Camden Remote Annunciator for both audible and - CX-DE502SO

We've installed the Camden CX-DE502SO in a dozen healthcare and childcare facilities, and it consistently earns its place in delayed egress specs where centralized visibility is a genuine operational need. The core appeal is straightforward: the CX-DE1200 locks include an on-board sounder, but in a multi-story building or a sprawling childcare campus, that sounder doesn't reach the front desk, the security office, or the staff break room. The CX-DE502SO solves that without running new power or control lines to every door—it taps into the existing lock control signal and 24VDC loop. In our experience, the TCP/IP connectivity is the differentiator that justifies the component cost: when you get a door-tamper alert or a lock malfunction, that event flows directly into your ACS event log and (if your VMS supports it) into your video timeline. We've used this on sites running Genetec SYNERGIS, Milestone, and Axis Companion—all of them handle the TCP/IP status updates cleanly. The 4-door capacity per annunciator is a practical limit; facilities with more than 4 delayed egress doors typically deploy one annunciator per wing or floor. One caveat: the annunciator is a notification slave to the lock controller, not a standalone device. If your CX-DE1200 control module loses power or Ethernet, the annunciator goes silent. Design your 24VDC and network infrastructure accordingly—UPS backup on the access control PSU is standard practice anyway.

Technical Highlights:

• 4-Door Multiplexing per Unit: One annunciator handles up to four lock status streams, reducing panel space and Ethernet port consumption in the security closet. Each door's countdown timer and alarm state displays independently on the unit's LED array.
• TCP/IP Event Stream: Lock status, unlock events, anti-tamper alerts, and manual resets are timestamped in the ACS audit log. Enables compliance reporting for delayed egress drills and post-incident investigation without manually checking each lock's memory.
• Redundant Alert (Audio + Visual): 90dB audible tone + LED status simultaneously. In healthcare and childcare settings, visual confirmation (countdown timer on display) is as important as audio for occupant awareness, especially in noisy environments or for hearing-impaired staff.
• 24VDC Single-Supply Operation: Draws minimal current on the same 24VDC rail as the CX-DE1200 lock. Simplifies power design—no separate transformer or supply needed for the annunciator. Verify PSU capacity in larger multi-lock deployments.
• Proximity Reader Agnostic: Works with any proximity reader (HID, Salto, Paxton, etc.) integrated into the CX-DE1200 control circuit. No reader firmware update or custom wiring required to add the annunciator.
• Wall and Rack Mount Flexibility: Desktop, wall-mount, or 19-inch rack installation. We've mounted them on patient-facing walls in ICUs, in security stations, and in network closets depending on facility layout. Ensure line-of-sight to observers who must watch the countdown timer.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify 24VDC supply capacity before commissioning. The annunciator itself draws minimal current, but if you're powering 4 locks + 1–2 annunciators from a single PSU, you'll exceed 500mA quickly. Size the PSU accordingly (typical spec is 3A + headroom for sounder duty cycles).
• The annunciator is not standalone—it mirrors the CX-DE1200 control module's state. If the lock controller loses Ethernet or power, the annunciator goes dark. Plan UPS or redundant network paths if the annunciator must remain active during a primary system fault.
• Mounting location matters: place the annunciator where staff or occupants can see the countdown timer and hear the alarm tone simultaneously. In large open areas, consider wall-mounting at 4.5–5.5 feet for visibility; in closed security stations, a desktop or rack placement works fine.
• Signal wiring from the lock controller to the annunciator should be run in a separate conduit from high-current lines (door strikes, mag locks) to avoid noise coupling. Use the terminal block pin assignments from the datasheet—reversed polarity will simply prevent operation, not damage the unit.
• Network integration requires DHCP or static IP assignment. If your ACS software doesn't natively support the CX-DE502SO, fall back to SNMP polling or contact Camden for an integration guide. Most modern Genetec and Milestone deployments will auto-discover the device.

The CX-DE502SO is the right choice for any multi-door delayed egress deployment where centralized occupant notification, compliance auditing, and remote lock status visibility are operational requirements. For facilities with a single delayed egress door, the on-board lock sounder is usually sufficient. For campuses, multi-floor buildings, or highly distributed layouts, this annunciator pays for itself in reduced false alarms, faster emergency response, and cleaner compliance reporting. See the Camden catalog for related lock controllers and accessories.