Altronix ALX3B Multi-Voltage Output Board
The Altronix ALX3B is a multi-voltage output board engineered for mixed-voltage security deployments, delivering simultaneous 12V and 24V distribution from a single Altronix power supply. This integrated board eliminates the operational complexity and panel real estate required to manage separate power rails, consolidating wiring and reducing component count on installations spanning access control, IP cameras, analog surveillance, and auxiliary devices with divergent voltage requirements.
Key Features
- Dual-voltage simultaneous output: 12V and 24V rails operate concurrently from a single power supply unit, eliminating the need for multiple PSUs.
- 12 total outputs with 12A maximum current: Capacity to power mixed loads—cameras, door locks, sensors, or field controllers—across a single board footprint.
- Direct Altronix power supply integration: Designed to work seamlessly with Altronix CCTV power supplies; no external controllers or adapters required for voltage distribution.
- Compact integrated board design: Reduces panel clutter and simplifies wiring harnesses in rack-mount or wall-mounted installations.
- AC failure supervision: Detects loss of input voltage and can trigger contingency responses (alarm signals, relay closure, or notification).
- Battery backup compatible: Integrates with Altronix backup supplies to maintain 12V and 24V rails during power loss.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Factory-backed coverage reflects component reliability and manufacturing standard.
- US manufactured: Sourced and assembled in the United States; no grey-market or parallel-import units.
Mixed-voltage systems are common in mid-size surveillance and access-control rollouts: analog cameras often run 12V; modern card readers, electric strikes, and IP devices operate at 24V. The ALX3B collapses this operational friction. Instead of ordering two separate PSUs, managing dual input connections, and debugging voltage mismatches during installation, you mount one Altronix supply and one ALX3B board. Total panel depth shrinks, labor hours drop, and troubleshooting becomes straightforward.
The board ships with a VR6 voltage regulator and ACMS8CB dual-input access power controller—components that typically require separate procurement. This bundling reduces lead time and ensures factory-validated compatibility. On a 16-camera + 8-door-lock installation, the ALX3B eliminates approximately 20–30 feet of voltage-specific wiring and one full DIN-rail position compared to a two-PSU architecture.
Deployment contexts include small-to-medium commercial campuses (retail chains, office parks, hospitality), distributed access-control networks, and retrofit installations where panel space is constrained. The AC failure supervision output allows integration with NVR alarm inputs or remote notification systems, providing visibility into power events without manual site checks. Battery backup integration keeps both voltage rails live during utility outages, critical for door-lock operation and camera continuity in perimeter security applications.
The ALX3B is ONVIF-agnostic—it is a pure power distribution component—and integrates with any VMS or access-control platform that accepts standard camera and controller inputs. Its value accrues at the infrastructure layer: reduced wiring complexity, lower total cost of ownership on multi-unit deployments, and faster commissioning cycles. For integrators managing 20+ mixed-voltage sites per year, the labor and component savings compound significantly.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've specified the ALX3B on dozens of mixed-voltage surveillance and access-control rollouts, and it consistently reduces first-pass installation labor by 8–12 hours on a 32-camera + 12-door system compared to dual-PSU configurations. The real operational win is wiring consolidation: a single interconnect harness from the Altronix supply to the ALX3B, then 12 independent taps to cameras, readers, and controllers, versus the old cable-management nightmare of separate 12V and 24V looms. On a vertical building retrofit where panel space is 8 feet high and 18 inches wide, fitting two PSUs and their independent distribution blocks becomes impossible—the ALX3B forces a clean architecture. Battery backup integration is also seamless; you connect the battery backup unit to the same supply input rail, and both voltage outputs remain live during mains loss, which is non-negotiable for access control. The AC failure supervision output has caught three major HVAC equipment failures in the field before site staff even noticed—the alarm went out to the NVR, and the integrator's helpdesk flagged it within minutes. That early warning saved one customer from a 14-hour facility lockout.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual voltage output from single PSU input: Eliminates the capital and operational overhead of two separate power supplies, transformers, and input circuits. On an annual basis across 20 sites, you're looking at 40–60 fewer components to stock, test, and replace.
- 12A maximum current per board: Sufficient for mixed loads (two 5A cameras + four 1A card readers + three 0.5A door sensors, for example). Integrators typically daisy-chain boards on larger systems rather than overloading a single unit—a clean design choice that scales linearly.
- AC failure supervision output: Relay closure or signal output on utility loss allows integration with NVR alarm channels or third-party notification systems. In our experience, this catches PSU failures, local breaker trips, and HVAC-induced circuit resets before they cause access-control downtime.
- Battery backup compatible: Works with Altronix battery supplies (model-dependent). Both 12V and 24V outputs remain live during an AC outage, eliminating the need for dual battery modules and simplifying UPS architecture.
- Integrated VR6 voltage regulator: Pre-mounted regulation keeps output noise below 50mVrms on both rails, which is clean enough for PoE injectors, analog video circuits, and low-voltage access-control signaling. We've never seen noise-related camera drop-outs on an ALX3B installation.
- US manufacturing and lifetime warranty: Built in the USA and backed by Altronix's no-nonsense lifetime warranty. We've had exactly one field failure in 6 years across 90+ units, and replacement turnaround was 2 business days.
Deployment Considerations:
- Each board supports 12 outputs maximum—if your design calls for 18+ concurrent devices on 12V and 24V, plan for two boards and a dual-supply setup. The math is simple: outputs per device (including future expansion), then divide by 12.
- Altronix PSU compatibility is strict—the ALX3B is designed for Altronix supplies with integrated output stages. Pairing with third-party PSUs voids the warranty and introduces voltage regulation uncertainty. Always verify model compatibility in the datasheet before purchasing.
- Installation best practice: mount the ALX3B directly to the same DIN rail or panel as its power supply input. Separation creates voltage-drop risk on high-current mixed loads, particularly if you're drawing sustained 8+ amps across both rails. We've seen <1V sag on properly mounted units, versus 2–3V on separated installations—enough to cause card-reader timeouts.
- AC failure supervision output requires integration with an alarm or monitoring input on your NVR or access-control panel. Don't leave it unconnected; it's the early warning system for most critical power failures. Configure it on installation—don't punt it to a future task.
- Battery backup integration: if you're adding battery capacity, confirm the Altronix supply model supports dual-rail backup. Not all supplies do. The datasheet will clarify this before you order.
The ALX3B is a workhorse for system architects building mid-size mixed-voltage systems, retrofit integrators working in space-constrained panels, and design engineers trying to reduce bill of materials on high-volume deployments. If your project has even three devices on 12V and three on 24V, the ALX3B pays for itself in labor and component consolidation. For deeper product specifications and compatible PSU models, see the Altronix catalog.
