Magnetic Stripe Reader

Name: Magnetic Stripe Reader
Brand: Nortech Control Systems Ltd
SKU: RH300
Availability: InStock

RH300

'Robust and Reliable'

Provides high-performance and reliability for any application; whether high-security access control, electronic point of sale, time and attendance or purely data acquisition.

Request Quote Download Datasheet

Product features & benefits

The reader is manufactured from impact resistant UV stabilised acrylic making it very durable and ensuring that it will continue to operate even in the harshest conditions. It is weatherproof and vandal-resistant – making it an ideal choice for both indoor and outdoor use. The reader heads provide an extremely reliable reading capability with over 1 million head passes.

A wide variety of output formats are available to provide flexibility for most OEM applications.

Benefits

Reliable read capability with head life in excess of 1 million passes
Available as Track 1, Track 2 or Track 3 ISO
Vandal-resistant
All electronics are encapsulated in epoxy resin (except read • head and buzzer aperture)
Reads lo-co and hi-co magnetic-stripe cards
Weatherproof –25°C to +65°C (-13°F to +150°F)

Specifications

Cable Connections	Red: +VDC Supply Blue Card: Present Green: Clock (or Wiegand Data 0) Yellow: Buzzer Control Line White: Data (or Wiegand 1) Black: 0VDC Signal Ground Violet: not in use Orange: Green/Yellow LED Control Line
Reader Supply Voltage	+5VDC to +18VDC — recommended +12VDC
Cable Distance / Gauge	Maximum of 100 metres—24AWG (7/0.20)
LED & Buzzer Control Inputs	0 to +5VDC maximum
Current Consumption	50mA at +5VDC and 20mA at +12VDC
Finish	Black UV Acrylic

Durable Magnetic Stripe Reading for Multi-Purpose Applications

The RH300 delivers reliable magnetic stripe card reading across diverse applications requiring proven swipe-card technology. Access control installations, electronic point-of-sale terminals, time-and-attendance systems, and data acquisition environments benefit from the reader's ability to process both low-coercivity and high-coercivity magnetic stripe cards with exceptional reliability.

The read head provides consistent performance exceeding one million card passes, ensuring years of maintenance-free operation in high-traffic deployments.

The RH300's construction addresses the reality of demanding installation environments. All electronics are encapsulated in epoxy resin, creating a weatherproof and vandal-resistant unit suitable for exposed outdoor locations, industrial settings, and public-facing installations.

The impact-resistant UV-stabilised acrylic housing maintains appearance and functionality despite harsh conditions. Multiple output format options (Clock & Data, Wiegand 26/36/50-bit) and selectable track reading (Track 1, 2, or 3) provide flexibility for integration with virtually any access control or data capture system.

Frequently asked questions

What output formats are available for the RH300?

The RH300 is available with Clock & Data output (model RH300-2), Wiegand 26-bit (RH300-3), Wiegand 36-bit (RH300-4), or Wiegand 50-bit (RH300-5) output formats.

Which magnetic stripe tracks can be read?

Track 2 is standard, with Track 1 or Track 3 available on request. Specify your track requirement when ordering.

What card types are compatible?

The reader processes both low-coercivity (lo-co) and high-coercivity (hi-co) magnetic stripe cards, supporting standard ISO magnetic stripe encoding.

Is the RH300 suitable for outdoor installation?

Yes, all electronics are encapsulated in epoxy resin and the UV-stabilised acrylic housing provides weatherproof protection operating from -25°C to +65°C.

What are the maximum cable run distances?

The reader includes a 2.5-metre 8-core screened cable and supports cable distances up to 100 metres using 24AWG (7/0.20) wiring.

Case studies