Viking Electronics VE-6X7-PNL Surface Mount Back Box with Blank Aluminum Panel
Overview
The VE-6X7-PNL is a surface mount back box paired with a blank aluminum panel, built for installers who need a clean, weather-resistant enclosure for a custom or field-configured door station, call box, or intercom assembly. This is one of the panel kits in Viking Electronics' VE-Series lineup — the ones marked with a "PNL" designation in the manufacturer catalog — combining a 16 gauge cold rolled steel (CRS) surface mount box with a UV stable black clear-coated aluminum faceplate. VE-6X7-PNL (often searched as VE 6X7 PNL) is sized for installers integrating their own switches, speakers, or call buttons into a single blank panel rather than a pre-punched faceplate, giving field techs room to drill and mount components to spec.
Key Features
- 16 gauge CRS back box: cold rolled steel construction at 16 gauge gives the mounting box enough rigidity to hold up under exterior mounting and repeated door or gate traffic near the install point, without the flex you get from lighter-gauge enclosures.
- Blank aluminum panel, 0.081" (12 gauge) thick: the faceplate ships unpunched, so you drill exactly the hole pattern your switches, speakers, or call buttons require instead of working around a fixed layout — useful when the box is going into a custom intercom or access panel build rather than a stock Viking component set.
- UV stable clear gloss powder paint finish: the powder coat is formulated to resist fading and chalking under continuous sun exposure, which matters on an exterior-mounted panel that's going to sit in direct weather for years without repainting.
- Compact footprint — 6.72" x 5.64" x 3.4" (171mm x 143mm x 86mm): small enough to mount at a gate pedestal, door frame, or wall-mounted call point without dominating the surface, while still giving enough depth (3.4") to route wiring and back-mount hardware inside the box.
- Shipping weight of 2.4 lbs (1.09 kg): light enough for straightforward wall-anchor mounting without extra structural bracing, and it keeps freight costs down if you're ordering panel kits in volume across multiple door or gate locations.
Integration & Compatibility
The VE-6X7-PNL is part of the same VE-Series surface mount box family as the VE-6X7-PNL-SS (stainless steel version), the VE-6X7-PNL-NR (no rain guard), and the VE-6X7-PNL-NRSS (stainless steel, no rain guard) — so if this specific finish or rain guard configuration isn't the right fit, the family has close variants worth checking. Because the panel ships blank, it integrates with whatever intercom, call button, or access control hardware you're already speccing for the location; the enclosure itself doesn't dictate a specific electronics platform. Pair it with a door intercom from your existing product line, or review a PoE planning guide if the panel is feeding a network-connected call station. For the broader family of enclosures and panel kits, browse the Viking Electronics catalog. If you're speccing a full entry system rather than a standalone panel, check the access control category for compatible controllers, and consider a matching mounting bracket if the install site needs additional standoff hardware.
What's in the Box
Each VE-6X7-PNL ships as a surface mount back box with a matching blank aluminum panel — the two-piece kit configuration described in the manufacturer's VE-Series documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the VE-6X7-PNL made of?
A: The back box is 16 gauge cold rolled steel (CRS), and the included panel is 0.081" (12 gauge) aluminum with a UV stable clear gloss powder paint finish.
Q: What are the dimensions of the VE-6X7-PNL?
A: 6.72" x 5.64" x 3.4" (171mm x 143mm x 86mm).
Q: Does the panel on the VE-6X7-PNL come pre-drilled for switches or speakers?
A: No — it ships as a blank aluminum panel so installers can drill and mount their own hardware to spec.
Q: Is there a stainless steel version of the VE-6X7-PNL?
A: Yes, the VE-6X7-PNL-SS is the heavy duty, black powder painted steel version in the same VE-Series family.
Q: How much does the VE-6X7-PNL weigh for shipping purposes?
A: 2.4 lbs (1.09 kg).
The VE-6X7-PNL crosses my bench a lot for custom gate and door intercom builds where the stock Viking faceplate just doesn't have the right cutout pattern. It's a 16 gauge CRS back box paired with a 0.081" blank aluminum panel — no pre-punched holes, which is exactly the point if you're field-fitting your own hardware.
Technical Highlights:
- 16 gauge CRS enclosure: holds its shape under repeated door or gate contact and takes wall anchors without oil-canning the way thinner boxes do.
- 0.081" (12 gauge) aluminum panel: thick enough to drill and tap for switches or call buttons without the panel flexing or cracking around the mounting holes.
- UV stable clear gloss powder paint: this finish is what keeps an exterior-mounted panel from chalking out after a summer or two of direct sun — worth checking against your site's exposure before you spec the standard finish over the stainless VE-6X7-PNL-SS.
Deployment Considerations:
- Because the panel ships blank, budget install time for layout and drilling — this isn't a drop-in replacement for a pre-punched Viking call station faceplate.
- At 3.4" deep, there's enough room inside the box to route and dress wiring for a couple of devices, but tight for a dense multi-button assembly — measure your hardware stack before committing to this depth.
I spec the VE-6X7-PNL most often for gate entry stations where the customer wants a custom two- or three-button layout instead of an off-the-shelf panel — the blank aluminum face gives the installer full control over hole placement, and the 16 gauge steel box behind it holds up to years of outdoor gate traffic.
