3-Unit Apartment Bldg - Access Control Help

Ryan

Search Ebay using "best lock" There is one there now. 24VDC

Bob AZ

You want DC for an apartment lobby door? I would think AC would be a better option as this will buzz when activated signaling to visitors that the door can be opened, also if you use AC you don't need to purchase or maintain a rectifier to convert your AC line current to DC.

You might also consider going to hard wire vs. wireless. With only three units you can probably run the wires fairly easily. Once installed, the hard wired system will probably be more reliable and parts are always going to be available, whereas the wireless systems of the future may not be compatable with what you buy today, nor may the manufacturers support the product in the future.

What I might suggest is to get a couple of biuds from electricians and locksmiths in your area. The cost of having it done might be cheaper than you think especially if you are willing to do some of the more time consuming tasks.

Also there are some calculations to be made to estamate the voltage drop in the longer wire runs that are commonly the cause of having to do the job over.

I would agree with Roger. Although, the cost difference these days between AC and DC applications is nominal, there are some factors you might want to consider. For example, most AC strikes buzz on open while DC strikes do not. Changing one or the other will add costs to your overall budget. It all depends on what you want as the end result and what matters most to you.

I would also suggest as Roger did and have a couple of Locksmiths come and bid the job for you. In fact, I would suggest actually having one ultimately do it for you. I am a do-it-yourself kind of guy also but there's a time when you have to leave certain jobs to those with more experience. It might cost less in the long run with the mistakes you may make. With that said, should you decide to do it yourself here are a couple of pieces of information that might help:

"HES Complete Guide to Electric Stikes"

"Trine Technical Support" **Trine is a mfg of electric strikes and accessories. I recommend their products to everyone. They tend to be a bit more pricey but are well worth the cost. Click on the "Troubleshooting" link and you will find some valuable information. Especially if you have a problem after installing yourself..:)

Good Luck...

prmirage

Isn't it common knowledge that AC strikes wear out quicker than DC strikes?

The vibrating of the AC power is much more severe on the unit than the continuous action of DC.

Sunsh> You want DC for an apartment lobby door? I would think AC would be a

AC strikes come in two duty cycles intermitent and continuious. For intermitent use on a 3 unit apartment lobby you should get good servive life out of a quality strike.

I suspect that the downsides of DC would outweigh the advantages of the AC.

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