HES RP-44WIRED SPDT Wired Electric Strike Relay
The HES RP-44WIRED is a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) relay module designed for hardwired control of HES electric strikes in access control systems. This wall-mounted relay eliminates wireless dependencies by providing direct electrical switching between access control panels and strike hardware, delivering deterministic door release logic in both legacy and modern installations. Compact form factor and field-proven HES integration make it a straightforward retrofit or new-build component for facilities where wired control reliability is non-negotiable.
Key Features
- SPDT Relay Configuration: Single Pole Double Throw switching allows flexible strike activation logic (normally open, normally closed, or momentary release sequences). Enables conditional strike control based on multiple input states.
- Wall-Mounted Form Factor: Discrete 0.01 lb module mounts directly to wall or panel in electrical closets or access control rooms. No rack space required.
- Direct Hardwired Integration: Eliminates network latency and wireless failure modes. Control signal travels directly from access panel to strike via copper — no IP dependency.
- HES Strike Hardware Compatibility: Engineered for HES electric strike product line. Pre-configured wiring and mounting hardware ensure plug-and-play integration without custom harness fabrication.
- Fail-Safe and Fail-Secure Modes: SPDT switching supports both fail-secure (locked on power loss) and fail-safe (unlocked on power loss) configurations depending on circuit logic.
- Indoor-Rated Deployment: Specified for controlled indoor environments (electrical rooms, secured enclosures). No outdoor or wet-location rating.
Wired Architecture & Strike Control Logic
The RP-44WIRED operates as a switchable relay bridge between an access control panel output and HES strike solenoid coil. Unlike wireless relay modules, hardwired construction eliminates RF interference susceptibility and ensures strike actuation latency under 100ms. The SPDT topology supports logic-level control: a low-voltage signal from the access panel triggers relay coil energization, which mechanically switches the common terminal between two output poles. This enables simultaneous strike activation and status feedback on separate control channels without requiring dual-output panels.
Installation in existing facilities typically involves routing control wire from panel to relay location (wall or DIN rail), then hardwiring strike solenoid to relay output terminals. For new construction, the relay consolidates multiple door controls into a single wall-mounted enclosure, reducing panel real estate and simplifying troubleshooting. Field replacement of failed relays takes minutes — no reconfiguration or IP re-provisioning required.
Integration with Access Control Ecosystems
The RP-44WIRED integrates directly with HES strike product families and any access control panel equipped with dry relay outputs (typically 12VDC or 24VDC switching). Legacy systems (Schlage AD or ACU) and modern IP-based controllers (Salto, Openpath) both deploy hardwired relays as the final control element for door release. Relay wiring is simple two-wire or three-wire (common, normally open, normally closed), meaning it works across heterogeneous control architectures without middleware translation. This neutrality makes the RP-44WIRED a carrier-grade component for multi-brand integration projects where the access panel brand and strike brand differ.
For facilities transitioning from hardwired to IP-based systems, the RP-44WIRED serves as a bridge: new IP door controllers can feed relay outputs to existing hardwired strikes, deferring costly strike replacement. This extends equipment lifecycle and reduces total cost of ownership during phased network migrations.
Reliability & Fail-Safe Operation
SPDT relay modules are inherently fail-safe: loss of panel power, control signal corruption, or cable break results in a known electrical state (relay de-energized = output reverts to normally closed or normally open pole). This deterministic behavior is critical in life-safety and secure facility contexts — a misconfigured IP gateway cannot remotely lock someone in a room. The RP-44WIRED's mechanical relay design has no firmware, no watchdog timer, and no network stack to fail. This simplicity is a feature, not a limitation, when 99.99% availability is the baseline expectation.
Jerry TildsenPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed hundreds of HES RP-44WIRED relays across government facilities, corporate campuses, and healthcare networks, and the consistency is remarkable. This is not a fancy component — it's a passive switching element that sits between an access control panel and a solenoid strike, and it does exactly one job: relay a 12VDC or 24VDC command signal. What makes it valuable in the field is that it works identically whether your panel is 15 years old (Schlage ACU-1000) or brand new (IP-based), and it costs $40-60 versus $300+ for a networked smart relay. In an 80-door facility, that's a $20k capex difference, and the hardwired version has lower operational burden because there's no Ethernet connection to diagnose, no firmware to patch, and no configuration to lose after a power cycle. The SPDT logic is the real differentiator — most basic relays are SPST (Single Pole Single Throw), meaning they can only toggle on or off. The double-throw design lets you wire separate feedback paths: one pole controls strike release, the other delivers status confirmation back to the panel. On high-security perimeters where door-forced alarms are critical, that second pole is essential.
Technical Highlights:
- SPDT Switching Architecture: Mechanical relay with two output states (normally open and normally closed poles) enables independent strike activation and status monitoring on a single relay module. Eliminates need for dual relays or separate monitoring circuits.
- Hardwired Control — Zero Network Dependency: Signal path from access panel to strike is direct copper, carrying <500ms latency. No IP gateway, no wireless hop, no cloud round-trip. In our experience, this is the reason government and correctional facilities standardize on hardwired relays for primary egress control.
- Fail-Safe by Design: De-energized relay defaults to a known electrical state (open or closed depending on wiring). Loss of control signal or power automatically results in secure or accessible state — no ambiguity. Compliant with IEC 61508 and NFPA 72 fail-safe requirements.
- HES Strike Ecosystem Compatibility: Relay output terminals are pre-labeled for HES solenoid coils. Pinout is standardized across HES product line, meaning you can swap strikes or relays without rewiring. In retrofit scenarios, this saves hours of field troubleshooting.
- 0.01 lb, Wall-Mounted Form Factor: No panel real estate consumed. Mounts in electrical closet or above door frame. In multi-door facilities, you can concentrate 4-6 relays in a single wall-mounted enclosure, reducing point-of-failure single doors and simplifying maintenance.
Deployment Considerations:
- Control voltage must match panel output rating (12VDC or 24VDC most common). Verify panel datasheet before wiring — wrong voltage will not energize relay coil or will cause nuisance relay chatter. Field swap is simple: coil voltage tolerance is typically ±10%, but crossing 12VDC to 24VDC will fail.
- Wire gauge and run length matter for voltage drop. We recommend 18-20 AWG for runs up to 150 feet; longer runs or multiple daisy-chained relays may require 16 AWG to maintain coil voltage above minimum trip threshold (typically 85% of nominal).
- Relay contacts are dry (no integrated power switching). Strike solenoid coil draws 200-500mA at 24VDC — the relay must be rated for that inductive load. HES publishes contact ratings in the datasheet; verify before installation. Under-rated contacts will arc and fail within months.
- Installation location should be climate-controlled (electrical room preferred). Relay contacts are not potted; high humidity or condensation can cause intermittent contact resistance. Avoid mounting directly above bathroom exhaust or near steam lines.
- Wiring termination is typical 24 AWG or larger, stripped 1/4 inch. Screw terminals require firm engagement — loose wire leads to voltage drop and slow relay response. Torque screws to 3-4 in-lbs; over-tightening strips soft copper leads.
The RP-44WIRED is the right choice for any integrator building or maintaining hardwired access control where strike reliability and operational simplicity outweigh feature complexity. If your facility has a wired infrastructure and you need deterministic door control without IP dependencies, this is carrier-grade equipment. Explore the full HES catalog for complementary strike hardware and control logic modules.
