Viking E-60-BK Double Gang Black Entry Phone | PoE Handsfree

Viking Electronics E-60-BK Double Gang Black Entry Phone

Overview

The Viking Electronics E-60-BK is a compact, vandal-resistant, telephone-line-powered handsfree entry phone designed for double gang flush-mount or surface-mount deployments. Built from 304 stainless steel with a durable powder-painted black finish, it delivers two-way audio communication at building entrances, secure lobbies, and controlled-access corridors where a full intercom panel isn't warranted. The E-60-BK (often searched as E 60 BK) draws under 4 watts over a standard PoE connection — no dedicated power run, no transformer, no junction box full of wire nuts. If you're installing in a new construction or retrofit environment where conduit is already pulled for data, this device fits that wire path directly.

The front panel fits a standard double gang rough-in, so it drops into existing wall boxes without custom millwork. An optional VE-5x5 surface mount is available when flush mounting isn't practical. The blue LED provides visible status feedback at the entry point — useful in low-light vestibules where users need to confirm the unit is active before speaking.

Key Features

• Sub-4W PoE Operation (802.3af / 802.3at / 802.3bt): Draws less than 4 watts, well within the 15.4W ceiling of 802.3af — the least capable PoE class. That means any 802.3af switch port powers this unit without budget math. No auxiliary power supply, no separate circuit. On a 24-port PoE switch with a 180W budget, you can run over 40 of these without saturating the switch. PoE network switches are a natural pairing for multi-door deployments.
• 100 Mbps Full Duplex Network Connection: The 100Mbps full duplex link is more than sufficient for SIP audio signaling and control traffic. It won't compete with camera streams on a shared access-layer switch, and it connects cleanly to any standard Cat5e or Cat6 infrastructure.
• Relay Output (2A @ 30VDC / 250VAC max): The onboard relay output handles door strike or magnetic lock control directly — rated at 2A at 30VDC or 250VAC. That covers the majority of commercial electric strikes and most mag lock installations without an intermediate relay board. Wire gauge compatibility runs 19–26 AWG with a maximum insulation diameter of 0.082 inches, fitting standard plenum and non-plenum low-voltage cable.
• Two-Way Handsfree Audio: Full-duplex speaker phone operation means visitors and the answering party speak naturally without push-to-talk. In busy lobbies or noisy vestibules, handsfree operation reduces friction at the entry point.
• Vandal-Resistant 304 Stainless Steel Construction: The faceplate is 304 stainless steel with a powder-painted black finish. Stainless resists denting, scratching, and casual tampering better than ABS housings common on residential-grade entry devices. This matters on exterior and semi-exterior applications where physical abuse is a realistic threat.
• Automatic Disconnect: Built-in automatic disconnect ends calls after a configured duration — prevents a held-open audio path from tying up the entry phone and blocks one vector for social-engineering attacks where a caller keeps the line open to listen to lobby activity.
• Blue LED Status Indicator: Provides clear visual confirmation that the unit is powered and ready. In dim entry vestibules, this eliminates user confusion about whether the device is functional before they speak.
• Double Gang Form Factor with Surface Mount Option: The panel dimensions match a standard double gang mid-size wall box for clean flush installations. Where flush mounting isn't possible — concrete block, tile, or metal stud walls without a rough-in box — the optional VE-5x5 surface enclosure provides a finished installation without cutting into the wall substrate.

Integration and Compatibility

The E-60-BK connects to a Viking IP entry phone ecosystem via standard PoE infrastructure. It is compatible with IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt PoE switches or injectors — any compliant power source works. The relay output integrates with electric strikes and mag locks wired at 19–26 AWG. For multi-door or enterprise deployments, the Viking Electronics entry phone line includes IP-addressable variants in the E-60-IP Series that add SIP trunk registration, Device Manager software for parallel programming and firmware updates, and polling capabilities — relevant context if you are evaluating the analog E-60-BK against a VoIP path for the same rough-in footprint.

Power is sourced entirely from the PoE switch or injector — no secondary wiring. Relay output contacts are rated 2A max, which accommodates standard commercial door hardware. For access control integration at the panel level, verify that your controller's input accepts a dry contact closure at this current rating before wiring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What PoE standard does the E-60-BK require?

A: The E-60-BK is compatible with IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt compliant PoE switches or injectors. It draws under 4 watts, so even the base 802.3af standard (15.4W budget per port) is more than sufficient — no 802.3at or bt switch is required.

Q: Can the E-60-BK control a door strike or magnetic lock directly?

A: Yes. The onboard relay output is rated 2A at 30VDC or 250VAC maximum, which covers the majority of commercial electric strikes and mag locks. Verify your specific door hardware's current draw is within that limit before wiring directly to the relay.

Q: What wire gauge is compatible with the E-60-BK terminal connections?

A: The unit accepts 19–26 AWG wire with a maximum insulation diameter of 0.082 inches. Standard low-voltage and plenum-rated cable in that gauge range connects without issue.

Q: Does the E-60-BK flush-mount in a standard electrical box?

A: Yes. The front panel is sized for a double gang mid-size wall box for flush installation. Where flush mounting is not possible, Viking offers the optional VE-5x5 surface mount enclosure.

Q: What is the automatic disconnect feature and why does it matter?

A: Automatic disconnect terminates the call after a set period, preventing a held-open audio connection from blocking the entry phone or creating a passive surveillance risk. It is a built-in hardware feature of the E-60-BK, not a software setting that requires a separate controller.

Marty Allison

The E-60-BK is one of those devices that earns its place on a job spec by solving a very specific problem cleanly: you need a hardwired, handsfree entry point with door release capability, and you do not want to run a separate power circuit or mount a large intercom panel. The sub-4W PoE draw means any 802.3af port on your existing switch handles it — I've deployed these off the same access-layer switches serving IP cameras and VoIP handsets without touching the PoE budget allocation.

Technical Highlights:

• Relay Output — 2A @ 30VDC/250VAC: This rating covers virtually every electric strike and mag lock I've specified in commercial lobby applications. You wire the relay directly to the door hardware without an intermediate relay board, which eliminates one failure point and keeps the conduit count down.
• 19–26 AWG / 0.082 in max insulation: This gauge range matches standard plenum-rated 22 AWG and 18 AWG low-voltage cable that's already in the wall on most retrofits. You are not pulling specialty wire for this device.
• 304 Stainless with Powder-Painted Finish: The black powder coat on 304 stainless holds up to the kind of daily contact you get at a high-traffic entry — much better than painted ABS. Scratches expose stainless rather than bare plastic substrate, which matters for appearance longevity in front-of-house installations.

Deployment Considerations:

• The double gang form factor is an asset in retrofit work — drop it into an existing rough-in without cutting new drywall. Where no rough-in exists, budget for the VE-5x5 surface mount; surface-mounting the device without that enclosure leaves exposed wiring and looks unfinished.
• The relay is rated 2A max. Verify your door hardware's inrush current, not just steady-state draw — some older mag locks exceed 2A on energize. If inrush is a concern, interpose a dedicated relay rated for the load.

The E-60-BK is the right call for corporate lobby secondary entries, multitenant building vestibules, and controlled-access stairwells where you need a professional-grade entry phone on a data-only conduit run. It is not the device for a high-volume loading dock where IP-based call logging or directory dialing is required — for that scenario, step up to the E-60-IP Series with SIP registration and Device Manager integration.