Single door electromagnetic door lock with signal output ES180GF
If you’re reading this post, it probably means you’re looking for a secure way to protect your business or private premises, but more specifically, you’re looking for something more reliable and up-to-date than a traditional lock and key or deadbolt.
There are a range of electromagnetic door locks and electric lock options available on the market today and these are the key to properly securing your premises. These types of locking solutions come in a range of sizes and shapes, with each lock designed for a specific use case and door configuration. You may be interested in checking out Elock’s guidefor an overview of the range of locks available.
In this article we’re going to look specifically at electromagnetic lock technology, offer guidance on day-to-day use of this modern-day technology, and provide some installation tips.
How Magnetic Locks Work
Let’s take a closer look at the technology behind electromagnetic locks and investigate installation procedures.
The Two Main Parts That Comprise An Electromagnetic Lock
Electromagnetic locks, also referred to as EMlocks, consist of two main parts, some wires, and a mounting mechanism. The two parts affix to the frame and the door, with their magnetic sides facing each other. If your door or door frame does not allow for direct mounting, then you should install the mounting plate. The wires connect to the lock, delivering electricity to power the magnet. These run either through or along the walls to a dedicated power supply.
Electromagnetic Locks Have A Fail-Safe Mechanism
Electromagnetic locks function on a fail-safe mechanism, which means that when the lock receives a power supply, the magnet activates and the two halves are stuck together – remember that one half attaches to the wall and the other half attaches to the door. Thus, the door stays locked. Triggering the lock means cutting the power and unlocking the door.
This type of fail-safe lock is the perfect solution for emergency routes, simply because it’s highly likely the power will be out in an urgent situation, which is precisely when you need to be able to open the door. For this reason, most businesses are now choosing to install electromagnetic locks on their front doors.
How To Install An Electromagnet Lock
To screw in the lock itself you’ll need to drill holes in both the wall and door when installing an electromagnetic lock. To connect the lock to a permanent power source you’ll also need to run wires through or along the wall. We suggest the Elock Security EM Lock is a very good choice, and it’s not difficult to find detailed installation diagrams for various configurations.
Basically, though, all these types of lock follow the same format – you drill the holes, you mount brackets to accommodate the locks, then run the wires. You then power it up and test it out.
Testing An Electromagnetic Lock
An important part of any installation process is testing, so this is the next step. Whether you’ve done the installation yourself or hired an installer to set it up for you, installation of your lock is not complete until you’ve given it a test drive and checked to ensure proper locking.
Testing is pretty straightforward. You need power connected, and the rest is basically testing the capabilities of your new lock via the access system you’ll be using. The door should stay tightly closed when the lock is accessing power, and it should open when the power cuts out.
Important Installation Points
You’re looking for proper functioning, but there are other factors to be aware of with this type of installation.
The first factor is fire compliance. Certain buildingtypes in certain cities have different fire codes, and it may be that you’re required to install a contact sensor or motion sensor, or a request-to-exit button. In addition, when considering emergency situations, you may decide to have a manual override key in your door.
Yes, your lock is a fail-safe lock, which means when the power goes out you can still exit the building, but there could well be a malfunction inside the lock, preventing the door from opening at a critical time. That’s why we suggest having a back-up key, just in case. Talk to your integrator or installer about this, and ask for their suggestions.
Further Information About Electromagnetic Locks and Access Control
The main question we’re asked is: How does an electromagnetic door lock unlock when using an access control system?
Let’s now take a closer look at how these electromagnetic locks work when paired with a access control.
About Wiring
As you now know, an electromagnetic lock needs electricity for power. The lock also needs to know when to open, so it needs wiring to the access controller. The fail-safe aspect of these locks means they unlock by cutting power when triggered. The power temporarily cuts out when the access control readers sends impulses to the lock, and the door opens. Note that you can program the length of time the power cuts out.
The above is an example of how to wire Elock Security access controllers to anelectromagnetic lock. You can see that there’s a dedicated power supply to the lock, while the controller has a separate power supply. Both the lock and the lock’s power supply connect to the controller, enabling the power to cut out when the door should unlock.
Unlocking Electromagnetic Locks
Unlocking is entirely dependent on the method of access chosen, which is the same with wiring and other aspects of this type of lock. When correctly wired, and if you’re using another modern access control system, then unlocking your door will be as easy as tapping your keycard or phone on the reader near your door.
The reader will then send a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal to the brains of the operation – the controller. The controller authenticates the signal, determining if the user has access at that particular point in time. If yes, the controller sends an impulse through the wiring to the lock’s power supply. Finally, there will be no power for a short period of time to allow the door to unlock.
Final Thoughts
Electromagnetic door locks are a versatile and extremely reliable lock for all business to use as their main means of entering and exiting their business premises. These locks have a fail-safe mechanism and are the perfect tool for using in emergency situations when there’s no access to power. In addition, these locks integrate perfectly with modern access controls for a reliable and seamless unlock experience.
