DoorKing 1812 Classic Manuals & Support

The DoorKing 1812 Classic is a residential telephone intercom with a push-to-call button. It connects to the home phone line, rings with a distinctive double ring, and the resident presses 9 to open the gate.

It runs on 24 VAC and has two relays, built-in call waiting and time zones for hold open, access codes and call forward. The original 1812 uses the same 1871-010 board.

Identify your model

The 1812 Classic and the original 1812 use the 1871-010 control board and run on 24 VAC. Use the manual for board 1871-010 Rev S or higher. The 2015 and 2020 manuals cover the Classic; the 2007 manual covers early 1812 units.

Units on 16.5 VAC are the 1812 Plus or 1812 Access Plus.

Key specs

Power	24 VAC, 20 VA transformer (supplied)
Phone line	Uses the existing home line
Call	Push button to call
Relays	2
Time zones	Hold open, access code and call forward
Programming	Keypad or touch-tone phone
Board	1871-010 Rev S or higher
Backup	24 VDC battery terminals

Manuals and documents

Troubleshooting

Most reported problems are programming settings and can be fixed on site. Check power first, then the phone wiring.

Keypad dead or OV LED on

The board needs 24 VAC. Check the transformer output at the power terminals.
The 1812 Classic runs on 24 VAC from the supplied 20 VA transformer.
Check that the keypad plug is seated with the cable pointing down.

Buzz or noise on the line

Check that all phone wires are twisted pair and rated for outdoor or burial use.
Check for pinched wires near the door hinge and for a short to ground behind the circuit board.
Check that the cabinet is grounded. Do not use the case ground terminal as a low voltage common.
Remove the 16 VAC (or 24 VAC on the Classic) wires and listen to the house phones. If the noise goes away, the power wires are grounded.

Dial tone on the 1812 speaker or no tone from the phones

The 1812 must be wired in series with the house phone line. Check PHONE IN (terminals 1 and 2) and PHONE OUT (terminals 4 and 5).
If the house phones do not make a tone to open the gate, swap the PHONE OUT wires.

House phones do not ring

Check that the by-pass switch is set to ENTRY, not BY-PASS.
Turn off Do Not Disturb or call forward, or change their time zone boundaries.
Connect a test phone to PHONE OUT. If it rings, the problem is in the house phone wiring.

Gate or strike stays open

Check for a hold open time zone or a hold open code.
Check for voltage drop on the power wires.
A hold command may have been sent from a house phone. Send the release command from the phone.

Common questions

No. It connects to the home phone line. Calls from the gate ring with a distinctive ring, and the resident presses 9 to open the gate.

No. The 1812 Classic runs only on 24 VAC from the supplied 20 VA transformer. The 1812 Plus and Access Plus are the 16.5 VAC models.

All phone wires pass through the by-pass board. If the 1812 needs service, the homeowner flips the switch to BY-PASS and the phone line goes straight to the house.

Mount any keypad or entry system at least 6 ft from a gate or gate operator, or where the user cannot reach the gate while using it.