Answer summary: Master Lite provides four local SSR signal contacts, one CAN interface, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and a Wiegand input. Master Premium provides two local SSR contacts, two isolated CAN branches, Ethernet and onboard LTE. Node8 adds eight SSR contacts; Reader EV3 provides the RFID/NFC reading point. A modular master can be placed inside the elevator cabin or elsewhere in the installation. Choose compatible devices and size the complete system around its signals, wiring, power and configuration.
Cabin controller or modular master?
There are two ways to organize AXON elevator access. A concentrated cabin controller brings many relay outputs together near the floor-button panel. AXON CCU-32 is the 32-output example, with other relay-count variants for different panel requirements. This approach is useful when many signals are collected in one place.
A modular system starts with Master Premium or Master Lite. Their local outputs handle nearby command signals, and additional nodes provide more contacts or reading points as needed. The master can be planned inside the cabin, at an entrance or in an equipment cabinet. Its location follows the panel, enclosure, cable routes and service needs. The same master can serve landing readers, entrance doors, garages and ramps while a multi-relay node inside the cabin handles the floor-request signals. Readers and output nodes share the communication lines according to the installation plan.
These approaches describe how the system is organized, not which one is universally better. A compact master with nodes can serve an elevator panel; a cabin controller remains a distinct product with its own interfaces. A reference to 32, 48 or 64 outputs should never be used as a description of every AXON system. The specific product and project determine the output arrangement.
Compare the boards by their role
| Product | Main role | Interfaces and outputs to consider |
|---|---|---|
| AXON Master Premium | Coordinates a modular system with two separate CAN branches. | Two isolated CAN interfaces, two local SSR contacts, Ethernet, onboard LTE and monitored branch supplies. |
| AXON Master Lite | Coordinates a compact modular system with local reader and network options. | Four SSR contacts, one CAN interface, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wiegand and a connector for an optional external LTE module. |
| AXON Node8 | Adds output channels near the panel or equipment receiving commands. | Eight SSR contacts and Classic CAN IN/OUT connectors on the same bus. |
| AXON Reader EV3 | Provides the card-reading point for the user. | RFID/NFC, CAN, light and sound feedback, a tamper input and one local SSR contact. |
| AXON LTE module | Adds cellular connectivity to a compatible master configuration. | External module with SIM, antenna and master connections; distinct from Premium's onboard LTE. |
The master manages the access decision and connected devices. The reader captures a credential. A node supplies the appropriate command contacts. The platform supports administration and communication. Keeping these roles separate makes the system easier to select and maintain.
The product links above open the full English presentations. Each page also links to its Albanian version through the language selector. Both versions describe the same board and its model-specific specifications.
When should you choose Master Premium or Master Lite?
Consider Master Lite when the installation needs four local signal contacts, a compatible Wiegand reader input or Wi-Fi alongside wired Ethernet. Its CAN connection provides the path for compatible expansion. If cellular communication is required, the external LTE module and its connection must be included in the configuration.
Consider Master Premium when the installation benefits from two separate CAN branches and its protected interfaces. Each branch has galvanic isolation and a separate supply connection for nodes. EMI filtering, ESD protection and supply monitoring address different electrical conditions around the connected equipment. These features complement the cabling and power plan; they are not a statement of certified immunity to every disturbance.
Premium has two local SSR contacts. It does not inherit Lite's four-output arrangement, Wi-Fi or Wiegand input. Premium's Ethernet and onboard LTE also differ from Lite's external LTE option. PoE can supply the Premium master; the nodes need their separate branch power supplies. Select the master by the required interfaces rather than treating the product names as interchangeable tiers of the same circuit.
How RFID access works at an elevator, door or garage
A person presents a supported card to the reader. The configured system checks the associated permissions and sends the appropriate command to the connected equipment. Card compatibility and authentication depend on the reader, credentials and firmware selected for that installation.
Elevator floor permissions
The access layer can associate a card with the floors a person may request. A resident, employee or visitor may need a different set of destinations. The controller and output arrangement are selected for the elevator panel's actual command interface.
A CCU-32 groups many outputs in the cabin. A modular master can use its local contacts and Node8 expansion near the panel. In either case, AXON provides the access authorization interface; the elevator controller remains responsible for movement, emergency behavior and its safety functions. The elevator access walkthrough explains the roles in more detail.
Entrance doors and restricted areas
A shared entrance, office or technical room needs a reading point, access rules and a suitable connection to the door equipment. A local output may be enough for the command, or an output node may be more convenient near the door controller.
SSR contacts used for electronic signals are not supplies for electric locks. The lock, its power source, exit arrangements and any additional interface must be selected together. One output is not automatically one complete door controller. See multi-entrance access planning when several doors and shared areas belong to one project.
Garage gates and parking barriers
For a garage, an authorized access event can be mapped to the compatible command input of an existing gate or barrier controller. The reader is placed where people can use it conveniently, while the output can be near the equipment receiving the command.
The gate controller handles motor power, obstacle detection and movement. This card-access arrangement does not imply number-plate recognition, long-range vehicle identification or an integrated payment terminal. Those requirements need their own equipment and integration plan.
How many nodes and outputs does a project need?
Start by listing the command signals and where they are located. Master Lite has four local SSR contacts, Master Premium has two, and each Node8 adds eight. More than one contact may be needed around an access point, while a reader node has a different role from an output node. Calculate the required channels from the actual interfaces instead of equating doors, floors and relays.
The modular system supports up to 240 addressed subordinate devices, sometimes called slaves. Readers and relay nodes can be mixed in that count. Node8 provides eight outputs; other node variants offer more. Count the channels provided by the chosen devices rather than treating 240 devices as 240 relays or doors. Cable segments, power and device placement are sized for the installation.
Each master stores up to 1 million cards locally. Stored card capacity is separate from the number of connected devices. Card and permission changes are distributed in real time across connected masters, so the same administration can cover the relevant parts of a larger installation.
Two connectors on a Node8 or Reader EV3 continue the same CAN bus. Premium's two CAN interfaces are two separate branches. They do not by themselves establish an equal split of 120 devices per branch. Confirm the device mix, cable routes, termination, supply and supported configuration for the project.
For example, a building may need output contacts near an elevator panel and card readers at entrances. The plan should show which device serves each point, the signals on every channel and the group to which each reader belongs. This provides a useful starting point for expansion without implying that any arbitrary mixture of devices is compatible.
Choosing Ethernet, CAN, Wi-Fi, LTE and MQTT
These terms describe different parts of the system. Ethernet connects the master to an IP network. CAN connects compatible local nodes and readers. Wi-Fi is a wireless network option on Master Lite. LTE provides a supported cellular connection, through the external module for compatible Lite configurations or the onboard modem on Premium.
MQTT is software messaging, not another physical connector. The AXON backend uses MQTT for commands and telemetry, alongside card-data synchronization toward masters. Communication between current AXON subordinate devices and their master, and between the master and cloud services, is encrypted. Recovery and network-failover behavior follow the selected configuration; encryption alone does not define those behaviors.
Choose the network plan around the site's available connection, access to its network equipment and cellular coverage where applicable. Confirm the SIM service and operator requirements for LTE. The presence of multiple interfaces alone does not promise automatic failover or identical behavior across every model. The CAN, RS-485 and Ethernet guide provides additional context for comparing connection roles.
Maintenance, payment records and building administration
Access administration includes assigning cards, maintaining permissions and keeping a clear record of the devices installed. It also helps the people responsible for a shared building coordinate service and resident accounts.
The AXON platform includes apartment payment records, elevator maintenance records, access schedules and validity periods. The administrator chooses the points affected by card or payment/subscription expiry. For example, an expiry rule may restrict the garage and selected elevator requests while other permitted entry points remain available. The resident receives a notification on their phone before expiry.
Changes are distributed in real time to connected masters. The administrator can disable selected readers or subordinate devices remotely, without a physical visit. These are functions of the connected access system; the controller is not a bank-card payment terminal.
Access restrictions must preserve free emergency egress. A door may require authorization for entry while still allowing people to leave freely in an emergency. Payment rules, schedules and remote commands must never obstruct evacuation.
Maintenance records can include the assigned technician, status, scheduled date, completion date and notes. They help organize service alongside the access installation. They are distinct from predictive maintenance or certified elevator diagnostics. The deployed platform and the agreed workflow determine which screens and actions are available to the administrator.
An authorized technician can connect a phone locally to the master for diagnostics. The connection method depends on the configured master, so this does not imply Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on every board.
For a practical handover, record the master, each node's location, channel labels, reader placement, credential-management process and the people responsible for service. The smart building access guide discusses how this administration fits into a wider property-management project.
Example: a building with an elevator, doors and a garage
An illustrative installation uses a modular master in an equipment cabinet. Readers are placed at the entrance and on the landings, a relay node serves the cabin panel, and other devices handle the garage or ramp barrier. Shared communication lines link these roles to the same master. The cabin node adds the floor contacts needed without replacing the master with a different product solely for the cabin.
Residents receive permissions for their assigned floors and shared spaces. A maintenance team can have a schedule for technical-room access. If a payment period expires, only the points named in the administrator’s rule are restricted, after advance phone notification. Free emergency exit remains available.
The arrangement can grow with additional compatible readers and output nodes, while other connected masters receive the relevant card and permission changes in real time. Reusing a common master and node family reduces the number of specialized board types needed for installation and maintenance.
What information should you prepare for an AXON project?
- List the entrances, doors, garage gates and elevator floor requests that need access control.
- Identify the existing controllers and their command-input requirements.
- Mark reader positions, equipment cabinets, possible master locations and cable routes.
- Count the required signal contacts and distinguish them from reader and node counts.
- Record available Ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, along with power supplies and enclosure space.
- Describe user groups, card administration, visitor needs and the desired maintenance or payment workflow.
- Confirm compatible products, firmware, topology and installation responsibilities with the project team.
AXON is developed in Kosovo. Its system planning is not restricted to Kosovo: requirements for equipment, installation, communications and support are assessed for the actual project location. Discuss your building with AXON using the information above, or return to the access control guide library.
Frequently asked questions
Can a modular AXON master be installed inside the elevator cabin?
Yes. A modular master can be planned inside the cabin or elsewhere in the installation. The position depends on the panel signals, cable routes, enclosure, power and service requirements. A concentrated cabin controller is another architecture option, not the only way to place access control in the cabin.
What if the master's local outputs are not enough?
Compatible output nodes add contacts to the modular system. Node8 provides eight SSR contacts for appropriate electronic command signals. Determine the number of nodes from the required signals, their locations and the supported master configuration.
Does Node8 have two independent CAN branches?
No. Its CAN IN and CAN OUT connectors continue one bus. Master Premium has two separate, isolated CAN interfaces. These arrangements serve different wiring needs.
Is the system limited to 240 relays or 240 doors?
The modular system supports up to 240 addressed subordinate devices. A device may provide multiple outputs or serve as a reader. Relay count, device count and access-point count are different quantities; the wiring, power and device mix are planned separately.
Does the Reader EV3 name guarantee that any RFID card is supported?
No. Supported cards and authentication depend on the reader firmware and selected credential profile. Choose and confirm the reader, cards and controller configuration together.
Can the system support building payment and maintenance records?
Yes. AXON manages payment history, validity periods, schedules and maintenance records. The administrator selects which points an expiry rule restricts, and residents receive advance phone notification. Payment records and access rules remain separate from bank-card payment processing.
How many cards can a master store?
Each master stores up to 1 million cards locally. Connected masters receive card and permission updates in real time. This capacity is distinct from the 240 addressed devices in the modular system.
Can selected devices be disabled without visiting the building?
Yes. An administrator can remotely disable a selected reader or subordinate device through the connected system. The installation map identifies the device and the access points it serves. Emergency egress must remain available.
Where can I find prices and installation support?
Basic elevator access systems start from €100 per elevator, with the final amount based on the configuration and work included. Authenticated RFID cards or tokens with copying protection start from €3 each wholesale. See AXON pricing and installation services for the scope and quotation process.