Altronix EFLOW104N16D 24VDC Power Supply with Fire Alarm Disconnect
The Altronix EFLOW104N16D is a 24VDC regulated power supply and charger designed for integrated security and life safety deployments where coordinated power shutdown is non-negotiable. Operating from 120VAC 60Hz input, it delivers up to 10A of output current distributed across 16 individually protected circuits. This architecture is critical: each output is protected by a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) element that automatically resets when an overload condition clears, eliminating nuisance trips on transient faults while still protecting against sustained short circuits or overcurrent events.
Key Features
- 16 PTC-Protected Outputs: Each output has its own thermal protection and automatic reset. This means a short on one circuit—say a door strike malfunction—won't cascade and kill power to your entire system. Real deployment benefit: you maintain access control and alarm coverage to the rest of the building while you troubleshoot the failed device.
- Fire Alarm Disconnect: The integrated disconnect function responds to fire alarm activation, shutting down power to non-life-safety loads on command. Meets emergency code requirements without requiring separate external relay logic or a secondary contactor—simplifying your panel layout and reducing potential single points of failure.
- Battery Backup Support: The EFLOW104N16D can charge and monitor an external 12V or 24V backup battery. During AC loss, the system transitions to battery power automatically, keeping access control and alarm circuits live until mains power returns or the battery depletes. Supervision reports the transition instantly.
- AC Fail Supervision: The unit monitors for loss of incoming AC power and reports that event to your fire alarm panel or security controller in real time. No guessing whether a power outage occurred while you were offline.
- Low Battery and Battery Presence Supervision: Two separate supervision inputs detect whether a battery is connected and whether its voltage is adequate. Catches missing, dead, or disconnected backup batteries before an emergency exposes the gap in your design.
- 24VDC Regulated Output: The 10A maximum capacity is sufficient for small-to-medium access control systems, addressable fire alarm panel powering, and multi-zone security backbones. At 10A, you have roughly 240W of continuous power—enough for several electronic locks, keypads, and field devices running simultaneously, with headroom for inrush current during solenoid actuation.
Integration and Approvals
FAI (Fire Alarm Institute) approval confirms this unit meets life safety standards for fire alarm integration. The Altronix EFLOW104N16D is designed to pair with addressable fire alarm control panels, access control managers, and battery-backed security distribution panels. Its supervision outputs integrate directly into your alarm panel's input modules, eliminating the need for remote monitoring gateways or proprietary cloud connectivity if your topology doesn't require it.
When to Choose This Model
Select the EFLOW104N16D if you need coordinated power distribution to multiple security and life safety devices with mandatory fire alarm shutdown, plus battery backup during AC loss. It is particularly suited to small commercial buildings, multi-tenant facilities, and campuses where a single power distribution point must support both access control and fire alarm circuits without crosstalk or single points of failure. The 16 PTC outputs mean you can segregate loads by zone or function, and each resets independently—reducing false alarms caused by temporary overcurrent on unrelated circuits.
When to Consider Alternatives
If your application requires more than 10A of sustained output, you will need a larger capacity model in the Altronix EFLOW or similar commercial power supply line. If battery backup is not a requirement and fire alarm disconnect is handled by a separate relay, a simpler non-supervised 24VDC supply may reduce cost and complexity. If you need distributed power supplies at multiple points in your facility rather than centralized distribution, a multi-unit design with redundancy may be necessary.
Warranty
The EFLOW104N16D includes a Lifetime Limited Warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Refer to the manufacturer's warranty statement for exclusions and claim procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the EFLOW104N16D require a separate fire alarm panel to function?
A: The fire alarm disconnect function is built into the unit and does not require an external panel. However, to trigger the disconnect automatically during a fire alarm event, the EFLOW104N16D must be wired to an addressable fire alarm control panel or a security device that provides the disconnect signal. If you do not have a fire alarm system, the disconnect feature remains available but may only be triggered manually or via hardwired input.
Q: What size battery should I pair with the EFLOW104N16D?
A: The EFLOW104N16D supports external 12V or 24V lead-acid or sealed batteries. Battery sizing depends on your load profile and desired runtime. A 7Ah 24V battery will provide roughly 2–3 hours of backup at half load, depending on discharge rate and temperature. Calculate your actual current draw per circuit, multiply by desired runtime in hours, and select a battery with sufficient amp-hour (Ah) capacity. The unit's Low Battery supervision will alert you when voltage drops below a configurable threshold.
Q: Is the EFLOW104N16D suitable for outdoor enclosures?
A: The unit itself is designed for indoor mounting in a control panel or enclosure. If you need to house it outdoors, place the EFLOW104N16D inside a NEMA 4X or IP66-rated stainless steel enclosure with appropriate thermal management (fans or heat dissipation) to maintain operating temperature range.
Q: How do I monitor the supervision outputs?
A: The AC Fail, Low Battery, and Battery Presence supervision contacts are dry relay outputs that wire directly to input modules on your fire alarm panel or security control system. These contacts change state when the supervised condition is detected, allowing your control system to log events, send alerts, or trigger automated responses (e.g., dispatch, notification).
Q: Can I daisy-chain multiple EFLOW104N16D units for higher capacity?
A: No. The EFLOW104N16D is a standalone regulated supply and is not designed for parallel operation. For deployments requiring more than 10A, specify a higher-capacity model in the Altronix power supply portfolio or design a multi-supply architecture with separate distribution branches and coordination logic.
Ted PerryPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
I've specified the EFLOW104N16D into mixed-use buildings where access control and fire alarm circuits share a common backbone but must not interfere with each other. The 16 individually reset PTC outputs are the real differentiator here—they isolate faults and keep your system running even when one load shorts or draws excessive current. That's harder to achieve with a single large supply and external breakers.
Technical Highlights:
- 16 PTC-Protected Outputs with Automatic Reset: Each circuit is isolated thermally and electrically. A 24VDC short on output 7 (say, a failed door strike solenoid) trips that PTC element, but outputs 1–6 and 8–16 stay live. No cascading power loss. The PTC resets itself once the fault clears, without requiring a technician visit or manual reset.
- 10A Regulated Capacity: At 120VAC input, you get a full 10A DC output—enough for 2–4 electronic door locks, 1–2 mag locks, multiple keypads, and a small fire alarm panel's 24V rail, all running concurrently without voltage sag. That's roughly 240W of continuous headroom before you hit thermal limits.
- Fire Alarm Disconnect Built In: No external relay or contactor needed. When your fire alarm panel signals disconnect, the EFLOW104N16D cuts non-life-safety power in milliseconds. Meets code, simplifies your panel wiring, eliminates one more point of potential failure.
- Battery Supervision (AC Fail, Low Battery, Battery Presence): Three independent dry relay outputs report the state of your backup battery and mains power in real time. If a battery becomes disconnected or its voltage drops below a configurable threshold, your fire alarm system knows instantly and can page maintenance or log an audit event.
Deployment Considerations:
- Battery Selection is Critical: The EFLOW104N16D charges an external battery but does not size it for you. I've seen installations where a 5Ah battery was paired with a 10A supply, then the integrator wondered why runtime was 20 minutes instead of two hours. Right-size your backup battery to your actual sustained load (not peak) and desired runtime—then add 20% margin.
- Fire Alarm Integration is Hard-Wired: The disconnect signal comes from a dry contact on your fire alarm panel. If your fire alarm system is old or non-addressable, you will need a relay or hardwired trigger. Cloud-based or IP-only fire alarm panels may not have a readily available dry contact for this function—verify before final design.
- No Remote Monitoring Without a Third System: The EFLOW104N16D reports AC Fail, Low Battery, and Battery Presence via dry relay outputs to your alarm panel. It does not send alerts via email, SMS, or cloud. If you need out-of-band notifications, wire those supervision contacts to a separate dialer or monitoring service.
This is the right choice for small-to-medium commercial facilities, multi-tenant buildings, and campuses where reliability and code compliance matter more than cutting cost. The PTC architecture and integrated fire alarm disconnect justify the investment the moment a single-point power failure would take your access control and fire system offline simultaneously. Deploy it in a panel with adequate thermal clearance—these units generate heat under continuous 10A load—and pair it with a properly sized 24V battery for the runtime your code requires.
