Cabinet Mounting & Environmental Preparation
The ZKTeco C3-100 access control board measures 160 mm in length by 106 mm in width with a net weight of 0.35 kg. Designed for wall-mount installations, the board can be mounted using non-conductive standoffs inside an equipment rack or secured inside the optional powder-coated aluminium enclosure measuring 380 mm (L) × 80 mm (W) × 280 mm (H).
Install the assembly in an indoor environment meeting operational tolerances between 0°C and 45°C (32°F to 113°F) and relative humidity levels between 20% and 80% RH (non-condensing). Maintain sufficient clearance around wiring channels to route power, reader signal, and network cabling cleanly away from high-voltage AC conduits.
Power Supply & Battery Backup Integration
The controller requires a stable 12V DC, 1.5A power supply (operational voltage range: 9.6V DC to 14.4V DC), drawing approximately 40mA in standby state. The mainboard incorporates built-in hardware protection circuits against over-current, over-voltage, and polarity reversal on the main power terminal blocks and all I/O ports.
- Connect the regulated 12V DC power output directly to the designated power terminals (+12V and GND).
- When utilizing an enclosure with integrated charging capability, space is reserved to install a 12V rechargeable backup lead-acid battery (they are not included) to support uninterrupted access operations during power outages.
- Ensure that all external auxiliary power supplies share a common ground (0V/GND) reference with the C3-100 controller board to eliminate communication noise and reader data read failures.
Wiegand Reader & Sensor Connections
The C3-100 supports up to 2 card readers using the standard 26-bit Wiegand protocol (custom Wiegand structures configurable via software). It is compatible with 125 kHz EM-Proximity, 13.56 MHz Mifare, HID Prox, and keypad credentials for bidirectional (entry/exit) or unidirectional door control architectures.
- Card Readers: Wire reader power (+12V), Ground (GND), Data 0 (WD0), Data 1 (WD1), and LED/Buzzer lines to the corresponding reader terminal blocks. Maintain common ground tying if reader power is drawn from a separate supply.
- Auxiliary Inputs: Wire a normally open (N.O.) momentary exit push button across the Exit Switch terminal and GND. Wire a magnetic reed switch or dry contact sensor across the Door Status terminal and GND to enable door open/close tracking.
Lock Relay Configuration & Inductive Spike Protection
The onboard primary door relay is a Form-C SPDT relay rated for 5A @ 36V DC or 8A @ 30V AC, capable of driving fail-safe electromagnetic (EM) locks, fail-secure electric strikes, or motorized drop bolts. The board also features an auxiliary Form-C SPDT relay rated at 2A @ 30V AC for sirens, alarms, or auxiliary lighting triggers.
Both dry contact (voltage-free) and wet contact configurations are supported. When powering inductive DC locking devices, installers must connect an FR107 reverse-biased flyback diode in parallel across the lock terminals (cathode to positive, anode to negative). Omitting this suppression diode risks welding relay contacts due to high-voltage inductive back-EMF spikes generated during lock disengagement.
TCP/IP & RS-485 Communication Topology
The controller interfaces with host management systems via standard IEEE 802.3 Ethernet TCP/IP networking or an RS-485 serial bus.
- TCP/IP: Terminate standard Cat5e/Cat6 patch cabling into the RJ45 Ethernet port for direct local area network communication. Network parameters can be configured using standard software auto-discovery utilities.
- RS-485 Bus: When multi-dropping panels via RS-485 serial communication, employ a daisy-chain bus topology. Ensure that a 120-ohm termination resistance jumper is engaged on the end-of-line device to prevent signal reflection.
