Hi.

With regard to residential systems:

What experiences (good, not good) have you had with the various intercom systems out there? For example, premature failure (power surges?), repeated service calls, lack of expandability (or is that poor planning?), etc.

With which brands have you worked (e. g. Aiphone, NuTone, etc.)?

Thanks!

I have done a lot of work with Aiphone with good results. Their video intercoms are one of the best out there, they only require two wires between master and door station units. I have also installed the multi master systems with several door stations. They are very easy to install and I have not really had any problems with them. Just keep ground faults off the communications wire. The only other ones I have used are Siedle, and stay away, far far away from them. The video units require somewhere around 20 conductors between master and door station and to top it off the instructions are only in German.

Jim

ThinkGood,
I've installed the odd Aiphone unit myself and I've never had any problems with them.
the biggest problems with intercom systems are normally due to incorrect wiring or having the wrong voltage applied to them (where this is derived from an external source).
Another thing that I have learnt over the years, is to keep Intercom wires well away from any Mains voltage cables, not only for reasons of safety, but those of mutual induction, causing a hum to be transferred into the intercom system.

I don't seem to get requests for intercoms very often.

Wireless models appeal to some people due to the lack of interconnecting wires, and I've had queries about these when they don't work at their best due to noisy power lines or other interference.

One such problem was someone who had bought some to communicate from his shop to the living quarters above and could get only a very poor and noisy signal. It turned out the outlet in the shop was on a different phase to the apartment, and I ended up installing a special outlet at the check-out just for the intercom.

Ah yes Paul, the old Wireless Intercom on two different Phases problem!.
I got sworn at, a few years ago when a customer bought a w/less Intercom from the retail shop of where I work and I was told that my company sold nothing but cheap junk
(at NZ$199?!).
I went and had a look and that's what it was, one socket-outlet on the Red Phase and the other on the Blue Phase!.
Never did get an apology, but what the heck, the customer is always right, eh!.

It's surprising just how many people don't realize that they can be overheard by others when using a wireless intercom.

A couple of times I've heard the same reaction as from certain cordless phone users, who seem to think that "they" (the authorities) should do something to stop people listening in.