View Full Version : what lock mechanism for pedestrian gate? magnetic or mechanical?
wozzzzza
25th July 2023, 09:02 PM
procrastinating on a lock type for this new gate im building. either magnetic or mechanical lock like a door.
currently a keypad entry with electric latch and normal knobset with key operation.
the gate will be outdoors and be closed with hydraulic closer. problem we have now is that the mechanical lock sometimes will not fully lock when people close it gently and people leave it unlatched on purpose.
trying to workout how to get around this issue.
or go magnetic lock with key switch on post instead of knobset with key which again people get confused with as well as they think it turns when it doesn't as you need a key to make it turn to unlock.
what to do?
Camelot
25th July 2023, 09:19 PM
Put the electric latch on a timer delay leaving the latch in the open position, then the closer will not have the resistance of the latch stopping the gate from fully closing, you can time how long it takes for the closer to fully close the gate and set the delay a few seconds longer or instead of a timer delay you could have the latch in the unlocked position until the gate closers against a contactor like limit switches you get on CNC machine but instead of the limit switch stopping say the Z axis it releases the electric latch
wozzzzza
25th July 2023, 09:47 PM
Put the electric latch on a timer delay leaving the latch in the open position, then the closer will not have the resistance of the latch stopping the gate from fully closing, you can time how long it takes for the closer to fully close the gate and set the delay a few seconds longer or instead of a timer delay you could have the latch in the unlocked position until the gate closers against a contactor like limit switches you get on CNC machine but instead of the limit switch stopping say the Z axis it releases the electric latch
latch doesn't work like that. when closing the gate it doesnt retract no matter if its energised or not, only the latch part on the gate retracts
Camelot
25th July 2023, 10:01 PM
So when it's energized does it become loose allowing the latch bolt to release the gate? if so the latch should give the latch bolt less resistance when energized, thus the timer idea, it is the resistance which is stopping your closer from working every time, some closers have a latch action, so you can set them to close slowly until they get to say the last 150mm of closing and then the closer exerts more force (latch action) this is intended to overcome the problem you are having.
ian
25th July 2023, 10:21 PM
wozzzzza,
just remember that if that gate is located on a pedestrian exit route, it should / must?
1. open outwards;
2. be able to be opened without the use of a key or any unlocking device other than a crash bar that releases the lock
wozzzzza
25th July 2023, 10:48 PM
wozzzzza,
just remember that if that gate is located on a pedestrian exit route, it should / must?
1. open outwards;
2. be able to be opened without the use of a key or any unlocking device other than a crash bar that releases the lock
yes all conditions met.
So when it's energized does it become loose allowing the latch bolt to release the gate?
doesn't work like that, you can put a lot of force onto that latch and it wont unlatch while closing as it requires force sideways to unlock like when it is opened it is forced sideways to unlatch it