Diagram of connecting an entrance intercom to an apartment video intercom

Intercoms with video communication are very popular among residents of apartment buildings and private houses. One of the ways to organize such communication is to connect the video intercom to the entrance intercom. To implement it, it is important to know the principle of operation of a communication device and study the known circuits for its switching.

The principle of operation and the device of the intercom with video communication

All parts of the intercom structure are distributed between the driveway of the residential building and the user's apartment. The outdoor panel with buttons placed on it is mounted at the entrance to the entrance and is used to dial a digital code transmitted through the switch circuit. There is also a code reader, into which the residents of the entrance insert the key-fob and open the electromagnetic lock (remove the lock from the latch).

If a person tries to enter the entrance without a key fob, he will have to dial the apartment number and press the "Call" button. After that, the owner of the dwelling receives a signal and identifies the guest via a video link. Recognizing the person by their appearance, he presses a button that unlocks the magnetic lock.

Multi-user intercom video systems consist of the following main units:

• calling module;
• Power Supply;
• electromagnetic lock;
• switching device.

In addition, they include a set of subscriber (apartment) interphone tubes.

Purpose and advantages of the interface box

The main purpose of the autonomous interface unit is to effectively connect the video intercom to the entrance intercom. Its application allows you to transmit sound and image and, if necessary, open the entrance doors. This module is installed in a residential area or in a general distribution board located at the entrance.

A typical doorphone interface box provides the following benefits:

• there is no need for additional commutations;
• in the event of a system malfunction, there is no need to purchase a new device - it is enough to replace the interface module;
• small dimensions make it easy to mount it in any convenient place and install it hidden.

When buying an interface device, attention is paid to the type of signal: it is analog or digital.

Connection diagram

According to the generally accepted scheme for switching on the adapter, in the simplest version, you will need a calling panel and a monitor to view the image. This method of connecting to an intercom in an entrance is based on the use of a 4-core cable. Each wire in it has a specific color corresponding to the ground and power rails, as well as the channels of the transmitted image and sound.

In addition, to connect the call panel, you will need a couple more wires (with their help, the relays are switched, which are triggered when the button is pressed). Thus, to connect the call module to the video doorphone, a multicore cable is required. With its help, the call panel and the image transmission device are very easy to connect to the stand-alone interface unit. In this scheme, the image appears only after a call from the access device (it is not called on the screen from the apartment). To view the video recording, you need to connect the camera and the panel separately.

Connecting a video intercom to an entrance intercom and setting it up

To connect to the intercom in the entrances on your own, you will need to dismantle (disconnect) the sound transmission line and lay a video cable instead. There are several known methods for such a replacement, but the best is the use of a special socket. You can install it yourself, after which it remains to connect the ends of the video cable according to the diagram attached to the adapter.

When making the connections, the ends of the cable are ringed, and then stripped, after which the connectors are connected to them for connection to the intercom. Further, the conductors laid from the apartment and doors are connected to the blocks on the board. In conclusion, it remains to connect all the elements of the video intercom with the receiving panel, the nodes of the electromagnetic lock and the controller.

Device manufacturers

Home video intercoms from the well-known Metacom brand are distinguished by their simplicity of design, consisting of a subscriber tube and a control panel. The advantages of these products include:

• lack of mechanical contacts, which removes problems with their oxidation and blocking of buttons;
• the entrance doors are opened only if the user knows the digital code;
• ease of installation and maintenance of the system, as well as the possibility of its reprogramming.

Inexpensive and high-quality products of the Vizit brand from a domestic manufacturer are very popular in Russia. The outer panel of the device has a design that excludes the possibility of breaking it. Such intercoms are capable of operating in severe winters and in adverse weather conditions. Their equipment is selected according to the client's order and may contain video and audio paths. At the request of the consumer, a control module is separately mounted, which automatically determines the number of connected subscribers.

Criteria for choosing a video intercom and nuances

Before installing a video intercom in an apartment connected to an access device, you will need to decide on a suitable model for these purposes. When choosing, the following criteria are taken into account:

• the presence of an intuitive interface;
• the number of connected outdoor panels and video cameras;
• the size of the working screen and the quality of the "picture";
• the presence of a handset or the "Free hands" function;
• quality of control buttons.

The availability of additional options is also taken into account.

The symbols displayed on the interface should be understandable to all family members, including children and the elderly. In the usual configuration, the device contains only a door station with a video camera. If desired, a model with an additional panel or with a separate input for connecting another overview camera is selected.

Some models of interface units allow the installation of a personal video camera at the entrance doors, which transmits the "picture" to the display in the apartment. There are also video intercoms, to which you can connect two outdoor panels and two auxiliary video cameras. The latter option is best suited for use in country houses.