Understanding Relays and Inputs on Your DoorBird Device

If you're setting up a DoorBird video intercom to open a gate, release a maglock, or trigger any other piece of external hardware, you're working with the device's relay outputs. This article explains what a relay actually does, how DoorBird's relay and input system is generally structured, and the concepts you should understand before you start configuring one.

What a relay does

A relay on a DoorBird outdoor station (or an attached relay expansion module) is an electronic switch, not a power source. It doesn't drive your gate opener or maglock directly — it briefly closes (or opens) a low-voltage dry contact, and that momentary signal tells your connected hardware to act. It's the electronic equivalent of someone reaching over and pressing a button on your behalf.

Because a relay output is just a switch closure, it can be wired into almost any hardware that accepts a momentary trigger, including:

• Electric strikes and magnetic door locks
• Swing, sliding, or barrier-arm gate operators
• Garage door openers
• Elevator or turnstile access controllers
• Third-party automation hubs, smart relays, or building controllers that accept a dry-contact trigger

Most DoorBird outdoor stations include at least one built-in relay. If a single door or property needs to control more than one thing — for example, a pedestrian gate and a separate vehicle gate — an external relay expansion module lets you add additional outputs rather than forcing everything through one circuit.

Relays (outputs) vs. inputs

These two concepts get confused often, so it's worth separating them clearly:

• Relay (output): the device sends a signal out to trigger something — unlocking a door, raising a barrier, switching on a light.
• Input: the device receives a signal in from an external sensor or contact — for example, a door-position sensor, a request-to-exit button, or a third-party alarm contact — which can then be used to log an event or fire a notification.

Most installations only use the relay outputs, but if your DoorBird device or expansion module also exposes inputs, they're typically used to monitor hardware state (door open/closed, gate fully closed) rather than to trigger anything themselves.

The core settings every relay has

Regardless of which relay you're configuring, you'll generally be working with the same handful of properties in the device's administration settings, whether you reach them through the web-based configuration page (by browsing to the device's IP address) or through the admin section of the mobile app:

• Name/label: a friendly name for the relay so it's identifiable in trigger lists, schedules, and permission settings (e.g. "Front Gate," "Side Door Strike").
• Impulse/trigger duration: how long the contact stays closed when triggered, typically adjustable from a fraction of a second up to several seconds or more. A standard door strike might only need a second or two, while a gate operator may need a longer pulse to register the command.
• Trigger source(s): what's allowed to fire this relay — the in-app unlock button, a hardware call button or keypad, a scheduled time window, or an API/webhook call, depending on what your device supports.
• User permissions: which app users or user groups are allowed to trigger the relay remotely. It's common to give delivery or cleaning staff access to a side-door relay without giving them control of the main gate.

A practical tip: give every relay a clear, specific name as soon as you configure it. On properties with multiple gates, doors, and shared amenities, a list of relays named "Relay 1," "Relay 2," "Relay 3" becomes very easy to trigger by mistake. Naming them for what they actually control avoids that.

Planning your wiring before you configure anything

Before you open the app or admin page, it helps to know:

1. What voltage and current your gate opener, strike, or maglock's trigger input requires, and whether it needs a normally-open or normally-closed contact.
2. Whether the hardware you're triggering needs a short pulse (typical for strikes) or a sustained closure (some gate operators expect the contact to stay closed for the whole open cycle).
3. Whether you need one relay or several — and if several, whether your outdoor station's built-in relay is enough or whether you need an external relay module.

Getting this right at the wiring stage means the software-side configuration is usually just a matter of naming the relay, setting the impulse length, and deciding who can trigger it.

Still need help? Submit a support ticket and our team can walk through your specific relay setup with you.