Altronix PT724AE Single-Channel 365-Day Event Timer
The Altronix PT724AE is a single-channel relay timer designed for applications requiring precise annual date-based event triggering across 12 to 24 volt control systems. This board-level module operates independently of external enclosures and delivers reliable 365-day scheduling for access control unlock sequences, HVAC start/stop cycles, barrier gate operation, and facility equipment automation. Battery backup ensures event integrity during mains power loss, making it essential for critical switching tasks in security and building management infrastructure.
Key Features
- 365-Day Annual Scheduling: One-year event cycle allows precise date-based relay triggers — critical for seasonal gate operation, annual maintenance windows, and date-locked access sequences without reprogramming.
- Single Relay Output: One dry-contact relay channel rated for direct lock, gate, solenoid, or equipment control. Clean contact switching eliminates signal conditioning overhead.
- Dual Input Voltage: Accepts 12 to 24 VDC or VAC — compatible with standard access-control power supplies and legacy 24V alarm system infrastructure.
- Board-Level Form Factor: Mounts directly to DIN rail or enclosure backplane. No separate housing required; reduces panel real estate and installation labor.
- Battery Backup: Onboard battery holds event schedule and real-time clock through brief power interruptions. Schedule persists even after extended outages when power is restored.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Manufacturer warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship — reduces replacement risk on hardwired infrastructure.
The PT724AE is built for integrators who need to embed time-based control into access panels, HVAC lockout controllers, and gate automation systems. Unlike software-dependent timers or networked scheduling systems, this relay module operates autonomously — no cloud connectivity, no VPN dependency, and no reliance on system software updates. It fills the niche between a mechanical 24-hour timer (inflexible, low precision) and a full building automation platform (expensive, over-scoped for single-channel tasks).
Real-world deployments leverage the 365-day cycle for seasonal facility closures, annual gate access windows, and cyclical equipment maintenance schedules. On multi-tenant properties, the timer can enforce building-wide lock-down schedules on specific dates without manual intervention. HVAC systems use the PT724AE to enforce shut-off sequences during facility-wide maintenance windows, eliminating the need for technician call-outs to reset thermostats. Access control integrators embed the module into custom hardwired unlock sequences where network-dependent scheduling would introduce unacceptable latency or failure points.
Integration is passive: the relay contact is dry-form, compatible with all standard magnetic lock controllers, HVAC contactor coils, and barrier-gate solenoids. No proprietary protocol, no firmware updates, no compatibility matrix to cross-reference. The 12–24 VDC/VAC dual input tolerates voltage sag on aging power supplies and works with both modern switched-mode supplies and aging linear regulators found in legacy alarm panels. Battery backup ensures the schedule survives brief power dips without losing date context — critical in facilities where outages are frequent but brief.
Compliance-wise, the PT724AE carries no network or data-transmission elements, so NDAA and Section 889 concerns do not apply. The lifetime warranty is backed by Altronix's 50+ year track record as a US-based power-distribution and control-module manufacturer. For integrators building custom access-control assemblies, facility-automation enclosures, or hardwired time-lock sequences, the PT724AE is a proven, zero-complexity building block. It pairs well with Altronix power supplies, relay modules, and DIN-rail enclosures to create self-contained, network-independent control systems.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've specified the PT724AE into dozens of access-control panels and gate-automation enclosures over the past decade, and it's become one of those modules we reach for when a client needs bullet-proof 365-day scheduling without network overhead. The distinguishing factor isn't novelty — it's absolute reliability in a role where failure is operationally expensive. A door-lock timer that loses its schedule during a power blip generates service calls, tenant complaints, and potential security exposures. The PT724AE's battery-backed real-time clock and onboard 365-day event table mean the schedule survives power loss, mains voltage sag, and even extended outages if the backup battery is properly sized. In our experience, integrators often underestimate how much operational friction a networked or software-dependent timer introduces: firmware updates, VPN dependencies, NTP synchronization, and scheduling UI complexity all vanish when you're wiring a single relay module. The trade-off is obvious — you get one channel, no remote adjustment without physical access to the device, and no logging of when the relay triggered. But for a seasonal gate unlock, an annual facility shutdown sequence, or a time-locked access control sequence, that limitation is irrelevant.
Technical Highlights:
- 365-Day Event Cycle: Unlike a 24-hour or 7-day timer, the PT724AE can target specific dates on a calendar year — e.g., "unlock on July 4th, lock on September 5th." Eliminates repetitive manual seasonal resets and makes compliance audits straightforward when facility access windows are date-based.
- Dual Input Voltage (12–24 VDC/VAC): Works with both modern 24 VDC switched-mode supplies and legacy 24 VAC alarm-panel transformers. A single module covers retrofit projects where you're integrating into aging infrastructure and new builds with modern power supplies — no need to stock variants.
- Dry-Contact Relay Output: Clean single-throw relay contact is rated for direct solenoid, contactor, or lock control. No intermediate relay needed in most applications. Current handling (typically 1–2A per datasheet) is sufficient for magnetic locks, gate solenoids, and HVAC contactor pilots.
- Battery Backup for RTC Continuity: The real-time clock and event schedule survive brief power loss. On facilities with frequent but transient outages (brownouts, generator switchover delays), the schedule stays intact without manual re-entry.
- Zero Network Attack Surface: No Ethernet, no wireless, no API. If your security posture requires air-gapped time-based control — e.g., a high-security facility or a legacy building with no network infrastructure — this module poses no cyber risk.
Deployment Considerations:
- Board-level form factor requires DIN-rail enclosure or panel integration — do not expect standalone operation. Pair it with an Altronix DIN-rail power supply and appropriate relay modules for complete lock/gate control. Factor enclosure cost and wiring labor into the project budget.
- One-channel limitation: if you need independent scheduling for two gates or two locks, you'll need two PT724AE modules. Multi-channel time-based control may be more cost-effective with a single networked time-clock module, but accept network dependency as a trade-off.
- Programming occurs via dip-switch or jumper configuration on the board — not user-friendly for complex schedules. Verify the datasheet and allocate time for on-site configuration or pre-program the module at the shop before delivery. Field reprogramming by non-technical staff is not practical.
- Battery backup is effective for hours or days depending on battery size and ambient temperature. In environments with extended power loss (days), the schedule can drift if the backup battery depletes before power is restored. Ensure the onboard battery is genuine Altronix stock and replaced per manufacturer maintenance schedule.
- Relay contact ratings are modest (typically 1–2A at 24 VDC per typical specs). If you're controlling a high-current solenoid or contactor coil, verify contact current rating against your load and use an intermediate relay if necessary. Undersizing the relay contact is a common field failure mode.
The PT724AE is the right choice for integrators building custom hardwired control systems where network independence, simplicity, and long-term reliability outweigh the need for remote scheduling or centralized monitoring. It's not a replacement for a full building automation platform, but it's the ideal building block for single-channel, date-based control embedded into access panels, gate controllers, and facility automation enclosures. Explore the complete Altronix catalog for complementary power supplies, relay modules, and DIN-rail solutions.
