How to install an electromechanical lock on a gate with your own hands

The safety requirements at the summer cottage depend on the nature of its development and the level of use. The gate to the garden-fence plot with a shed for inventory is locked, at best, with a latch. But if a residential building is built here, people live in it permanently, keep valuables, leave a car in the garage, it is worth equipping the gate with a more reliable device.

How does an electromechanical lock work

An electromechanical lock for a gate or a wicket is easy to use, reliable and easy to maintain. When locked, the device locks the sash and prevents entry into the area. From the inside, the lock is opened through an intercom, security console or a button located next to the lock. Outside - with a key, card or key fob.

The mechanism of an electric lock is not so different from a mechanical one. When closing, the latch bolt enters the lock striker and prevents the sash from opening. However, the operation of the mechanism is provided by an electric current, which makes significant differences.

The locking bolt is connected to the electric drive. The latter is connected by wires to the control panel. The principle of operation of the device:

• When the leaf is closed by means of a special spring, the cocking bolt enters the working position.
• At the same time, the locking element enters the groove of the striker and blocks the movement of the sash. There can be several crossbars, which increases the reliability of locking. It is impossible to move the deadbolt mechanically, as it moves due to the operation of the electric drive.
  
• The door opens only after receiving a signal. The impulse is transmitted to the solenoid, while the spring fixation is reset and it pulls the locking bolt into the housing.
• Locking is performed automatically when the sash is closed. This does not require a control signal.

In the event of a power outage, the door remains locked.

The safety of the locking mechanism is determined not only by the reliability of the locking, but also by the complexity of the key. The physical key has complex side slicing. When it is inserted into the lock, the key coded grooves must match the relief of the coded strips inside the case. The coincidence signal is transmitted to the control panel, from where the solenoid is turned on. Opening is possible only in case of their complete coincidence.

If the lock is opened with a card, the device reads the electronic code. If the codes of the key and lock memory match, the panel transmits voltage to the solenoid and the door is unlocked.

Advantages and disadvantages

Installing an electromechanical lock on a wicket provides the user with a number of advantages:

• The locking device is much more reliable than the conventional mechanical version. In fact, it is provided by the interaction of 2 mechanisms.
• The lock does not need additional protection (armor plate or protective casing).
• The device is compact. It can be installed on the lightest sash - from a profiled sheet, a wooden sheet.
• Remote control is one of the greatest amenities that electrical designs offer. You can open the gate from the remote control, card, intercom signal.
• This is one of the most burglary-resistant options, since a complete match of the code is required to open the sash. It is extremely difficult to pick it up.
• The locking mechanism is powered by a battery that needs to be replaced no more than once a year.
• Voltage is needed to unblock the doors, not close, therefore, in the event of a lock breakage, lack of electric current, the sash is locked, not opened. This is inconvenient, but it prevents unauthorized entry.
• The service life of an electromechanical lock is much longer than a mechanical one, since the structure is completely protected from dirt or dust getting inside.

Disadvantages:

• High price.
• Do-it-yourself installation of an electromechanical lock on a gate is difficult. Such work is more often entrusted to specialists.
• The device is sensitive to water and cold. To protect the lock from freezing, it is recommended to install a protective visor over it.

The reliability of the lock depends on the materials and manufacturing technologies. Chinese models often do not stand up to scrutiny.

Types of mechanisms

You can install an electromechanical lock of 3 types on the gate:

• The easiest option is with electrical interlocking. Here the crossbar moves due to the springs, but its extreme position is fixed with a latch. And the latter, in turn, is driven by a solenoid or electric drive.
• Motorized - the lock is expensive, the bolt is not fixed in the extreme position. Locking is achieved due to the design or operation of the gearbox. Distinguish between gear and screw models. The former allow you to close the door even with strong distortion and friction. In the second case, the door does not come off, even if the deadbolt is mechanically pushed back.
• Solenoid is the most common. The crossbar is displaced by a metal core, which is pulled into the solenoid when voltage is applied. It can be operated either from a battery or from a cable.

Mortise and overhead structures are divided according to the method of installation. The upper ones are inserted inside the door leaf. Since the thickness of the wicket rarely allows this, a box is mounted for constipation. The overhead is fixed to the canvas using corners. A more reliable method is installation on a frame made of a shaped pipe.

Locks are also classified by the number of crossbars. Models with 1 or 2 bolts are cheaper but not as reliable. The multi-point design with 3 or more crossbars in 3 planes guarantees a very high level of burglary resistance.

Features of choice

You need to choose an electric lock on the gate and install it yourself, taking into account the following factors:

• The type of protected area - such locks are installed only in those cases when they want to make the passage to the site not only controlled, but also convenient, since it can be controlled from the remote control or via the intercom. The complexity of the device depends on how much the territory of the allotment needs to be protected.
• Permeability - in private homes, it is recommended to install motor structures, since the permeability here is low. The option with electric blocking is also quite appropriate. Solenoid models are more suitable for public buildings where the door is opened frequently.
• Operating conditions - it is better to put closed locks on the wickets, in which, when the current is turned off, the bolt locks the door. Open ones are designed to service emergency exits.

Since all electromechanical locks are quite sensitive to moisture, they should be protected in rainy climates.

Self-assembly and connection

Installation of an electric lock on the gate takes at least 2 hours. Step by step scheme:

1. The castle body is applied to the wicket in the selected place. It is preferable to fix the device to the frame if the door is lined with a light material, like corrugated board or lining.
2. Holes are drilled along the marks.
3. Mark the place of attachment of the counterpart of the lock on the frame of the wicket and drill holes for the fasteners.
4. The lock body is installed on the wicket door or on the frame profile, and the counterpart - to the frame post. If the lock is opened with a card or keyboard, these devices are immediately mounted from the outside.
5. An electric cable is connected to the locking mechanism and a test switch is carried out. The check must be performed several times in different modes.
6. The wiring to the gate is usually laid along the ground. The wire must be hidden in a protective case.

A video camera is often installed together with an electromechanical lock.

An electromechanical lock provides a high level of burglary resistance, is more functional, but more expensive than usual. Installation requires the supply and connection of the electrical cable.