Subscriber Discussion

Card Access - Card Reader Mounting Ideas

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Chuck Janzer
Jan 30, 2015
IPVMU Certified

During a recent class discussion, questions were asked about glass mounting readers and other reader security issues. We have glass mounted readers a number of times. In this picture, you can see the HID ProxProII. The customer had standardized on this reader, so we could not use a traditional mullion mount. It is stuck to the glass using 3M double sided tape.

Glass Mount Front

The back side uses a standard HID glass mount kit 5455AGM00

Back Side of glass reader

At the inner city schools, the readers were being damaged. We suggested flushing the readers into the wall. We cut a hole in the brick, recessing the reader. Since, seldom are the readers damaged. The plate is a standard piece of plastic we have made at our favorite plastic vendor, cut and edged, brown or white depending on the wall. This design is now going on 15 years and the plastic has kept their doors in operation. It is now part of their standard specifications at all doors.

Hole in the wall

Hole in the Wall

Reader behind plate

Reader behind plate

Completed door

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Brian Rhodes
Jan 30, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Hey Chuck.

Thanks for sharing! Great detail and pictures.

How do you cut the brick? Drill holes, then hammer and chisel?

That window mount is nice and neat.

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Chuck Janzer
Jan 30, 2015
IPVMU Certified

The wall is cut in any way appropriate. Yes, we've drilled lots of holes and then chiseled. But most of the time we use a hand grinder with a concrete wheel. The same hand grinder we normally use to cut door frames for strikes. After the borders are cut, a chisel. Normally an angle shot to the strike pocket for the reader cable. The depth of the pocket is important, or you need to add a little RTV to stick the reader to the back of the plate. It is all important that the reader stay tight against the plate to maintain good read range.

I've got one more set to show, but I don't have the pictures I want. I'll add to this post after I take some.

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KL
Keefe Lovgren
Jan 30, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Nice post... great job thinking/working outside the box...

JP
Jason Pfau
Feb 02, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I really like the glass mounted idea... Looks good.

I have to wonder if the newer vandal resistant/metal card readers might be a suitable choice vs cutting holes in bricks.

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Chuck Janzer
Feb 02, 2015
IPVMU Certified

No, they didn't work. We tried one of the Honeywell vandal resistant readers. It didn't last very long. Recess is still the solution.

This is another vandal issue.... This poor parking lot reader was damaged three times, this is the third "release." I think it is still there. We had the custom steel metal housing built, added a piece of plastic to get a little better read range. The earlier version had sloping slides and the baseball bat still managed to destroy the reader.

Parking Lot Reader

Parking Lot Reader 2

U
Undisclosed #1
Oct 23, 2019

Opening up an old thread.....in the second picture at the top of this topic there is a picture of a plastic back plate with a half round cable channel to the mullion for mounting the reader on the inside of glass. Is anyone aware of a bracket like this for an HID multiclass RP40 reader? I looked on the HID website and do not see any mounting accessories. No, I have not called HID, I thought IPVM would give me a faster answer or other options.

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Brian Rhodes
Oct 23, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I don't think this is an option for R40; the curved housing and 13.56 MHz frequency might have troubles. (Glass wasn't a problem on those flat-faced, low RF 125 kHz-only readers.)

I reached out to HID with the question though and will post when they respond.

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Brian Rhodes
Oct 25, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I asked HID for feedback on this, here is their response:

HID does not make an accessory for iCLASS/multiCLASS SE readers akin to the one pictured for legacy prox readers. Over the years, we have seen a variety of creative reader mounting solutions but they are generally enabled using accessories sourced from 3rd parties or custom made. Considering the glass-mounted use case, here are a few points to consider:

  • The iCLASS/multiCLASS SE reader is curved on the front, not flat like the legacy prox readers. Given this, flush mounting is not possible and thus mounting behind glass may not be ideal.
  • The read range of HF cards is less than LF cards and any material, other than air, in between reader and card will degrade the performance to some degree. Be sure to test the read performance before installing the reader behind any surface.
  • Essex Electronics is one HID partner who makes vandal-resistant readers of many varieties. Their readers support most of the HID credential technologies. It may be a good option for the niche applications where a very rugged reader is necessary.
  • The Aperio product line from ASSA ABLOY supports most HID credential technologies and includes wireless readers for glass-mount applications. These may be considered for niche glass-mount applications where exposed wiring for power/comm is untenable.
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