Traditional vs. 4-Wire Control: What's the Difference?

When deploying access control in high-density environments like data centers, the wiring approach can make a big difference in both installation complexity and long-term scalability.

Traditional access control systems rely on multiple conductors to support readers, REX, DPS, and electrified locks, requiring individual wiring runs from each cabinet back to a controller.

In contrast, a 4-wire cabinet lock with OSDP communication uses just two conductors for data and two for power, allowing multiple locks to share a single RS-485 bus, dramatically reducing cabling and simplifying deployment.

Comparison Summary:

  • Traditional Wiring: Uses relays to trigger locking mechanisms, requiring more physical connections and dedicated wiring for each cabinet.
  • 4-Wire Control: Uses power + data lines for a more streamlined installation, centralized management, and reduced cabling costs.

 

 

Wiring Breakdown:

Traditional Wiring

  • 6 conductors for reader
  • 2 conductors for door position switch (DPS)
  • 2–4 conductors for REX (request to exit)
  • 2 conductors for electrified locking hardware

Separate wiring run required for each cabinet

4-Wire OSDP Control

  • 2 conductors for power
  • 2 conductors for RS-485 bus (data)

Multiple cabinets can share a single data line

Key Takeaway:

In cabinet deployments with dozens, or even hundreds, of racks, small wiring efficiencies scale quickly.
By reducing cabling, simplifying setup, and streamlining connections, 4-wire cabinet lock systems help IT teams and integrators move faster and operate smarter.
Fewer conductors mean fewer potential failure points, faster installs, and better long-term scalability without compromising on control, monitoring, or security.

View all HES cabinet locks and filter by credentials, wiring, or key features to find the right fit for your deployment.

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