Viking Electronics E-1600-20A-EWP ADA Emergency Phone with Enhanced Weather Protection
Overview
The Viking Electronics E-1600-20A-EWP is a two-button, ADA-compliant handsfree emergency phone engineered for analog telephone lines in environments where weather, vandalism, and accessibility compliance are non-negotiable. It combines a programmable autodialer, a 16-second voice announcer, and Viking's Enhanced Weather Protection (EWP) enclosure — delivering IP66-rated performance in a unit that installs flush with a rough-in box or mounts to an optional VE-5x5 surface enclosure. If you're specifying emergency call stations for parking garages, elevator lobbies, exterior pedestrian walkways, or any ADA-governed space that sees real weather, the E-1600-20A-EWP (often searched as E 1600 20A EWP) is built for that brief.
Explore the full Viking Electronics emergency phone line for companion products and related models in this series.
Key Features
- IP66 Enhanced Weather Protection: The EWP enclosure carries a full IP66 rating, meaning it handles direct, sustained water jets from any direction without ingress — appropriate for exterior installations that face hose-down cleaning, heavy rain, or pressure washing. Humidity tolerance extends to 100% with EWP, versus the 5–95% non-condensing limit of the standard variant. If your installation is partially or fully exposed, this is the spec that separates a reliable unit from a service headache.
- Operating Temperature Range of -30°F to 170°F: That's a 200-degree working envelope — covering unheated parking decks in northern climates and sun-baked exterior walls in the south. Most commercial emergency phones are rated to 0°F or above; this unit's -30°F floor means it keeps dialing through conditions that would lock up lesser hardware.
- Telephone Line Powered (No External Power Required): The E-1600-20A-EWP runs directly off the phone line, requiring a minimum 24V DC talk battery voltage and at least 20mA of loop current. No power outlet, no transformer, no conduit run for 120VAC — one pair of conductors handles both signal and power. That simplifies rough-in significantly on concrete or masonry installations.
- Up to 5 Programmable Emergency Numbers: The autodialer stores up to 5 emergency destinations and up to 3 informational numbers. In multi-tenant or campus environments, this lets you cascade to a backup dispatch if the primary line is busy — without a separate controller. The unit steps through the list automatically until it reaches a live answer.
- 16-Second Voice Memory Announcer: A pre-recorded message plays automatically when a call connects, identifying the location, unit, or facility. That 16-second window is long enough to convey building name, floor, and zone — removing the guesswork for a dispatcher receiving a call from a non-verbal or incapacitated caller.
- ADA Compliance with Grade 2 Braille: The unit ships with a Grade 2 Braille label, satisfying ADA tactile signage requirements for emergency communications equipment. Pairing this with ADA-compliant emergency phones throughout a facility keeps your compliance documentation straightforward.
- Two-Button Operation: A dedicated EMERGENCY button initiates the autodialer sequence; a second button handles call control. The simplified interface is intentional — under duress, multi-step operation fails. Two buttons, one action per button.
- Flush or Surface Mount Flexibility: The included rough-in box supports flush mounting into wall cavities. For retrofit or surface applications where cutting is not practical, the optional VE-5x5 surface enclosure accommodates the unit without modification. That flexibility matters when you're retrofitting an existing structure or working in post-tension concrete where core drilling is restricted.
Integration and Compatibility
The E-1600-20A-EWP connects to any standard analog telephone line — POTS, analog ATA adapter, or analog port on a PBX. It does not require SIP, VoIP, or network infrastructure (a separate VoIP variant exists in the 1600 series for IP environments). For facilities running a mix of analog and IP infrastructure, confirm analog line availability at each call station location before specifying this model. Loop current of at least 20mA at minimum 24V DC talk battery must be present at the device; verify with your telecom carrier or PBX analog port specs if line length is long or infrastructure is aging. This unit is well-suited for integration with emergency call station systems in parking structures, campuses, and industrial facilities.
For installations requiring relay control of door strikes, strobes, or blue-light activation, review the 1600 series product manual — the E-1600-20A and related models in the family include relay contact options documented in the 1600A Series manual. Confirm which features apply to this specific EWP variant before designing relay-driven integrations. Consult a security system planning guide to map call station placements against coverage requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the E-1600-20A-EWP require a separate power supply?
A: No. It is telephone line powered, drawing its operating power directly from the analog phone line. You need a minimum 24V DC talk battery voltage and at least 20mA of loop current at the device — no separate power supply or AC outlet required.
Q: What is the IP rating of the E-1600-20A-EWP, and how does it differ from the standard E-1600-20A?
A: The EWP variant carries an IP66 rating and tolerates humidity up to 100%, making it suitable for direct rain, hose-down, and fully exposed exterior installations. The standard E-1600-20A is rated for 5–95% non-condensing humidity and lacks the IP66 EWP enclosure.
Q: How many emergency numbers can the E-1600-20A-EWP store?
A: It stores up to 5 programmable emergency numbers and up to 3 informational numbers. The autodialer cycles through the emergency number list until it reaches a live answer.
Q: Is the E-1600-20A-EWP ADA compliant?
A: Yes. It includes a Grade 2 Braille label and is designed to meet ADA requirements for emergency communication equipment.
Q: What is the operating temperature range of the E-1600-20A-EWP?
A: The unit operates from -30°F to 170°F, covering extreme cold and high-heat environments such as unheated parking structures and sun-exposed exterior walls.
Q: Can the E-1600-20A-EWP be surface mounted, or does it require flush installation?
A: Both options are available. The included rough-in box supports flush wall mounting. For surface mounting, the optional VE-5x5 enclosure accommodates the unit without modification to the phone itself.
The E-1600-20A-EWP earns its place on exposed exterior installations specifically because of that -30°F to 170°F operating range combined with IP66 humidity tolerance up to 100% — I've seen standard emergency phones fail in northern parking decks when temps drop below 0°F, and this unit's thermal envelope closes that gap without requiring a heated enclosure or supplemental heater element.
Technical Highlights:
- IP66 with 100% Humidity Tolerance: Unlike the standard E-1600-20A (5–95% non-condensing), this EWP variant handles sustained water jet exposure from any direction — relevant for exterior pedestrian pathways, loading dock areas, or any installation subject to pressure washing.
- Telephone Line Power at 20mA / 24V DC Minimum: Line-powered design eliminates the AC power run. On long cable runs or older analog infrastructure, verify that loop current at the device end meets the 20mA minimum — voltage drop over distance can bring marginal lines below spec.
- 16-Second Voice Announcer: Enough recording time to identify building, floor, and zone to a dispatcher — critical when the caller cannot speak. Program this carefully; 16 seconds is generous but not unlimited.
Deployment Considerations:
- Flush mounting requires the included rough-in box; surface mounting in post-tension concrete or retrofit scenarios uses the optional VE-5x5 enclosure — order it separately if your installation cannot accommodate a wall cavity cut.
- This is an analog-only unit — it requires a POTS line, an ATA adapter, or an analog port on a PBX. Do not specify it for pure IP/SIP infrastructure; Viking's E-1600-20-IPEWP variant handles VoIP environments.
For exterior ADA emergency call stations on university campuses, hospital campuses, or municipal parking structures where weather exposure and compliance documentation are both hard requirements, the E-1600-20A-EWP covers both without added infrastructure complexity.
