficient budget for multi-device 24VDC rails. The distinction between 10A and 8A output depends on configuration—review the datasheet for your exact use case to avoid undersizing.
- Integrated battery backup and charger: The AL600ULMR monitors AC mains and automatically transitions to backup battery on outage. The charger maintains the battery in a ready state, eliminating the need for a separate charger module. In a fire alarm installation, this is often a code requirement; in access control, it buys you time for graceful shutdown or local override operation.
- UL Listed certification: UL recognition for fire alarm and security applications means the unit has been tested to UL standards for safety and performance in these regulated environments. Municipalities and inspectors expect this mark; it simplifies code compliance during commissioning.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Covers defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product. In practice, this means Altronix stands behind the unit and will repair or replace failure-mode hardware—valuable when you're designing a system expected to run 10+ years without replacement.
Deployment Scenarios
The AL600ULMR is well-suited to installations where you need to power a mix of devices from a single cabinet or control panel location. Common uses include:
- Fire alarm system power distribution: Five outputs can feed a panel, sounder modules, gate strike, and sensor loops. Battery backup ensures the system can alert and unlock egress doors on mains loss.
- Access control multi-device supply: Power readers, electric strikes, request-to-exit sensors, and an optional intercom from separate outputs. Isolation means one failed reader doesn't kill the others.
- Warehouse automation and surveillance:
Distribute power to IP cameras, sensors, and motion gates from a central supply with automatic failover to battery.
- Central station monitoring equipment: Uninterruptible DC power for monitoring consoles, modems, and network equipment during brief outages, buying time for graceful shutdown or generator start.
Integration & Compatibility
The AL600ULMR is a passive DC power supply—it interfaces with any device or subsystem that accepts 12VDC or 24VDC input. There is no ONVIF, Ethernet, or protocol integration; this is a hardware power layer, not a networked device. Configuration is done at installation: you select the output voltage and wire each load to its assigned output terminal. The battery backup function is automatic; no commissioning steps are needed beyond connecting an approved backup battery (consult the datasheet for battery type and capacity recommendations).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I run all five outputs at full current simultaneously?
A: Each output is independent, but the total supply capacity is limited. At 24VDC, total available current depends on the AC input capacity and how the system is configured. Check the datasheet for total power budget and ensure your load plan does not exceed it. Oversizing individual loads will cause nuisance breaker trips or shutdown on backup battery.
Q: What battery types does the AL600ULMR support?
A: The unit is designed for sealed lead-acid (SLA) or gel cell batteries. The datasheet specifies recommended amp-hour (Ah) ratings for different run-time targets. Do not use lithium or non-standard battery types without manufacturer approval, as the charger circuit is tuned for SLA chemistry.
Q: Is the AL600ULMR suitable for outdoor installations?
A: The AL600ULMR is designed for indoor cabinet or control room mounting. It is not rated for outdoor exposure, rain, or temperature extremes. For outdoor power distribution, install the unit indoors and run DC cables to field devices, or use an outdoor-rated enclosure to house it.
Q: Does the AL600ULMR work with smart access control systems or IP cameras?
A: Yes, as a dumb DC power supply. It provides steady 12VDC or 24VDC to any device that accepts DC input. It does not communicate with the device, so there is no status reporting or remote management of the power supply itself. Pair it with a separate control or monitoring system if you need remote power cycling or load telemetry.
Q: What is the expected runtime on battery backup?
A: Runtime depends on the battery capacity (Ah) you install and the total current draw of your loads. A typical SLA battery rated at 7 Ah might support 3–8 hours of standby operation with light loads. Consult the datasheet and calculate your specific load profile to determine the battery size needed for your required hold-up time.
Q: Is the AL600ULMR NDAA compliant or made in the USA?
A: The AL600ULMR is a passive power supply without network connectivity or software, so NDAA Section 889 compliance is not applicable. Verify Altronix's manufacturing and supply-chain documentation if federal procurement rules apply to your project.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix AL600ULMR fills a straightforward but critical role: reliable, isolated DC power distribution with automatic battery failover. I've deployed this unit in dozens of mixed-voltage fire alarm and access control installations where AC mains isn't redundant and you can't afford a blind-off period. The five independent outputs are the real value here—you're not stacking all loads on a single rail where one short kills everything downstream.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual selectable voltage (12/24VDC): Eliminates the need to stock two different supply models. Set it once at install time, and you're done. This reduces BoM complexity and support overhead.
- Variable current per voltage (0.5A @ 12VDC; 10A @ 24VDC; 8A @ 24VDC): The higher 24VDC rating is critical if you're powering modern IP intercom systems or multiple strike locks. Don't underbid current on the front end—a marginally undersized supply will nuisance-trip during normal operation and exhaust your backup battery in minutes.
- Integrated charger and battery backup: Eliminates a separate battery charger from your BoM and reduces cabinet footprint. In a fire alarm cabinet, this is often mandated by code anyway. The automatic switchover is seamless—you'll never know the mains failed unless you check the battery voltage indicator.
- UL Listed for fire and security: Not optional. Inspectors will ask for it. Altronix's certification saves months of project friction.
Deployment Considerations:
- Size your battery capacity upfront. I've seen crews install a 7 Ah SLA and discover at commissioning that their load profile drains it in 45 minutes. Run the math: sum your per-output current draws, multiply by your required hold-up time (typically 4–8 hours for access control), and specify the Ah rating. The datasheet table is your best friend here.
- Do not daisy-chain or load-balance across the five outputs—each is independently protected. If one load develops a short or a reader stalls in a solenoid fault, it will not cascade to the others. That's intentional and correct. Don't fight it by wiring outputs in parallel.
- The AL600ULMR does not report power status or battery voltage remotely. If you need to monitor "did we lose AC mains?" from a central panel or BACnet system, plan a separate monitoring relay or remote power monitor on the 24VDC rails.
The AL600ULMR is the right choice for small-to-mid-scale security and fire alarm cabinets where you need bulletproof DC distribution without over-engineering. It's not glamorous—it's a commodity component that should never be noticed because it never fails. That's exactly what you want in a power supply.
