Installing a doorphone into the entrance of an apartment building is not a very difficult matter, but for proper installation you will need to have some knowledge in electronics and be able to perform work. Be sure to understand how this device works. It should be noted that some steps can be performed by any person who is able to understand the nuances of modern electronics.
But installation and connection of the switching unit is recommended to be entrusted to specialists. It should be noted that for the installation of the intercom will require permission from the management company. In addition, this issue is necessarily agreed with all residents.
The main stages of installation
The procedure for installing an intercom in an apartment building can be divided into several main stages:
- Mounting the external panel.
- Cable routing.
- Installation of internal devices.
- Install the inner tube and connect it to a common wire.
- Connection and installation of an electromagnetic or other lock.
- Commissioning works.
- Directly starting the device to work.
What tools and materials are needed
To complete the installation of the doorphone in the entrance with your own hands, you need to have such tools and materials:
- Doorphone kit.
- Wires.
- A set of screwdrivers of various shapes.
- Pliers.
- Level.
- Drill or hammer drill.
- Chisel for making a strob.
- Putty.
- Twisted pair on the screen.
- Wires in a corrugated tube.
- Screwdriver.
Doorphone device
Let's talk about what elements are present in the design of a conventional intercom:
- Outside the entrance, a so-called outdoor panel is installed , equipped with buttons that allow you to connect to the apartment. Be sure to install a key reader and an additional panel on this calling part.
- The handset is necessary so that the residents can answer the guest and let him in the porch. The handset is located in the apartment and connected to the common system.
- The lock can be electromagnetic or with a valve made of metal. Electromagnetic are considered the most reliable, they work automatically and lock the door after slamming.
- A switch is necessary in order to transmit a signal from the call panel to the apartment.
- Inside the entrance, a button is installed to unlock the lock.
During installation, use exclusively high quality wires. If the cable length does not exceed a total of 50 m, it is necessary to use grades with a cross section of 0.6 to 1 mm. If the cable length is over 50 m, a cross-section of about 1.5 mm must be used.
Mounting the exit button and call panel
Be sure to turn off all power before starting work. The doorphone is powered by a battery or connected to a 220 Volt network using a cable. Install the external patch panel first. Mark the place where the device will be located. It is advisable to place it at a height of about one and a half meters.
On the points you need to drill holes for fasteners. Fastening is done with screws. If the wall is made of concrete, first you need to install the dowels, only then fix the device. To mount the built-in device, you must do the strobes. Similarly, markup, and chisel cut the strobes.
What to consider
Be sure to consider not only the size of the box itself, but also the wires that fit in the corrugation. After that, you need to fix the box with cement mortar. The tube is pulled along the gate and fixed with nails. It is necessary to putty the groove, then carefully remove the nails. The wires must be cut to the required length, they should protrude from the outside by no more than 25 cm.
After that, connect them to the panel. Then you can fix the panel directly on the box. Finally, install the exit button and code reader. You connect the lock, the exit button and the power supply strictly according to the scheme that is provided in the device instructions (in the article we presented several connection schemes for the most popular models). Please note that devices may vary depending on the specific model and manufacturer.
Power supply, switching and lock
These are the elements that are the "heart" of the whole system. With the help of a switching unit, a signal is supplied to the necessary apartment. The power supply allows you to provide the entire system with a stable power supply. Thanks to this device, all communication elements, as well as locks, work.
An electromagnetic type lock needs to be purchased separately if there is a wooden door in the entrance. Metal doors are sold with a lock in the kit. It is not necessary to purchase a device if metal doors with a lock are installed in your entrance.
When installing doors in the entrances with an intercom, be sure to make sure that the entire system can work in the same mode as before. The main thing is not to disrupt the intercom.
Intercom handset
Now you need to mark the place on the wall where you plan to install the device. It should be located approximately one and a half meters from the floor surface. Be sure to note that the wires are pulled out of the entrance. Therefore, you need to calculate where it will be most convenient to place the handset. Define the path on the wall along which the corrugated tubes will be laid. When installing the intercom in the entrance, it is important to make the wires shorter.
Given the thickness of the corrugation, it is necessary to make strobes along the entire wall. Then you need to start and fix the tube in them. After that, using putty and cement mortar, it is necessary to close the gates. It is necessary to mark on the wall a place under the fasteners of the corrugated tube. Next, use a punch to make holes and install dowels in them.
Fix the stand with self-tapping screws and connect the wires that come from the corrugation, following the instructions for use of a particular device. Further fixing of the entire device is done with screws.
Wire Installation Recommendations
The coordinate-matrix type of installation implies that in this case the main panel will be connected with each apartment with a separate cable. If you choose a digital type, then only one main wire is used for the entire entrance. Separate wires go from it to the apartments.
It is the intercom connection that is the most time-consuming step. From the main wire in the entrance, spend a twisted pair in the screen to your apartment. Be sure to observe safety measures (turn off the power during the work). To lay the wiring, you need to break through the channels in the ceilings and walls (gates). The diameter of these channels should be slightly larger than the thickness of the cable.
But experienced specialists recommend placing wires in plastic cable channels. To ensure cable integrity, it can be placed in a corrugated tube. During installation, make sure that the wires do not sag, do not break. Also pay attention to the fact that the intercom wires are not located near the power. This may cause interference, resulting in malfunctioning of the system.
How to connect intercoms through a digital channel
It is worth noting that there are analog and digital tubes. To connect the intercom digitally, you need to start the program in the handset. To do this, it must be completely disassembled. You will need wires to connect to the electrical network and jumpers with numbers, which are located in the upper right corner.
Start programming the handset and use the jumpers to dial the apartment number. To do this, close the numbers, which in total will give the number of your apartment. After that, you need to turn on the intercom to a power outlet. Twisted pair stretches to the shield at the entrance or directly to the entrance panel. It is important not to reverse polarity, otherwise the entire system will not be able to function normally.
Connecting an analog tube
To connect an analog handset, you need to use the coordinate-matrix type of installation. Such a system is outdated, but it is more reliable than a digital one, it breaks less. The circuit has a call panel and a switch. The panel is outside, and the switch is installed on the ground floor of the building. The handset connects to the switch using two shielded twisted-pair wires.
Then you need to connect the system to the dashboard. Find the small box that the wires come from. Their number should correspond to the number of apartments on the landing. Disassemble the box and make sure which bus the wires of your site are connected to. Strictly observing the polarity, you need to connect your handset to the bus that matches your site. It is worth noting that the installation of the intercom in offices is carried out according to the same principle.
Among the advantages of an analog system, it can be distinguished that with its help several handsets can be connected to one bus. To do this, you must specify the original apartment numbers for each tube. If after installation the system does not function, it must be reprogrammed again.
If you can’t solve the problems, use the services of specialists. Before this, return everything to its place, disconnect your handset from the common bus. If you decide to install a receiver for this type of doorphone, you will only get benefits, but make sure that you have an analog system in the stairwell.
Commissioning
When everything is ready, you can start and commission. This stage depends on the specific model of the intercom system. Therefore, it is extremely important to follow the operating instructions, which must be attached to the device. Attention should be paid to wiring. Be sure to test all wires before starting, make sure that they are not broken.
Make sure all wires are connected correctly. Please note that on cheap Chinese cables, colors often do not match. If errors are made at the time of connection, the entire device may fail. After connecting, check the quality of all connections. Make sure the system is working properly. It is impossible to neglect the rules for installing an intercom at the entrance.