How to Install a Third-Party Wiegand Reader

In this article we'll discuss how to install compatible third-party Wiegand readers with the DC20:

• What's Wiegand?
• Are All Wiegand Readers Compatible with Rhombus?
• Recommended Wiring and Configuration

What's Wiegand?

The Wiegand Protocol, commonly referred to as just Wiegand, is a wiring standard found on many card readers and an intergral part of many access control systems. It was discovered in the 1970s by John R. Wiegand and is widely found on the commercial market. Wiegand devices are unsupervised, therefore, making them easy to compromise and susceptible to hacking. Modern day access control systems have started to migrate over to OSDP.

Are All Wiegand Readers Compatible with Rhombus?

Not all Wiegand readers are compatible with the DC20. To find out if your current readers are compatible, please reach out to your Rhombus sales representative.

Recommended Wiring and Configuration

Compatible third-party Wiegand readers will be wired to the DC20 in the following method:

Up to four Wiegand readers can be connected to the DC20. The 12VDC reader power supplies are rated at 660mA each. Terminals [OUT1] and [OUT2] are configurable in Rhombus Console to support LEDs and buzzers.

Contact Support or Sales

Have more questions? Contact Rhombus Support at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 2 or support@rhombus.com.

Interested in learning more? Contact Rhombus Sales at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 1 or sales@rhombus.com.