Most people associate a magnetic lock with a complicated electronic device. No wonder, since they are most frequently found in hotels and guest houses. Opening magnetic doors in these places is done by using a card. It is a convenient solution, but the mechanism seems complicated. In fact, the magnetic door lock is characterised by a simple design. It is also durable and comfortable and closing the door is very quiet. Due to their advantages, magnetic locks are increasingly used for locking internal doors in houses, flats and offices.
How does a magnetic door lock work?
Magnetic locks are most frequently installed in internal doors. Their special constructions additionally equipped with stronger electromagnets and strong bolts can be used for entrance doors. External magnetic door locks can be additionally equipped with a remote control or a magnetic card opening function.
The principle of the magnetic lock is very simple. When the door is open, the bolt is concealed in the lock cylinder. When the door is closed and the door leaf is flush with the frame, a magnet in the door frame attracts the bolt and effectively closes the door.
When the handle is pressed, the bolt is retracted into the magnetic lock cylinder. An additional key lock can be used in the mechanism. The bolt can then be locked and the door cannot be opened by pressing the handle. The simple construction and operation of the magnetic lock makes it much more durable than its traditional mechanical counterpart.
How does the magnetic card lock work?
Magnetic card locks are mainly found in hotels. They are very convenient to use. It's enough to insert a special card and the electromechanism recognises the user and releases the lock catch. This solution is also safe, because after about 5 seconds the magnet pulls the latch again and the door remains closed.
Doors equipped with a magnetic card lock are also equipped with a door closer, which closes the door automatically when opened. This ensures that hotel guests can rest assured that their room is safe and locked, even when children are using it.
Magnetic card locks have an increased resistance to mechanical damage. If you decide on such a lock, pay attention to the fire resistance certificate. The best magnetic card locks come with easy-to-use software that allows you to program cards so that you can have access to multiple rooms.
The magnetic card lock can be permanently locked from the inside using the lock knob. This ensures that entry from the outside is blocked. However, using a special card can even unlock from the inside. All this so that in the event of an accident, the person in the room can be helped.
Magnetic card locks allow for full control of the people staying in the hotel. The cards themselves are programmed so that the guest can use them when entering the spa area, the gym or the underground car park. Magnetic card security is also fitted to the lifts, so that hotel staff can be sure that only guests are on the floors. Separate access authorisations for specific areas or rooms can be granted to hotel maintenance or cleaning staff.
Read also: A convenient hotel door lock – what should I bear in mind?
How does a traditional mechanical lock work?
It is worth comparing the principle of operation of a magnetic lock to a traditional mechanical lock. The spring is the most defective part of a conventional lock. This is what causes the bolt to constantly protrude from the cylinder. The protruding tongue is bevelled on one side so that the door can be closed without pressing the handle.
When closing, the frame presses the cam into the cylinder. Closing the door without pressing the handle causes faster wear on the lock components. In addition, slamming the door makes a lot of noise. Of course, you can close the door by pressing the handle. Then the noise does not bother you, but continuous use of the handle causes faster wear and tear of the spring, which leads to its breakage.
You can get rid of all the disadvantages of a traditional lock by purchasing a magnetic lock.
Errors in the installation of magnetic locks
A common mistake when installing a magnetic lock is to use screws which are too long when fixing the handle. Inexperienced people can damage the lock cylinder by drilling through it with a screw. Remember to use screws of an appropriate length.
If you are fitting a magnetic lock with through-screws, drill the holes in the door after removing the cylinder. Many people forget to do this and damage the lock with the drill.
When drilling the screw holes, make sure that the drill bit works perfectly horizontally. Even a slight deviation from the plane will result in the handles being fitted crookedly or not at all.
To sum up, a magnetic lock is a very convenient solution for ease of use. You don't have to worry about failure and wear and tear of the lock. The problem with noisy slamming of doors also goes away. It is important to remember about proper installation, because it is very easy to damage the mechanism.
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