Viking Electronics E-1600-60A ADA Emergency Police Phone with Voice Announcer
Overview
The Viking Electronics E-1600-60A is a surface-mount ADA-compliant emergency phone built for campus security corridors, parking structures, and public areas where visible police-contact signage matters. The blue powder-coat finish with factory-applied POLICE verbiage makes the unit's purpose immediately clear — no custom labeling required. Unlike IP-based intercoms that depend on network uptime, the E-1600-60A (often searched as E 1600 60A) draws power entirely from the telephone line itself, meaning the phone stays operational during power outages as long as the PSTN or PBX line remains live.
Key Features
- Telephone Line Powered (24VDC / 20mA minimum): No separate power supply, no conduit run for AC — just a standard phone pair. This dramatically simplifies installation in parking garages and remote stairwells where pulling power is the expensive part of the job.
- Blue Powder Coat with POLICE Verbiage: Factory-finished in textured blue with printed POLICE text — this is a dedicated finish for this SKU, not a field-applied label. Consistent branding across a multi-unit deployment without any field customization.
- ADA Compliant with Voice Announcer: Built-in voice announcer satisfies ADA requirements for audible acknowledgment and status feedback, which is mandatory in many state and local building codes for emergency communication systems.
- 16-Gauge Steel Housing, 5.25″ × 4.0″ × 2.0″: The 16-gauge steel shell resists casual vandalism and weather exposure. At 5.25″ × 4.0″ × 2.0″ (133 × 102 × 51 mm), it fits on a standard single-gang backbox with surface-mount hardware — no recessed pocket required.
- Operating Temperature -15°F to 130°F (-26°C to 54°C): Covers most outdoor-covered and indoor applications in North America — parking decks, covered walkways, building lobbies. For fully exposed outdoor installations in extreme cold climates, evaluate the EWP variant instead.
- 5% to 95% Non-Condensing Humidity Rating: Suitable for covered outdoor environments and climate-controlled indoor spaces. The E-1600-60A-EWP variant extends this to 100% humidity for fully exposed installations.
- Shipping Weight 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg): Light enough for single-person installation on a wall or post without specialized rigging.
- Surface Mount Only: Designed exclusively for surface mounting — no flush-mount or semi-flush option for this chassis. Plan rough-in accordingly; a surface backbox is required.
Integration & Compatibility
The E-1600-60A connects to any analog telephone line or analog port on a PBX/KSU. It is compatible with Viking's broader Viking Electronics emergency communication line, and can be paired with central monitoring stations or campus dispatch systems that accept standard POTS signaling. For deployments requiring IP connectivity or PoE, the 1600-IP Series addresses that need — the analog E-1600-60A is the correct choice when reliability on an existing copper plant is the priority. Consult your emergency phone planning checklist to confirm line voltage and loop current meet the 24VDC / 20mA minimum at the device end, especially on long cable runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the E-1600-60A require an external power supply?
A: No. The E-1600-60A is telephone line powered, drawing 24VDC at a minimum of 20mA from the connected analog line. No separate AC power supply or conduit is needed.
Q: What is the operating temperature range of the E-1600-60A?
A: -15°F to 130°F (-26°C to 54°C) for the standard unit. For installations exposed to 100% humidity or more severe environments, Viking offers the E-1600-60A-EWP variant.
Q: Is the E-1600-60A ADA compliant?
A: Yes. The E-1600-60A includes a voice announcer that provides audible acknowledgment, a key requirement for ADA-compliant emergency communication systems.
Q: Can the E-1600-60A be flush mounted?
A: No. This model is surface mount only. A surface backbox is required during rough-in.
Q: What is the housing material and finish?
A: 16-gauge steel with a textured blue powder-coat finish and factory-applied POLICE verbiage — specific to the E-1600-60A SKU.
Q: What analog line types are compatible?
A: Any standard POTS line or analog PBX/KSU extension that provides at least 24VDC and 20mA loop current at the device end.
The E-1600-60A is one of those devices that earns its keep through simplicity — telephone line powered at 24VDC/20mA minimum means it stays live when the building loses power, which is exactly when you need an emergency phone to work. I specify this unit for university parking structures and transit facilities where running AC to every call station would add thousands to the project budget and create more failure points than it solves.
Technical Highlights:
- Line-Powered Operation: Drawing only 20mA minimum at 24VDC, the E-1600-60A places minimal load on analog ports — you can typically run multiple stations off a single PBX card without loop current issues on standard 24-gauge copper runs under 1,000 feet.
- 16-Gauge Steel at 5.25″ × 4.0″ × 2.0″: The compact footprint fits a standard surface backbox without a custom enclosure. 16-gauge steel resists casual vandalism — it won't dent from an incidental impact the way thinner sheet metal housings do.
- -15°F to 130°F Operating Range: Covers covered parking, transit shelters, and indoor corridors across most North American climates without a heater kit. If you're in Minnesota and the unit will see direct wind exposure, step up to the EWP variant rated for 100% humidity and wider thermal extremes.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify loop current at the device end — not just at the panel. On long cable runs, voltage drop can push you below the 20mA minimum, causing erratic dialing or no-power failures. Measure at the terminal block during commissioning.
- This model is surface mount only with no flush-mount option; rough-in must account for a surface backbox. Swapping to a flush chassis mid-project means a different SKU entirely.
For ADA-compliance-driven emergency phone deployments on college campuses, transit stations, or municipal parking structures where telephone infrastructure already exists, the E-1600-60A delivers reliable, code-aligned performance without the network dependency of an IP-based solution.
