--- updatedAt: 2026-09-16T21:53:45.000Z agentTools: projectIndex: https://docs.sixfab.com/llms.txt --- # Safety & Compliance Follow safety guidelines and compliance standards for operating the ALPON X5 AI edge computer. Ensure reliable and secure industrial usage. {`
Safety & Compliance

Operate the ALPON X5 AI safely and within spec

Handling, power, thermal, antenna, port, and regulatory rules for the ALPON X5 AI industrial edge AI computer. Review every section before powering, mounting, or deploying the device in the field. Intelligented by DEEPX. Built on Raspberry Pi.

Certification in progress IP40 −20 to +60 °C Class B (target) Aluminum · fanless
ALPON X5 AI · Safety & Compliance · Read before deployment · Updated 2026-09-17
How do I operate the ALPON X5 AI safely?

The ALPON X5 AI is a fanless industrial edge AI computer rated for −20 to +60 °C ambient and IP40, powered by one of three inputs: 12 to 24 V DC, USB-C PD at 15 V (27 W minimum), or PoE+ on ETHERNET 0. Regulatory certifications (CE, FCC, IC, UKCA, RoHS, WEEE, REACH) are currently in progress and will be confirmed in this document once issued. Never connect Ethernet or PoE to the ADDON (GPIO) port; doing so causes permanent hardware damage. Built on Raspberry Pi.

The ADDON port is not Ethernet

The ADDON (GPIO) port uses an RJ45 socket but exposes 3.3 V GPIO, SPI, UART, and I²C signals. Connecting an Ethernet cable or a PoE source will cause permanent hardware damage. Use the port only with Sixfab add-on modules.

Safety reference at a glance

Key environmental and electrical limits for safe operation. The full envelope and unit conventions follow Cornerstone §15 and the Technical Information File.

Operating temp
−20 to +60 °C
Ambient · fanless
Storage temp
−40 to +85 °C
Non-operating
Humidity
Up to 95%
Non-condensing
Ingress protection
IP40
Dust protected
DC input
12 to 24 V DC
Reverse-polarity protected
USB-C PD
12 V or 15 V PD · 27 W min.
45 W recommended
PoE+
IEEE 802.3at
ETHERNET 0 only
Enclosure
Aluminum
Passive heatsink

General handling

Universal rules that apply to every installation, regardless of power source or mounting orientation.

The aluminum enclosure acts as a heatsink and may reach high temperatures during sustained AI inference. Avoid touching the top cooling surface during extended operation or immediately after shutdown.

The device is rated IP40. Keep it away from liquids, condensation, and flammable materials. Direct outdoor exposure requires a separate protective enclosure.

Apply standard ESD precautions (wrist strap, grounded mat) when opening the enclosure, swapping the NVMe SSD, or handling the AI Accelerator M.2 module.

The ALPON X5 AI contains no user-serviceable parts beyond the NVMe SSD and the DEEPX DX-M1 M.2 module. Opening the enclosure for any other purpose voids the warranty.

Do not insert metal or conductive objects into ports, vents, or connectors. Avoid impact damage to the housing and SMA antenna connectors.

Power safety

Three independent inputs (DC terminal block, USB-C PD, PoE+). The device automatically draws from the highest-voltage source; there is no software-configurable priority.

How do I power the ALPON X5 AI safely?

DC terminal block
Range 12 to 24 V DC
Supply rating 27 W minimum (45 W recommended for sustained AI load)
Notes Reverse-polarity protected. Below 12 V triggers restricted mode.
USB-C PD
Range 12 V or 15 V PD (sink only)
Min. wattage 27 W (45 W recommended)
Notes Sink-only. No data or power output. Standard 5 V chargers are insufficient for normal operation.
PoE+
Range 37 to 57 V (IEEE 802.3at)
Min. wattage 25 W delivered
Notes Class 4 injector required. Available on ETHERNET 0 only.

Power source selection

All three inputs may be connected simultaneously. The device automatically draws from the input with the highest voltage; there is no software-configurable priority.

For SSD imaging, power the device through the DC terminal block. Powering by USB-C alone is insufficient — the SSD will not enumerate in the imager tool.

Use a USB-C PD adapter that delivers 15 V at ≥1.8 A (27 W); a 12 V profile at ≥2.25 A is also accepted. A 45 W (15 V / 3.0 A) adapter is recommended for full performance under sustained AI load.

PoE+ is available only on variants that include the built-in PoE module. The module cannot be added in the field. Use a PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) Class 4 injector or switch supplying 37 to 57 V; legacy PoE (802.3af) cannot deliver enough power for AI workloads.

Power is sourced only through ETHERNET 0. ETHERNET 1 is a USB-bridged interface and cannot deliver power to the system.

Restricted mode

If any power input supplies less than 12 V (for example, a 5 V USB-C source), the ALPON X5 AI automatically enters restricted mode. High-power peripherals are disabled to keep the base system operational and prevent brownouts.

Restricted mode peripheral state
Active Raspberry Pi CM5, LTE modem, ETHERNET 0, ETHERNET 1
Disabled USB ports, PCIe (NVMe SSD & DEEPX DX-M1 NPU), ADDON port, camera port
AI inference is unavailable in restricted mode

The DEEPX DX-M1 NPU sits on the disabled PCIe bus, so model inference cannot run while the device is in restricted mode. Restore a 12–24 V source on the DC terminal, a 15 V USB-C PD source, or a PoE+ source to bring AI back online.

Thermal safety & mounting

The fanless aluminum top is the primary heatsink. Mounting orientation directly affects sustained AI throughput.

Recommended mounting orientations

Recommended Mount upright or with the cooling surface facing up. Maximizes natural convection across the heatsink.
Avoid Do not place the device upside down on a flat surface; this blocks airflow across the heatsink.
Ceiling mount Overhead mounting with the heatsink facing down is acceptable if open air is available below.
Never cover Never place objects on the cooling surface. Maintain clearance when wall- or panel-mounting the device.

Environmental clearances

Keep the device away from direct heat sources (ovens, motors, boilers) and steam. Radiant heat reduces ambient headroom against the +60 °C operating limit.

When enclosing the ALPON X5 AI in a cabinet, provide at least 25 mm of clearance around the cooling surface and verify cabinet ventilation is adequate for the combined heat load.

Antenna & RF safety

Four SMA ports for LTE Main, LTE Diversity, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and GNSS/GPS. Connector genders differ by port — match the antenna gender to the port when ordering replacements.

ALPON X5 AI antenna ports labeled G (GNSS), W (Wi-Fi), and L (LTE)
Port labels — G = GNSS · W = Wi-Fi · L (×2) = LTE. Click image to enlarge.

Antenna specification

Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Label W
SMA connector RP-SMA male
Optimal position 90° or 180°
GNSS / GPS
Label G
SMA connector Female
Optimal position Upright, top facing sky
LTE Main
Label L
SMA connector Female
Optimal position 90° or 180°
LTE Diversity
Label L
SMA connector Female
Optimal position 90° or 180°
Ordering replacement antennas

The Wi-Fi port uses an RP-SMA male connector, while the GNSS and LTE ports use female SMA connectors. Match the antenna gender to the port before ordering to avoid adapter chains and impedance mismatches.

Optimal antenna positions for the ALPON X5 AI — 90° or 180° relative to the enclosure
Optimal antenna positions — 90° or 180°. Click image to enlarge.

Installation & handling

Never install, remove, or service antennas while the device is powered on. Disconnect every power source first to prevent electric shock and RF transmitter damage.

Hand-tighten SMA connectors firmly without over-torquing. For field installations use a 6 mm SMA torque wrench at 0.5 to 0.7 N·m.

Inspect connectors for corrosion, debris, or damage before each reattachment. Replace compromised connectors rather than forcing a fit.

Placement & signal quality

Do not swap antennas between ports. LTE, Wi-Fi, and GNSS ports are tuned for different frequency bands; mismatched antennas degrade link quality and may overload the RF front-end.

Keep antennas clear of metal surfaces, reinforced concrete, and other sources of electromagnetic interference such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, and large motors.

The GNSS antenna must be placed in an open area with the top facing the sky. Obstructed or ground-level placement degrades time-to-first-fix and position accuracy.

Port & connector safety

Several ALPON X5 AI ports share physical form factors with unrelated standards. Read the port-specific rules before cabling.

ADDON (GPIO) port: not an Ethernet port

The ADDON port uses an RJ45 jack but exposes 3.3 V GPIO, SPI, UART, and I²C signals. It can deliver up to 5 V at 1 A to attached modules and has overcurrent protection that triggers on GPIO 20. It is not wired for Ethernet or PoE.

Do not connect Ethernet or PoE to the ADDON port

Connecting an Ethernet cable or a PoE source to the ADDON port can permanently damage the device. The GPIO lines run at 3.3 V logic; PoE voltage (up to 57 V) destroys the signal pins and the level shifter. Use the ADDON port only with Sixfab add-on modules.

Port function reference

ETHERNET 0
Function Gigabit Ethernet + PoE+ input
Do not use for Power output
ETHERNET 1
Function Gigabit Ethernet (USB-bridged)
Do not use for PoE input, power sourcing
ADDON (RJ45)
Function GPIO / SPI / UART / I²C @ 3.3 V; 5 V / 1 A out
Do not use for Ethernet, PoE, any network cable
USB-C
Function Power input (12 V or 15 V PD sink) and image flashing
Do not use for USB host, power output, data peripherals
Mini HDMI (Camera)
Function 2-lane MIPI CSI-2 via Sixfab Camera Board v1.0
Do not use for Standard HDMI display, third-party Mini HDMI devices

USB port overcurrent behavior

The two USB 3.0 ports share a 1800 mA combined current limit through a single AP22653 power switch. If combined draw exceeds this limit, the hardware trips thermal protection and cuts power to both ports.

Power restores automatically when the fault is cleared (problematic device removed or short resolved). No reboot or command is required.

When attaching high-draw USB peripherals (SSDs, cellular dongles, external hubs), budget current across both ports together, not per port.

Watchdog & Boot/Burn switches

Two DIP switches sit under a silicone cap on the rear face — no need to open the enclosure: SW1 (watchdog: OFF = enabled, ON = disabled) and SW2 (Boot/Burn selector).

SW1 (Watchdog). The hardware watchdog can only be disabled physically via SW1 (OFF = watchdog enabled, default; ON = watchdog disabled); there is no software command to disable it. When enabled (SW1 OFF), the host must strobe GPIO 16 within a 5-minute window or the device hard-resets.

SW2 (Boot/Burn). Set SW2 to ON only for image flashing via Raspberry Pi Imager. Return to OFF before resuming normal boot, and power-cycle the device after toggling.

Power off before toggling SW2

Disconnect every power source before changing the SW2 (Boot/Burn) position. Toggling SW2 under power leaves the bootloader in an undefined state.

Regulatory compliance & certifications

Regulatory certifications for the ALPON X5 AI are currently in progress. The device is being tested and submitted for the certification marks required to ship in the European Union, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This page will be updated as each certification is issued.

Certifications in progress — do not treat as confirmed

The certifications listed below are the targeted regulatory marks for the ALPON X5 AI. Test campaigns are under way at accredited labs but no certificate of conformity has been issued yet. Do not rely on these as final compliance evidence; for procurement, RFP, or pre-production deployment decisions, request the current status letter from Sixfab and wait for the official Declaration of Conformity (DoC) once available.

Targeted certifications

CE
Conformité Européenne
European Union
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
United States
IC
Innovation, Science & Economic Development
Canada
UKCA
UK Conformity Assessed
United Kingdom
RoHS
Restriction of Hazardous Substances
EU Directive 2011/65/EU
WEEE
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment
EU Directive 2012/19/EU
REACH
Registration, Evaluation & Authorisation of Chemicals
EU Regulation 1907/2006
RED
Radio Equipment Directive
EU 2014/53/EU

Test standards under evaluation

The ALPON X5 AI is being evaluated against the following standards as part of the in-progress certification campaign. Listing a standard here means testing is planned or under way, not that a pass result has been published.

Standards reference (targeted)
EMC (EU) EN 55032, EN 55035, EN IEC 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3
Radio (EU) EN 300 328, EN 301 511, EN 301 908-1, EN 301 908-13 (RED 2014/53/EU)
Safety EN IEC 62368-1 (Audio/video, IT and communication equipment)
RF exposure EN 62311, EN 50665
FCC part 47 CFR Part 15 Subpart B, Subpart C (unlicensed radio)
IC standard ICES-003 (Class B), RSS-247, RSS-130

Need the current certification status, target completion dates, or interim test evidence for procurement decisions? Reference the device model and serial number from the label on the enclosure when contacting Sixfab.

Request status update

FCC Class B notice (target)

Once FCC certification is issued, this equipment is expected to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. Final certification will subject operation to the following two conditions:

  1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
  2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Unauthorized modifications

Once certifications are issued, changes or modifications not expressly approved by Sixfab can void the user's authority to operate the equipment under FCC and IC rules. Treat unmodified, factory-supplied hardware as the only configuration covered by the future Declaration of Conformity.

Environmental & end-of-life

RoHS, WEEE, and REACH conformity is targeted and still in progress. Follow these rules at end-of-life.

Do not dispose of the device in unsorted household waste. Return it through an authorized WEEE collection point, a local electronics recycler, or back to Sixfab for responsible processing.

The ALPON X5 AI contains no user-replaceable battery. The RTC is backed by a small lithium cell accessible only through authorized service.

Before disposal or return, erase sensitive data from the NVMe SSD and any connected add-on storage. Retain the original packaging for return shipping.

Warranty

The ALPON X5 AI ships with a 2-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. The warranty does not cover damage caused by:

Submit warranty claims with the device serial number, purchase date, and a description of the fault.

Contact Sixfab

Related guides

Specifications
Full datasheet values for power, I/O, cellular, environmental limits, and compliance.
Power & Mounting
Choose a power input, size the supply, and mount the device correctly.
Physical Layout & I/O
Every port, LED, button, and switch on the front and rear faces.

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