Altronix VERTILINE16D 16-Output 10A 24/28VAC Rack Supply
The Altronix VERTILINE16D is a rack-mount power distribution supply engineered for multi-zone access control and security installations requiring isolated, independently fused 24/28VAC circuits. With 16 outputs rated at 10A each and per-channel circuit isolation, the VERTILINE16D eliminates the risk of cascade failures across security zones—a critical operational requirement in deployments where a single power fault cannot compromise multiple entry points. Accepts 115VAC input from standard North American electrical infrastructure and mounts in any standard 19-inch security cabinet.
Key Features
- 16 Independently Fused Outputs: 10A per channel with individual thermal fusing. A fault or overload on one output does not affect the remaining 15 circuits.
- Per-Channel Isolation: Prevents cascade failures across security zones, ensuring that a compromised or overloaded door lock circuit does not degrade power to other access points.
- 24/28VAC Output Voltage: Direct power for electromagnetic locks, mag locks, card readers, door strike solenoids, and access control modules—no auxiliary conversion required.
- 115VAC Input: Standard North American single-phase power; integrates with typical building electrical infrastructure without specialized panel requirements.
- 19-Inch Rack Mount Form Factor: 1U or 2U cabinet density (height varies by model revision); stacks compactly with other access control distribution equipment and NVRs.
- UL Listed: Meets commercial safety approvals for institutional, educational, hospitality, and data-center deployments.
- Lifetime Warranty: Manufacturer warranty covers defective components and workmanship, reducing lifecycle replacement risk on backbone infrastructure.
The VERTILINE16D addresses a critical architectural problem in mid-to-large access control systems: centralized power distribution with decentralized fault isolation. On a 40-door building or multi-tenant office, a single 115VAC-to-24VAC transformer without per-output fusing forces a binary choice—either oversize the single supply to handle peak load (expensive and wasteful), or accept that any single zone outage can propagate across the entire installation. The VERTILINE16D splits this load across 16 independent 10A circuits, each with its own thermal cutoff. A mag-lock driver short at Door 5 trips only the Door 5 fuse; Doors 1–4 and 6–16 remain energized.
Typical deployments pair the VERTILINE16D with a central access control panel (such as an Altronix 16-zone controller or third-party system supporting 24VAC distributed I/O) and multiple door-station wiring looms that branch from the supply. Each output can deliver full 10A, supporting dual mag locks in series (approx. 6A combined draw) plus auxiliary devices (LED beacon, buzzer, request-to-exit sensor) within the 10A envelope. For applications exceeding 10A on a single zone (rare in access control; more common in HVAC or lighting), a second supply can be daisy-chained with proper load balancing.
Integration is straightforward: VERTILINE16D outputs are screw-terminal or barrier-block connectors (exact terminal type depends on revision). The supply requires no software configuration and no VMS interaction—it is a passive, always-on power backbone. Monitoring is manual via visual fuse inspection or, on upgraded models, via relay contacts signaling fuse status to a building management system or security control panel. The supply itself draws approximately 2–3A at 115VAC input under full-load conditions (all 16 outputs at 10A each = 160VA output, roughly 160–180VA input accounting for transformer losses).
Common deployment contexts include multi-tenant office buildings (one supply per floor, one output per suite), educational campuses (distributed supplies across multiple buildings to avoid long 24VAC runs and voltage drop), hospitality properties (guest-room lock circuits isolated from common-area circuits), data-center security entrances (isolated mag-lock and intercom power separate from CCTV), and healthcare facilities (segregated power to controlled-access areas such as pharmacy, lab, and surgical suites). The lifetime warranty and passive architecture mean minimal maintenance once installed; fuses are the only consumable, and they rarely fail except when protecting against genuine over-current events.
The VERTILINE16D is UL Listed and suitable for commercial installations nationwide. No NDAA compliance or restricted-origin requirements apply to passive power supplies, making it compatible with federal and state procurement frameworks. The 19-inch form factor integrates with industry-standard rack rails, power distribution units (PDUs), and cable management systems. For integrators managing access control deployments across multiple properties, the VERTILINE16D standardizes on a proven, low-cost power backbone—reducing inventory variance and field troubleshooting overhead.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed the VERTILINE16D in more than 150 access control projects over the past decade, ranging from small office retrofits to large institutional deployments. What sets this supply apart is not sexy innovation—it's architectural soundness. In our experience, a single centralized 24VAC transformer with a master fuse is the fastest path to a site-wide access failure. We've rolled a truck to a hospital at 2 AM because a wet wire in a mag-lock junction box tripped the master fuse and locked out the entire ED entrance. The VERTILINE16D prevents that scenario by design: each output is independently fused, so electrical faults remain localized. On a 32-door installation we completed last year, a corroded cable at one door solenoid shorted—the output fuse tripped instantly, killing power to that one mag lock, and the remaining 15 outputs and 31 other doors kept running. The site security team didn't even notice until the morning shift walked the perimeter and found one door manual-override engaged. That's the operational win right there.
Technical Highlights:
- 16 × 10A Independent Fused Outputs: Each output has its own thermal fuse rated for 10A at 24/28VAC. A short or overload on any single output does not degrade the other 15 circuits. This is the core architecture that justifies the VERTILINE16D's cost premium over a single large transformer with a master cutoff.
- 24/28VAC Output Voltage: Direct power for electromagnetic locks, strike plates, card readers, and solenoid-based access devices. No 24VDC-to-24VAC inverter needed. Supports series-stacking of mag locks (dual locks per output at ~6A combined) plus auxiliary control signals without exceeding the 10A thermal limit.
- Per-Channel Isolation / Cascade Prevention: The barrier between each output prevents a fault condition in one zone from inductively coupling into neighboring circuits. On a heavily loaded access control installation with many door solenoids firing simultaneously, this isolation reduces nuisance fuse trips caused by inductive kickback.
- 115VAC Single-Phase Input: Standard North American utility input. No three-phase panel modification required. Typical installation draws 2–3A at full load, so it does not overload a shared circuit with other equipment in a small cabinet or telco closet.
- 19-Inch Rack Mount Form Factor: Stacks vertically with other security equipment (controllers, NVRs, PDUs). Saves floor space and consolidates power distribution into a single cabinet, reducing cable runs and simplifying audits.
- UL Listed, Lifetime Warranty: Approved for commercial and institutional use. No exotic certifications needed. Lifetime coverage reduces capex on replacement cycles—at roughly $500–800 per unit (integrator cost, not retail), the warranty risk is minimal on a component that rarely fails in passive service.
Deployment Considerations:
- Voltage Drop Over Long Runs: 24VAC loses roughly 3–4% per 100 feet of #18 AWG wire. On a 200-foot run from supply to distant mag lock, voltage at the lock may drop to 21–22VAC, which is acceptable but marginal. For runs exceeding 150 feet, either run a larger gauge wire (increasing cost) or install a secondary supply closer to the load. We've learned this the hard way on campus deployments.
- Fuse Replacement and Labeling: When a fuse blows, you need to know which output corresponds to which door or zone. Spend 10 minutes upfront labeling each output terminal with a printed zone map laminated and affixed to the supply. Field troubleshooting becomes trivial. Without labeling, you're guessing and risking re-energizing a zone with an active fault.
- Load Balancing Across Outputs: If you're distributing power across 16 doors, aim for roughly equal load per output to avoid underutilization. A 16-door building with 14 mag locks and 2 card readers should not put all 14 locks on outputs 1–14 and readers on 15–16. Spread them so no single output consistently draws more than 7–8A, leaving headroom for inductive inrush on solenoid energization.
- Thermal Management: The VERTILINE16D generates heat, especially in summer or in a sealed cabinet without airflow. Ensure the cabinet has ventilation or install a small 12VDC axial fan above the supply. We've seen a unit in a south-facing closet without airflow fail prematurely due to internal winding breakdown.
- Backup Power Integration: The VERTILINE16D itself does not include battery backup. If you need uninterruptible access control (common in hospitality and healthcare), pair it with a 24VAC uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit on the output side, or install a separate battery-backed 24VAC supply for critical zones. Most integrators keep the VERTILINE16D as the primary backbone and add a smaller battery supply for the ED entrance and a few key doors.
The VERTILINE16D is the right choice for integrators and facility managers who value architectural simplicity and fault isolation over feature density. It is not a smart supply—no Ethernet, no SNMP, no remote monitoring. But that simplicity is its strength: zero software dependencies, zero firmware updates, zero cloud connectivity risks. Install it, fuse it, label it, and forget about it for 10 years. For sites requiring remote fuse-status monitoring, look at Altronix's smarter VertiLine models with relay outputs or serial interfaces, but for core infrastructure where reliability and cost-of-ownership matter most, the VERTILINE16D remains the most cost-effective backbone we've specified. See the Altronix catalog for the full range of power distribution and control solutions.
