Magnetic locks, like galvanic strikes, use electromagnetism to control the locking mechanism. They rely on galvanic power, whether from a building current or a battery, and as a supervene they're as trustworthy as a refrigerator, Tv, or bedside alarm clock (though like any other household appliance they can also be vulnerable to power failure). But because no key is needed to control magnetic locks, mag-locks can't be picked - and you'll never be locked out because you've lost the key.

Magnetic Locks

The core of a magnetic lock control law is an electromagnet made of advanced metal alloys. When galvanic power activates it, the bolt slides in or out, up or down, along its U-shaped channel to lock or unlock the door. Some mag-locks also couple timing mechanisms that allow them to control only at inevitable times - during firm hours, for example. Others have "transaction memory," which can description every use or attempted use. This function can be especially primary with locks that use number-pads rather than coded cards: if an unauthorized someone tries to gain entrance using incorrect codes more than twice, for example, the lock can automatically set off an alarm.

Magnetic locks work only with Dc current, usually 12 to 24 volts. Many systems apply batteries to furnish the power, but others are wired into the building's Ac current, which is converted to Dc by an internal transformer. Because the locking mechanism relies on the electromagnetic charge, mag-locks fail if the power fails, and the lock will open: they are fail-safe, meaning that they stop working if the power goes off. (Locks using Ac power, like galvanic strikes, remain locked when the power goes out: they are fail-secure.) The best mag-lock designs use batteries, with converted Ac current as a backup, or the reverse: they use the building's Ac current (converted to Dc) with batteries for backup.

Backup Camera

Whatever their power source, while entrance from the outside requires galvanic power, most magnetic locks can be opened from the inside without electricity, development egress in an emergency safe and reliable. One typical irregularity is in high-security applications like prisons, where both ingress and egress are controlled.

Magnetic locks are designed to read a range of separate coding mechanisms such as smart cards, presence readers, and keypads. That versatility makes them ideal for both institutional or firm use and for home use. If an worker is dismissed, for example, his or her magnetic code can be immediately deactivated, so that that particular smart card no longer works. If a lock uses a numbered keypad, the coding can be changed speedily and easily, with the new code given only to those authorized. For home use, each house member can be given a separate entrance code, development it easy to track when a delinquent teenager ultimately got home! The code can also de facto be changed or deactivated if needed - in the case, say, of an intransigent previous boyfriend or girlfriend, or an unfriendly divorce.

Another benefit of electromagnetic locks is that they're silent. When you are "buzzed in" to an apartment building, that buzzer signals that Ac power is being used - it's the sound of Ac current passing straight through an galvanic strike. But if you hear only the soft click of the bolt being released, it's the silence of Dc power, most likely using a magnetic lock. Generally, though, the Ac assault lasts only as long as you hear the buzzer; after that, the door relocks. For home use, the silent magnetic lock is generally preferred.

Bear in mind that, as an galvanic appliance, magnetic locks must be properly installed to ensure that they're not susceptible to fire. Although Do-It-Yourself aficionados can setup their own battery-operated mag-locks, it's all the time best to use a expert installer, who will also know the local protection codes that must be followed.

Now, for those who worry about these things, the power consumption of a magnetic lock - even one using Ac power and a transformer - is so minimal as to be unnoticed on your Con Ed bill. And there's no fancy to fear having a "residual electromagnetic aura" hanging around your front door: you won't!

Magnetic Locks

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