Altronix EFLOW4NA8V Access Power Controller with 8-Output Power Supply/Charger
Overview
The Altronix EFLOW4NA8V is a 220VAC-input access power controller that combines an eight-output fused relay distribution board (ACM8) with a built-in power supply and battery charger — purpose-built for international and 220V-grid deployments where you need independently switched, supervised power for up to eight access control loads. If you're commissioning mag locks, electric strikes, or door holders in a facility running on 220VAC 50/60Hz mains, this unit eliminates the need for a separate step-down transformer by accepting line voltage directly at 2.1A input current and delivering clean 12VDC or 24VDC output at 4A continuous. Explore the full Altronix power and access control line for compatible expanders and enclosures.
Housed in the BC400 enclosure (12"W × 15.5"H × 4.5"D, 8.65 lbs), the EFLOW4NA8V ships as a ready-to-wire assembly. The ACM8 controller board and eFlow power supply board are factory-installed together, with the option to wire a single common power input for both boards or to use two isolated inputs — useful when your access control panel demands electrically isolated lock power. All outputs are power-limited and individually fuse-protected, so a shorted strike or lock doesn't cascade and kill other doors.
Key Features
- Eight Independently Triggered Outputs at 12 or 24VDC: Each output is individually controlled via open-collector sink or normally open dry-contact trigger from your access control panel, card reader, keypad, or PIR. You can mix Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure modes output by output on the same unit — important when a single controller manages both egress doors (Fail-Safe) and secure storage (Fail-Secure) in the same facility.
- 4A Continuous Output with 2.5A Auxiliary Unswitched Outputs: The 4A switched output budget covers most multi-door deployments — a standard mag lock draws 500mA, so you're looking at up to eight mid-draw devices before you hit the ceiling. The eight unswitched auxiliary outputs at 2.5A combined feed readers, REX sensors, or intercoms without touching your switched lock budget.
- Form C Relay Outputs Rated 5A / 24VDC or VAC: Any or all of the eight outputs can be configured as dry form C relay contacts instead of powered outputs. This is the right mode when you're switching third-party devices that supply their own power — you get a clean, isolated contact rated at 5A / 24VDC or VAC, which handles most electric lock coils directly.
- FACP Interface with Per-Output Fire Alarm Disconnect: The fire alarm disconnect is individually selectable for each of the eight outputs — latching or non-latching, triggered by normally open, normally closed dry contact, or polarity reversal from a signaling circuit. The alarm output relay (form C, 1A / 28VDC) indicates FACP input state back to your panel. In jurisdictions requiring life-safety override on every access-controlled door, this per-output granularity matters: you don't have to choose between all-doors-release or none.
- Built-in Battery Charger at 1.54A: The onboard charger supports sealed lead acid or gel batteries and automatically switches over on AC fail. Low-power shutdown protects batteries from deep discharge — cutting DC outputs when voltage drops to 71–73% of nominal on 12V systems or 70–75% on 24V systems. That protection window keeps your battery usable across power events rather than killing it with a single extended outage.
- AC Fail and Battery Supervision via Form C Contacts: Dedicated form C supervision contacts report AC fail, battery fail, and battery presence to your access control or monitoring system. If your ACS supports supervised power inputs, wire these directly — you get real-time fault visibility in the head-end without polling.
- NDAA, TAA, BAA, and CE Listed: The EFLOW4NA8V carries NDAA Section 889 compliance, TAA compliance, BAA compliance, and CE marking — covering federal procurement requirements, government contracts, and international installations in CE-regulated markets. Verify specific project compliance language with your AHJ, but the agency stack here covers most government and defense facility requirements.
- Over Voltage, Short Circuit, and Thermal Overload Protection: All eight outputs are electronically protected. A shorted output won't pull down adjacent doors. The ACM8 board's main fuse is rated at 10A — the upstream protection ceiling regardless of how many loads are connected.
Integration and Compatibility
The EFLOW4NA8V is designed to pair with virtually any access control system that provides open-collector or normally open dry-contact triggers — including common panels from Lenel, Software House, Mercury, HID, and others. The eight trigger inputs accept either open-collector or NO signals in any combination, so mixed-topology installations (some readers with open-collector outputs, some with relay outputs) wire directly without adapters. For larger installations requiring more than eight doors on a single power source, the ACM8 architecture is expandable via additional Altronix access power controllers on isolated inputs. Pair this unit with compatible access control hardware and consider a supplemental power supply if your load budget requires the two-isolated-input configuration for separated lock and controller power. Review your power planning approach before specifying battery backup capacity — the 1.54A charge current dictates minimum recovery time for your chosen battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the EFLOW4NA8V NDAA Section 889 compliant?
A: Yes. The EFLOW4NA8V carries NDAA, TAA, and BAA agency listings, making it suitable for federal, defense, and government procurement projects that require domestic-sourcing and telecommunications equipment restrictions compliance.
Q: What input voltage does the EFLOW4NA8V require?
A: The EFLOW4NA8V accepts 220VAC 50/60Hz at 2.1A. It is not a dual-voltage unit — if your facility runs on 120VAC, you need a different model in the Altronix eFlow family designed for 115VAC input.
Q: Can the EFLOW4NA8V outputs be mixed between Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure modes?
A: Yes. Each of the eight outputs is individually configurable as Fail-Safe, Fail-Secure, or form C dry relay contact. You can run different modes on different outputs simultaneously on the same unit.
Q: How does the fire alarm disconnect work on the EFLOW4NA8V?
A: The FACP interface accepts normally open, normally closed dry contact, or polarity reversal input from a fire alarm control panel signaling circuit. The disconnect is individually selectable per output — latching or non-latching — so you can release only specific doors on alarm rather than all eight. An alarm output relay (form C, 1A / 28VDC) reports FACP input status back to your monitoring system.
Q: What battery types does the built-in charger support?
A: The onboard charger supports sealed lead acid and gel-type batteries at a maximum charge current of 1.54A. It includes automatic switchover on AC fail and a low-power shutdown that prevents deep discharge by cutting DC outputs when battery voltage drops below approximately 71–75% of nominal (range depends on 12V vs. 24V configuration).
Q: What are the enclosure dimensions and weight of the EFLOW4NA8V?
A: The BC400 enclosure measures 12"W × 15.5"H × 4.5"D and weighs 8.65 lbs (product weight). Shipping weight is 9.95 lbs.
The EFLOW4NA8V is one of the cleaner solutions I've specified for international access control projects running on 220VAC infrastructure. The direct 220VAC input at 2.1A eliminates the transformer stage that most 115V-native controllers require when deployed overseas or in facilities with 220V distribution — one less component to fail, one less enclosure to find wall space for. With eight independently triggered outputs at a combined 4A, it handles a typical multi-door wing without a secondary expander.
Technical Highlights:
- Per-Output FACP Disconnect: Individually selectable fire alarm disconnect on all eight outputs — latching or non-latching, NO/NC/polarity reversal input — gives you surgical control over which doors release on alarm. Most competitors offer a single system-wide disconnect; this unit lets life-safety design match actual egress paths.
- Form C Relay Option at 5A / 24VDC or VAC: Converting any output to a dry form C contact rated 5A / 24VDC or VAC means you can switch third-party lock hardware that supplies its own power — useful when integrating legacy electric bolt locks or high-draw devices that exceed the 4A shared output budget.
- Deep-Discharge Protection: Low-power shutdown cuts DC outputs at 71–73% of nominal battery voltage (12V config), which is about 8.5–8.8V. That's a conservative cutoff that meaningfully extends battery cycle life compared to systems that drain to 50% before disconnecting.
Deployment Considerations:
- The two-isolated-input option (one feed for ACM8 logic, one for lock power) requires an external power supply for the second input — plan that into your panel layout and conduit routing before the enclosure goes on the wall. Factory default is single common input; confirm with your distributor which configuration ships.
- The 4A continuous output is shared across all eight switched outputs. With standard mag locks at 500mA each, you'll hit the ceiling at eight locks — if any doors use 650mA or higher draw devices, derate your count accordingly and use the auxiliary 2.5A unswitched outputs for reader/REX loads to keep switched budget available for locks.
This unit is the right specification for embassies, international manufacturing facilities, or any 220V-grid campus where you need per-door Fail-Safe/Fail-Secure flexibility, FACP integration, and NDAA/TAA compliance in a single factory-assembled enclosure — without the overhead of a separate transformer or standalone charger.
