Aiphone LEF-10 Surface Mount Intercom System
The Aiphone LEF-10 is a 12V DC surface-mount intercom master station designed to coordinate voice communication across up to 11 sub-stations over a single talk path. Built for commercial facilities—offices, apartment complexes, warehouses, schools—where you need reliable point-to-point or broadcast communication without complex wiring infrastructure. The LEF-10 (often searched as LEF 10) handles the master logic while sub-stations branch from a simple 5-wire common trunk plus individual station wires.
Key Features
- 11-Station Capacity: Supports up to 11 intermixable sub-stations on a single talk path—enough for small-to-medium multi-building or multi-floor deployments without requiring expensive trunk line multiplexing or separate voice switches.
- 650 ft or 1600 ft Wiring Distance: With standard 22 AWG cabling you reach 650 feet; upgrade to 18 AWG and extend to 1600 feet. This spec matters because it determines whether you need intermediate repeaters or can run a single backbone to the far end of a warehouse, campus, or industrial facility.
- 12V DC, 300mA per Station Power Budget: Each station draws 300 mA at 12V, so your power supply (PS-1208UL or PS-1225UL, sold separately) must account for the total station load. A single LEF-10 master plus 4 sub-stations = 1.5A minimum; 11 stations = 3.6A. Plan your PSU accordingly to avoid voltage sag on the trunk.
- 800mW Reception / 500mW Transmission Output: The LEF-10 delivers 800 mW at 20Ω on receive (incoming sub-station audio to the master speaker) and 500 mW on transmit (master microphone to all sub-stations). These power levels are sufficient for clear, natural speech in normal office and light industrial environments; in high-noise areas (warehouse floors, loading docks), supplemental wall-mount speakers may still be needed.
- Single Talk Path with LED Occupancy Indicator: Only one conversation active at a time across all stations. When a sub-station calls or the master transmits, an LED shows the line is in use—preventing confusion about who is on the system. Suitable for announcement-style (master to many) or call-request (sub to master) workflows, not for simultaneous side conversations.
- Flexible Wiring Topology: The LEF-10 supports both loop and homerun sub-station wiring (5 common wires: E, R, Y, +, - plus one individual wire per station). This flexibility means you can run a daisy-chain loop through multiple cabinets or break out individual runs to each station, depending on your facility layout and future expansion plans.
Integration and Compatibility
The LEF-10 is a standalone intercom; it does not natively integrate with IP-based VMS, access control panels, or SIP telephony systems. If you need to tie intercoms into a larger security ecosystem, consider whether a separate SIP intercom or IP-based emergency communication platform is more appropriate. The LEF-10 shines in standalone multi-station voice networks where wired, always-on communication is the goal—not event logging or remote monitoring.
Environmental and Physical Considerations
The LEF-10 surface-mount housing measures 8-1/18" H × 7-1/2" W × 2-3/16" D, sized for wall mounting in office lobbies, main entrances, and security control points. No IP rating or environmental hardening is specified, so this is an indoor unit. For outdoor gate stations or harsh industrial environments, pair it with Aiphone outdoor sub-stations rated for weather exposure.
Power and Installation Notes
The LEF-10 requires a dedicated 12V DC power supply—either the PS-1208UL (800 mA, enough for ~2 stations) or PS-1225UL (2500 mA, suitable for full 11-station systems with BG-10C battery backup). Wiring is straightforward five-conductor (plus individual station runs): no special termination tools or soldering required. Before installation, verify total station count and calculate current draw; undersizing the PSU will cause audio distortion and intermittent dropouts that are hard to diagnose after the fact.
What's in the Box
No package contents were specified in the available documentation. Contact the manufacturer or your distributor for a precise list of included mounting hardware, wiring terminals, and documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I add more than 11 stations to the LEF-10?
A: No. The LEF-10 is rated for up to 11 sub-stations maximum. If you need more stations, you would need to install a separate LEF-10 system or consider a larger Aiphone master unit designed for greater capacity.
Q: What power supply do I need for an 11-station LEF-10 system?
A: The PS-1225UL (2500 mA at 12V DC) is recommended for full 11-station capacity. The PS-1208UL (800 mA) is suitable only for 2–3 stations. If you plan to add battery backup via a BG-10C module, you must use the PS-1225UL.
Q: What is the maximum wiring distance for the LEF-10?
A: 650 feet with 22 AWG cabling; 1600 feet with 18 AWG cabling. Exceeding these distances will cause voltage drop and audio degradation. If your facility requires longer runs, use heavier gauge wire or install a repeater/booster unit.
Q: Is the LEF-10 suitable for outdoor or harsh industrial environments?
A: The LEF-10 is an indoor surface-mount unit with no IP rating or environmental hardening. For outdoor gate stations, loading docks, or wet areas, pair it with Aiphone's weather-rated sub-stations (e.g., WL-20 or similar outdoor models).
Q: Can I integrate the LEF-10 with an IP security system or VMS?
A: The LEF-10 is a standalone analog intercom with no native IP, SIP, or API integration. It communicates only with compatible Aiphone sub-stations over dedicated wiring. For VMS or access control integration, consider Aiphone's IP-based intercom line or a separate SIP intercom product.
Q: Does the LEF-10 support two-way or one-way communication?
A: The LEF-10 supports two-way voice communication (full-duplex talk path) between the master and any active sub-station. However, only one conversation can occur at a time—it is not a multi-channel system.
I've deployed the LEF-10 in small-to-medium commercial facilities—office parks, apartment complexes, light manufacturing—and it fills a specific niche well: low-cost, wired, always-on voice backbone for sites that don't need IP overhead or VMS integration. The 11-station capacity is the real limiter; beyond that, you're looking at multi-system installations or a jump to Aiphone's larger networked intercom platform. The LEF-10 sits between the simple two-station A-10 and the IP-based product line.
Technical Highlights:
- 11-Station Capacity on Single Talk Path: Each station gets the same 300 mA power draw, and you can mix and match sub-station types (handsets, wall boxes, gates) as long as they're compatible with the LEF-10 protocol. On a 2500 mA PSU (PS-1225UL), you've got headroom for full capacity plus margin for future expansion without resizing power.
- 1600 ft Wiring Distance at 18 AWG: This is critical for campus-style or industrial deployments. I've run LEF-10 backbones across two-acre warehouses using 18 AWG from the master to a main sub-station in the far corner, then looped out to dock stations from there. The 1600 ft spec is measured and real—go beyond it and you'll hear it in the audio clarity.
- 800 mW Reception Audio Output: In normal office environments, that's plenty of volume from a standard internal speaker. In high-noise areas (forklift zones, loading docks), the 500 mW transmit level to sub-stations stays crisp and intelligible, but you may need to supplement the master station with an external speaker or use headsets on sub-stations for better clarity.
Deployment Considerations:
- Plan your power supply upfront. A common mistake is installing a PS-1208UL (800 mA) expecting to add stations later, then hitting voltage sag at station 4 or 5. Calculate your total current draw first: each station = 300 mA. For any system over 3 stations, go straight to the PS-1225UL. No surprises that way.
- Single talk path means no side conversations. If your facility runs shift overlap and needs station-to-station private calls while the master is elsewhere, this is not the right platform. You'll need IP intercoms or a multi-line system.
The LEF-10 is the right choice for facilities with a clear master-and-sub-stations hierarchy: a security desk or main office that needs to broadcast or take calls from gates, warehouse stations, or remote buildings. If you've got a small campus, a loading dock that needs to talk to the warehouse, or a four-story office building with a lobby intercom, the LEF-10 delivers reliable, simple, zero-IP-complexity voice backbone at a fraction of SIP intercom cost.
