Viking E-1600A-AST2EWP 2-Button Yellow Tower Phone IP66 EWP

Viking Electronics E-1600A-AST2EWP Two-Button Yellow Assistance Tower Phone with EWP

Overview

The Viking Electronics E-1600A-AST2EWP is a surface-mount emergency assistance phone engineered for outdoor and harsh-environment installations where standard weather-resistant phones fall short. Yellow powder-coated steel housing, a high-power LED strobe/beacon, a built-in voice announcer, and Enhanced Weather Protection (EWP) combine in a compact 5.25" x 4.0" x 2.0" enclosure that runs entirely off the telephone line — no separate power supply required. If you're speccing emergency communication for parking structures, loading docks, campuses, or areas of refuge in climates with wide temperature swings, this unit is worth a close look.

Key Features

• IP66 Enhanced Weather Protection: EWP construction uses foam rubber gaskets and sealed connections to meet IP66 — dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets. Unlike standard outdoor phones, the E-1600A-AST2EWP tolerates up to 100% relative humidity, so condensation from rapid temperature swings won't compromise the electronics over time.
• -30°F to 170°F Operating Range: That's -34°C to 77°C — a range wide enough for unheated northern parking structures in winter and sun-baked metal utility enclosures in summer. Most comparable units top out at 140°F; the extra 30°F headroom matters on south-facing wall installs.
• Telephone-Line Powered: The unit draws from the phone line itself (minimum 24V DC talk battery, 20mA loop current), eliminating the need for a local power circuit. That simplifies rough-in considerably: one pair of conductors handles both communication and power.
• Up to 5 Emergency + 2 Central Station Numbers: The dialer stores up to 5 emergency numbers, 2 central station numbers, and up to 3 informational numbers — giving you enough routing flexibility for a multi-tenant or multi-zone facility without a separate controller.
• 16-Second Voice Memory: Pre-recorded announcements play on pickup, so callers immediately hear location or instruction prompts without dispatcher involvement. Useful for unstaffed facilities or after-hours calls where the first response needs to be automated.
• High-Power LED Strobe/Beacon: The integrated visual alert makes the unit's active state visible at distance, supporting hearing-impaired users and confirming to bystanders that a call is in progress — a common ADA compliance consideration in public-access areas.
• Two-Button Operation: Dedicated buttons for assistance and information calls reduce user error under stress. The yellow enclosure finish (fine texture powder paint) meets the visibility conventions used in emergency and safety signage without requiring an external enclosure.
• Steel Enclosure, Surface Mount Only: The steel body at 5.25" x 4.0" x 2.0" is sized for surface mounting on walls, columns, or pedestals. The unit ships at 2.5 lbs — easy single-person installation. Note: this model is surface mount only; flush or recessed mounting requires a different variant.

Integration & Compatibility

The E-1600A-AST2EWP operates on analog telephone lines and is designed to interface with standard POTS infrastructure. Viking notes that some phone systems not conforming to analog telecom standards may not be compatible with the 1600A Series — verify your PBX or hosted system supports standard loop-start analog before ordering. VoIP and analog variants exist within the broader Viking Electronics emergency phone line; if your facility has already moved fully to SIP, confirm the analog compatibility path or evaluate a VoIP-native model in the same emergency phone category. For PoE switch planning or network infrastructure supporting IP-based emergency communication systems, review the PoE switch selection guide. Pairing this unit with appropriate surface mount backboxes or protective pedestals is worth considering for high-traffic or vandal-prone locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Enhanced Weather Protection (EWP) mean on the E-1600A-AST2EWP?

A: EWP means the unit is constructed with foam rubber gaskets and sealed connections to meet IP66 standards — dust-tight and resistant to powerful water jets. It also handles up to 100% relative humidity, compared to 5–95% non-condensing on standard models.

Q: Does the E-1600A-AST2EWP require an external power supply?

A: No. It is telephone-line powered, requiring a minimum talk battery of 24V DC and a minimum loop current of 20mA from the connected phone line. No separate power circuit is needed.

Q: How many numbers can the dialer store?

A: Up to 5 emergency numbers, 2 central station numbers, and up to 3 informational numbers — 10 total stored destinations.

Q: Is the E-1600A-AST2EWP compatible with VoIP phone systems?

A: It is designed for analog telephone lines. Viking notes that phone systems not conforming to analog telecom standards may not be compatible with the 1600A Series. Verify your system supports standard analog loop-start operation before installing.

Q: What is the operating temperature range?

A: -30°F to 170°F (-34°C to 77°C), making it suitable for unheated outdoor enclosures in cold climates and sun-exposed installations in hot environments.

Q: Can the E-1600A-AST2EWP be flush or recessed mounted?

A: No — this model is surface mount only. Other variants in the 1600A Series support different mounting configurations if flush or recessed installation is required.

James Everett

The E-1600A-AST2EWP is one of the few analog emergency phones I'd specify without hesitation for a northern climate parking structure — the -30°F floor on the operating temperature range is the spec that earns it a spot on the shortlist. Most tower phones tap out at -4°F or 14°F, which sounds fine until January hits a Minnesota ramp deck.

Technical Highlights:

• IP66 / 100% RH tolerance: The EWP gasket and sealed-connection construction handles full condensation cycles — critical where temperatures swing 60°F between day and night and moisture intrusion is cumulative over years, not just during rain events.
• Telephone-line power (24V DC / 20mA min): No electrician scope, no conduit for 120V — one cable run handles everything. On retrofit projects where adding a power circuit means opening a wall, this is a real labor-cost differentiator.
• 16-second voice memory + 5-number dialer: Automated location announcement on pickup means the dispatcher hears the zone before the caller says a word — faster triage on multi-building campuses where a generic