Viking E-50-SS Stainless Steel Video Entry Phone w/ Prox Reader

Viking Electronics E-50-SS Stainless Steel Video Entry Phone with Color Camera and Proximity Card Reader

The Viking Electronics E-50-SS is a telephone-line-powered video entry phone built for demanding access points — commercial building entrances, secure vestibules, and industrial gates where you need audio, video, and credential verification in a single flush-mount unit. The 304 stainless steel faceplate (4.875" x 4.938") and 316 stainless steel push button are built to handle abuse and weather. With an IP67-rated push button and an IP66 overall EWP rating, the E-50-SS handles direct rain, dust, and outdoor exposure without additional housings.

Key Features

• Telephone-Line Powered: The E-50-SS draws power directly from the telephone line — no separate power run needed to the door. Ring voltage requirement is 25V AC RMS minimum, compatible with standard POTS and most on-premise phone systems. Fewer conductors at the rough-in means a cleaner installation.
• 420-Line Color Camera with 80° Horizontal FOV: The 2.1mm conical pinhole lens delivers a wide 80° horizontal, 60° vertical, and 100° diagonal field of view — enough coverage to capture a full face and immediate surroundings at the door without fisheye distortion. The camera requires a separate 6–22V DC supply at 150mA and outputs 1 VP-P composite NTSC at 75 ohms, compatible with standard analog video monitors and DVR inputs.
• Adjustable Camera Aim: The tilt/swivel mount provides ±20° vertical and ±30° horizontal adjustment after installation — useful for fine-tuning the sight line once the unit is flush-mounted and the box is in the wall.
• 125KHz 26-Bit Wiegand Proximity Reader: Built-in card reader supports Viking PRx-C, PRx-C-ISO, PRx-FOB, and AWID credentials with a 1.25" to 2.0" read range. This outputs standard 26-bit Wiegand data, so it wires directly into any Wiegand-compatible access control panel without an additional reader at the door.
• IP67 Push Button, IP66 Overall EWP Rating: The 316 SS push button is individually rated IP67 — it can handle temporary submersion. The full unit carries IP66 as an EWP (Extreme Weather Protection) rating, meaning sustained rain and pressurized water won't be a problem for most outdoor entrances.
• -30°F to 150°F Operating Range: This thermal range covers unheated northern entry vestibules in winter through sun-baked metal enclosures in direct summer exposure — without adding a heater or sunshield.
• 300ms CPC Auto-Disconnect: The 300ms minimum CPC disconnect time ensures the call drops cleanly at hang-up on the indoor station, preventing phantom open lines that tie up the entry point.
• Multiple Finish Options: Available in brushed stainless, oil rubbed bronze, satin black, and satin white faceplates — the E-50-SS (often searched as E 50 SS) can match architectural hardware on premium entry points without a custom housing.

Integration and Compatibility

The proximity reader outputs 26-bit Wiegand data compatible with the broad ecosystem of access control panels from HID, Lenel, Software House, and similar vendors. The composite NTSC video output connects to analog surveillance cameras and recorders in mixed analog/IP systems, or to a dedicated video door monitor. Flush mounting requires a double gang box with minimum inside dimensions of 2.25" deep x 3.65" wide x 2.84" tall (Carlon BH234R or equivalent). Surface mounting is supported with the optional VE-3x5 surface mount box. For a broader look at Viking Electronics entry phones and intercoms, the E-50-SS fits within a product family that spans single-gang, IP, and SIP-based entry solutions. Integrators pairing this with an access control system should confirm the panel accepts 26-bit Wiegand at the reader port — nearly universal, but worth verifying on older panels. For analog video, review your video surveillance infrastructure to confirm composite input availability on your recorder or monitor. A video entry phone buying guide can help clarify when a telephone-line-powered unit like the E-50-SS is the right fit versus a SIP or IP-based intercom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of box does the E-50-SS flush mount into?

A: The E-50-SS requires a double gang rough-in box with minimum inside dimensions of 2.25" deep x 3.65" wide x 2.84" tall. The Carlon BH234R is a recommended equivalent. Surface mounting is also supported with the optional VE-3x5 surface mount box.

Q: Is the E-50-SS telephone-line powered, or does it need a separate power supply?

A: The phone circuitry is powered directly from the telephone line (25V AC RMS minimum ring voltage). The color video camera requires a separate 6–22V DC supply at 150mA — this is a separate power run from the phone line power.

Q: What access control credentials does the built-in reader support?

A: The 125KHz 26-bit Wiegand reader supports Viking PRx-C, PRx-C-ISO, PRx-FOB, and AWID format credentials. It outputs standard Wiegand data compatible with most access control panels.

Q: What is the IP rating on the E-50-SS?

A: The push button switch is individually rated IP67 (dust-tight and submersion-resistant). The full unit carries an IP66 EWP (Extreme Weather Protection) rating, protecting against sustained rain and direct water jets.

Q: What video output does the camera use — is it IP or analog?

A: The camera outputs 1 VP-P composite NTSC at 75 ohms — this is an analog video signal, not IP or digital. It connects to analog monitors, DVRs, or hybrid recorders with composite inputs.

Q: What is the camera field of view on the E-50-SS?

A: The 2.1mm conical pinhole lens provides 80° horizontal, 60° vertical, and 100° diagonal field of view with ±20° vertical and ±30° horizontal tilt/swivel adjustment after installation.

Marty Allison

The E-50-SS earns its place at high-traffic commercial entry points primarily because of the thermal operating range: -30°F to 150°F covers virtually every North American climate without supplemental heating or cooling hardware at the door. I've specified this unit on northern loading dock entries where cheaper plastic-body phones cracked or fogged within a season.

Technical Highlights:

• Dual IP Ratings: IP67 on the push button and IP66 EWP on the full assembly — the button survives a spray-down or brief flood without degrading the contact, while the enclosure handles sustained outdoor rain exposure.
• 26-Bit Wiegand Output: The 125KHz reader outputs industry-standard 26-bit Wiegand data at 1.25"–2.0" read range, wiring directly into virtually any commercial access control panel without an interface module.
• Composite NTSC Video: 1 VP-P at 75 ohms — pairs cleanly with analog DVRs and hybrid NVRs. The 80° horizontal FOV on a 2.1mm pinhole captures a full door width without a fisheye effect that distorts face recognition.

Deployment Considerations:

• The camera needs its own 6–22V DC supply at 150mA — do not assume the phone line powers the video. Run a separate low-voltage circuit to the box during rough-in or you'll be fishing wire after drywall.
• The 1.25"–2.0" read range on the proximity reader is short by design — users must present the credential deliberately. In high-traffic lobby deployments this prevents accidental reads from passersby, but brief your end-users before go-live.

The E-50-SS is the right call for outdoor commercial entries in extreme climates where you need a single unit to handle telephony, video, and Wiegand credential reading — particularly on retrofit projects where the existing wiring infrastructure is POTS-based and pulling new network cable to the door isn't practical.