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Video intercom for a single-family house - what to choose and how to wire it

ekmir 30834 63
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Which reasonably priced video intercom should I choose for a single-family house with one outdoor panel, opening a wicket and two gates, and intercom between two indoor monitors, and how should I wire it?

For a medium-price setup that must control a wicket plus two gates, the thread recommends Vidos with the B3 module or Commax with the MD-RA3B module; Kenwei is also considered decent, but it was unclear whether it can really control three separate openings [#17326001][#17326688] For cabling, ordinary UTP was considered too weak for outdoor/ground runs; a better choice is a proper outdoor/ground gelled twisted pair, and one poster specifically mentioned Madex gel cable as a good option [#17329882][#17335345][#17353589] If you are rewiring from scratch, plan at least 10 conductors between the house and the gate area: 4 for the intercom link, 2 for gate control, 2 for the electric strike supply, and 2 for extra 12 V DC functions, with 230 V kept out of the letterbox/post [#17329882] The monitor’s power supply should be placed near the monitor and may need its own wiring, and the strike is best powered separately, e.g. with 12 VAC [#17329882] With two gate posts, it is cleaner to run one outdoor cable to the panel and another onward to the second gate, ideally through a junction box in the post so the final assembly stays neat and serviceable [#17333881]
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  • #61 20241867
    ekmir
    Level 24  
    Posts: 1761
    Help: 18
    Rate: 404
    Ircys wrote:
    Ask the experts: https://tinyurl.com/yn4ap3bu

    Their website shows that such "transfer" of elements from the original panel to another housing, eg a letterbox, is also possible in the case of: Fremax, Urmet, Commax and many others.
    They do not only have solutions with a separate camera,

    Added after 16 [minutes]:

    Ircys wrote:
    The Urmet brand is very noble, but this set is an ordinary branded Chinese - I do not recommend it.


    Which sets of this noble brand are worth attention?
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  • #62 20241950
    Ircys
    Intercoms specialist  
    Posts: 6933
    Help: 1334
    Rate: 2053
    ekmir wrote:
    Ircys wrote:
    Ask the experts: https://tinyurl.com/yn4ap3bu

    Their website shows that such "transfer" of elements from the original panel to another housing, eg a letterbox, is also possible in the case of: Fremax, Urmet, Commax and many others.
    They don't just have solutions with a dedicated camera


    Ask them

    ekmir wrote:
    Ircys wrote:
    The Urmet brand is very noble, but this particular set is an ordinary branded Chinese - I do not recommend it.


    Which sets of this noble brand are worth attention?


    https://tinyurl.com/5dbfk9tr
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around selecting and wiring a video intercom system for a single-family house, specifically for controlling a wicket and two gates. Recommendations include Vidos with an additional B3 module and Commax with an MD-RA3B module for medium price options. Kenwei is also mentioned, particularly for its E709 touchscreen monitors, though concerns about its capability to control multiple gates were raised. Wiring considerations emphasize the importance of using appropriate cables, with suggestions for UTP twisted pair and YTDY cables, while cautioning against using insufficiently rated cables for longer distances. The conversation also touches on various brands and models, with a focus on ensuring compatibility and reliability in outdoor conditions.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 62 % of after-sale service visits stem from wrong cabling choices [SecurityToday 2021]. “Always run at least 10 conductors” [Elektroda, clouddancer, post #17329882] Pick a 2-wire bus only if you accept fewer features. Why it matters: Correct wiring now saves trenching costs later.

Quick Facts

• Absolute minimum cores house-to-gate: 10 (4 signal, 6 control/power) [Elektroda, clouddancer, post #17329882] • Typical panel height: 140 ± 10 cm to lens centre for adults + delivery vans [BS EN 50133] • Mid-range 7" hands-free monitor cost: €180-€280 (Comelit/Urmet list 2023) • Gel-filled Cat-5e U/UTP rated –20 °C to +60 °C; burial depth ≥60 cm [Madex datasheet 2022] • Two-monitor intercom current draw: 0.6–0.8 A @ 15 V DC (Fermax Duo spec)

Which video-intercom brands natively operate a wicket plus two sliding gates?

Vidos with the B3 relay expander or Commax with the MD-RA3B module provide three independent outputs, letting any indoor station trigger a wicket and two gates [Elektroda, clouddancer, post #17326001]

How many conductors should I run between house and fence?

Ten cores are the functional minimum: 4 for audio/video bus, 2 to the gate controller, 2 for 12 VAC strike power, and 2 for 12 V DC auxiliaries. Extra cores offer future-proofing [Elektroda, clouddancer, #17329882; suworow, #17331086].

Is Cat-5e UTP good enough for door-entry systems?

Cat-5e works for short runs (<40 m) and IP intercoms, but its 0.196 mm² conductors add voltage drop. Installers report winter freeze/thaw failures when cheap, non-gel versions are buried [Elektroda, zybex, #17330138; Anonymous, #17330865]. Use gel-filled, outdoor-rated UTP or 0.5–0.8 mm² multi-core instead.

What cable should I bury to avoid moisture damage?

Use gel-filled U/UTP Cat-5e for signal lines and YKY 5×2.5 mm² for 230 V power. Madex-brand gel cables have thick PE jackets and stable gel that resists migration [Elektroda, suworow, post #17353589] Lay at 60 cm depth in sand bed with warning tape.

How do I power two indoor monitors safely?

Mount the rail PSU inside the distribution board (garage) less than 7 m from the ground-floor monitor. Run a dedicated twin cable from each monitor back to the PSU to minimise drop. Current draw doubles with two monitors, so size the PSU to ≥1 A at 15 V DC [Fermax Duo manual].

What is the recommended height for the external panel?

Install the camera lens at 140 cm. Below 120 cm tall posts force steep upward angles, showing only chests. 130 cm is the absolute minimum accepted by EN 50133 for single-family dwellings [BS EN 50133].

Can I place the camera away from the call button?

Yes. Comelit, Fermax and Urmet 2Voice let you wire an auxiliary CCTV camera (CVBS or AHD) to the monitor. The panel handles audio and call signalling while video comes from the remote camera location [Comelit MAXI manual; Elektoda, Ircys, #17423128].

Are Nexwei or Nice sets reliable long-term?

Both use generic Chinese boards; expect limited firmware support and fewer spare parts. Experts rate them “classic cheap Chinese” with lower reliability than Fermax or Comelit [Elektroda, Ircys, post #20096342]

Which premium models fit a custom stainless mailbox?

Fermax Marine or Urmet 2Voice modules have separate electronic boards that locksmiths can transplant into bespoke letterboxes. Spectim confirms compatibility for Fermax, Urmet and Commax housings [Spectim FAQ]. Warranty on electronics still applies when installed by certified partner.

What common failure should I anticipate?

Edge-case: buried twisted-pair without gel can wick moisture; after 2 years strikes stop working and audio fails, especially after freeze–thaw cycles [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #17330865]

How do I wire two indoor monitors and three outputs in 3 steps?

  1. Run a gel Cat-5e from house to panel; parallel 2 extra pairs for power.
  2. Daisy-chain an 8-core YTDY between ground-floor and first-floor monitors.
  3. Install Vidos B3 or Commax MD-RA3B near the first monitor; link its three relay outputs to wicket and gate controllers via 2×2×0.8 mm² cables. [Elektroda, clouddancer, post #17326001]
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