Viking Network Enabled 4 Relay Controller - RC-4A

Viking Electronics RC-4A Network Enabled 4-Relay Controller

The Viking Electronics RC-4A is a network-based relay controller built for installations where the door strike, gate operator, or other load-switching hardware must sit physically apart from the entry phone or access control panel triggering it. Four independently controlled relay outputs — each rated 5A at 30VDC or 120VAC — give integrators real flexibility: you can switch low-voltage electric strikes on the same unit as a higher-voltage gate operator without needing a separate relay board. The RC-4A (often searched as RC 4A) connects over standard Ethernet and exposes a web interface, so configuration and remote triggering happen from any browser-equipped device on the network, including smartphones and PCs.

Overview

At its core, the RC-4A solves a common field problem in VoIP door phone deployments: the entry phone is wall-mounted at the door, but the gate operator or electric strike power supply is in a utility room or mechanical space twenty meters away. Running heavy strike-power cable the full distance is expensive and code-sensitive. With the RC-4A, you run structured Cat cabling from your switch to the controller location, handle the power wiring locally, and trigger the relays over IP. Viking's own VoIP entry and emergency phone series supports direct sync with the RC-4A — input status changes on one unit propagate to relay outputs on the other, enabling coordinated multi-point access events without a separate controller in the middle.

The unit also supports standalone PC or smartphone triggering through a saved web shortcut, which is documented in Viking's programming video. That makes it practical for small commercial deployments where a full access control system is overkill but you still need auditable, remote-operable relay switching.

Key Features

• 4 Relay Outputs, 5A @ 30VDC / 120VAC: Each relay handles both low-voltage DC loads (electric strikes, mag-locks) and line-voltage AC loads (gate motors, door operators) at the same contact rating — up to 5A continuous. That eliminates the common field workaround of adding an interposing relay to bridge from a low-current output to a high-current load.
• 4 Monitored Inputs: Input status changes can trigger relay outputs locally or synchronize state across paired RC-4A units on the network. Use this to interlock an exit request sensor, door position switch, or external system output with relay action — no programming beyond the web UI required.
• RJ45 10Base-T/100Base-Tx LAN Interface: Standard Ethernet connectivity means the RC-4A drops into any existing structured wiring plant. 100Base-Tx support keeps it compatible with modern switches without requiring a dedicated legacy port. PoE network switches can often supply power to the same run feeding the controller's location, simplifying wiring.
• Basic and Digest Authentication: Web interface access is protected by configurable HTTP authentication (Basic or Digest). Digest mode prevents credentials from being transmitted in cleartext — relevant if your management VLAN is shared with other traffic.
• 120VAC / 12VDC 500mA Power with UL-Listed Adapter: Ships with a UL-listed AC adapter, so there's no sourcing question on the wall-wart. The 12VDC / 500mA supply is adequate for the controller board; the relay contacts are independently rated and switch external load power, not the adapter supply.
• Compact Form Factor — 5.25