Magnetic locks (also known as maglocks) are one of the most popular devices particularly used in commercial establishments. The mechanism behind the working of an electromagnetic lock is very interesting. This article focuses on different components of maglocks, their core mechanism, as well as their operation.

Different Components of Electromagnetic Locks

Electromagnetic locks are widely used in the high security facilities. A maglock contains an electromagnet and an armature plate. The opening of the door is installed with a magnet inside of it so that the device cannot be tempered with. Meanwhile, the armature plate is attached on the face of the door in order to enable the lock’s mechanisms to efficiently work together.

A strong magnetic attraction is built as soon as the magnet is connected to an electrical source. In this way, the magnet is held tight onto the plate and the door is locked securely. You can power the door lock in two different ways i.e. via the electrical system of the building, and via the use of a separate battery pack. You can also use DC power for the electromagnetic locks, however it will require you to use a converter unit. Some electromagnetic locks are designed to become fail-safe, which means the door will automatically unlock whenever there is a power outage. It is useful in emergency situations where occupants need to exit the building safely and quickly.

Employment of Electromagnetism Theory

The concept of electromagnetism is utilized for designing maglocks. A magnetic lock works on the principle in which a magnetic force is produced when the current passes through the wire. The produced magnetic force provides the strength required to keep the door shut and prevent it from being opened, particularly if a specific amount of pressure is applied onto it.

The amount of magnetic force in a maglock can be boosted by using multiple wires during its designing process. The rate for magnetic locks are computed on the basis of the amount of force it can take before it unlocks itself.

Operation of Electromagnetic Locks

The use of electromagnetic locks when building security systems offers many benefits. One of its major advantages is that these locks are tamper-proof, which makes them a more secure and better option than traditional locks. Furthermore, as the maglock is tied with an electrical security system, you won’t need to use any keys.

You can use an electromagnetic lock in four different ways. The first way is to connect it with a buzzer and operate it manually to open the door. The second way is to connect it with a keypad system so you can use a specific numerical code in order to activate the lock. The third way is to involve it with card reader system, this method is widely used in commercial establishments. And finally, you can connect maglocks with fingerprint scanners in order to limit access into the building. There are also more complex systems available nowadays that involve scanning different parts of the body such as facial features, the eye, etc.