Altronix EFLOW104NA8DV Access Power Controller with 8 PTC Relay Outputs and Fire Alarm Interface
Overview
The Altronix EFLOW104NA8DV is a 220VAC-input access power controller and battery-backed charger unit that delivers 24VDC at up to 10A across eight independently triggered, PTC-protected outputs — purpose-built for commercial and enterprise access control installations where individual door-level power switching, fire alarm egress integration, and battery standby are non-negotiable requirements. Housed in Altronix's BC400 enclosure, it combines the ACM8CB Access Power Controller board with an onboard power supply and charger in a single, wired-in assembly that simplifies panel-room design considerably. This is part of the broader Altronix access control power line, a product family integrators have long relied on for code-compliant, field-serviceable power distribution.
Key Features
- Eight Independently Controlled 24VDC Outputs at 10A Total: Each of the eight outputs is individually triggered and PTC-protected, which means a shorted mag lock or electric strike trips only that circuit — not the rest of the panel. At 10A shared across eight doors, you have real budget for mixed hardware loads without derating headroom concerns on small installations.
- 220VAC 50/60Hz Input at 2.7A: Designed for international and industrial electrical environments where 120VAC infrastructure isn't available or practical. If you're deploying in a manufacturing facility, warehouse, or overseas project running 220V distribution, this eliminates the need for a step-down transformer in front of the power supply.
- Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure Output Modes — Selectable Per Output: Each of the eight outputs can be independently configured as Fail-Safe (power-to-lock, door unlocks on power loss) or Fail-Secure (power-to-release, door stays locked on power loss). Mixed-mode installations — fire egress doors Fail-Safe, server room doors Fail-Secure — are handled in a single unit without additional relay boards.
- Fire Alarm Interface (FAI) with Selectable Per-Output Disconnect: The FACP interface accepts normally open, normally closed, or polarity-reversal inputs from any listed fire panel signaling circuit. Critically, the fire alarm disconnect is individually selectable for each of the eight outputs — so you can release only the egress doors on alarm without unlocking secured equipment rooms or server closets on the same controller.
- Auxiliary Power Outputs at 2A: Eight unswitched filtered auxiliary outputs rated at 2A support readers, keypads, REX devices, and other access control peripherals. Running reader power from the same enclosure as door power keeps wiring runs short and eliminates a separate power supply for low-current accessories.
- Built-In Battery Charger for Up to Two 12VDC/12AH Batteries: The onboard charger supports sealed lead-acid or gel-cell batteries at a maximum charge current of 1.54A, with automatic instantaneous switchover to standby power on AC failure — zero voltage drop transfer means connected hardware never sees a power blip during a utility outage. Battery fail, battery presence, and AC fail supervision contacts are all provided for integration with your monitoring system.
- Dry Contact Relay Output Option: Power outputs can be converted to dry Form C contacts, which opens up integration with non-powered control applications — triggering lighting, HVAC interlocks, or alerting systems alongside door hardware from the same controller.
- NDAA, TAA, BAA, and CE Certified: The EFLOW104NA8DV carries NDAA Section 889 compliance alongside TAA and BAA listings, making it a straightforward choice for federal, state, and municipal procurement projects where supply-chain compliance is a contract requirement. CE listing covers international deployments.
Integration and Compatibility
The EFLOW104NA8DV accepts trigger inputs as either normally open dry contacts or open-collector sink signals — the two most common output types from commercial access control panels, card readers, keypads, PIR detectors, and push buttons. Any combination of NO and open-collector inputs across the eight channels is supported, so you're not locked into a single panel ecosystem. The ACM8CB board's main fuse is rated at 10A, which sets the hard ceiling for total combined output current — plan your door hardware load budget accordingly before commissioning. Power input is configurable as either a single common feed for both the ACM8CB and lock power, or two isolated feeds if you need to keep control-board power and strike/lock power on separate circuits — a useful option in installations with separate UPS coverage zones. For larger multi-panel deployments, consult access control power planning resources to size your battery backup and distribution correctly. This unit pairs naturally with a managed electric strike or mag lock catalog and can be monitored via the supervision contacts by any central monitoring receiver accepting Form C relay inputs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the EFLOW104NA8DV NDAA Section 889 compliant?
A: Yes. The EFLOW104NA8DV carries NDAA, TAA, and BAA agency listings, making it suitable for federal and government-funded projects subject to supply-chain compliance requirements.
Q: What input voltage does the EFLOW104NA8DV require?
A: The EFLOW104NA8DV is designed for 220VAC 50/60Hz input at 2.7A. It is not a dual-voltage unit — installations on standard North American 120VAC circuits will require a step-up transformer or a different model in the eFlow family.
Q: Can the fire alarm disconnect be configured independently per door?
A: Yes. The fire alarm disconnect is individually selectable for any or all of the eight outputs and supports latching or non-latching mode. You can release only designated egress doors on FACP trigger while keeping other outputs unaffected.
Q: What battery type and size does the EFLOW104NA8DV support?
A: The built-in charger supports sealed lead-acid or gel-cell batteries — up to two 12VDC/12AH units. Maximum charge current is 1.54A. The unit provides automatic, instantaneous switchover to battery on AC failure with no voltage interruption to connected hardware.
Q: What are the enclosure dimensions and weight?
A: The BC400 enclosure measures 12 inches wide by 15.5 inches high by 4.5 inches deep. Product weight is 8.9 lbs; shipping weight is 10.2 lbs.
Q: Can the outputs operate in mixed Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure modes?
A: Yes. Each of the eight outputs is independently configurable as Fail-Safe or Fail-Secure. Mixed configurations on a single unit are fully supported, so a single EFLOW104NA8DV can simultaneously handle egress-compliant doors and secured equipment rooms with different failure behaviors.
The EFLOW104NA8DV is one of the cleaner solutions I've seen for 220VAC access control environments — the combination of eight independently triggered 24VDC PTC outputs, per-output fire alarm disconnect selectability, and onboard battery charging in a single BC400 enclosure means you're not bolting three separate devices together in a panel room. At 10A total output with 2.7A draw on the 220VAC side, the load math is straightforward for most eight-door commercial deployments.
Technical Highlights:
- Per-Output FAI Selectability: The fire alarm disconnect operates independently on each of the eight outputs — not a global trip. This is architecturally important for mixed occupancy buildings where some doors must release on alarm (egress) and others must stay locked (server rooms, pharmacies, evidence rooms).
- Zero-Transfer-Drop Battery Switchover: The instantaneous, zero-voltage-drop transfer to standby battery on AC failure matters for mag locks specifically — even a 50ms drop can cause an energized lock to release and re-latch, which generates nuisance alarms and can damage hardware over time. This design avoids that entirely.
- Dual Isolated Power Input Option: The ability to configure two isolated power inputs — one for the ACM8CB board, one for lock/strike power — is genuinely useful when your project has separate UPS coverage for control electronics vs. door hardware. Most single-supply controllers don't offer this without external relay isolation.
Deployment Considerations:
- The ACM8CB board's 10A main fuse is a hard ceiling on combined output current. Before commissioning, add up the rated current draw of all eight door devices plus any accessories on the aux outputs — if you're approaching 9A, consider load-shedding strategy or splitting to two units.
- This unit is 220VAC only — there is no auto-ranging input. Confirm your panel room electrical supply before specifying. Deploying on a 120VAC circuit without a step-up transformer will damage the unit.
The EFLOW104NA8DV fits best in international facility deployments, U.S. industrial sites with 208/220V panel distribution, or government projects where NDAA/TAA compliance is a hard contract requirement — particularly where the eight-door, mixed Fail-Safe/Fail-Secure, per-output FAI configuration eliminates what would otherwise be multiple discrete components.
