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Understanding Locking Systems - Buyer Guides

Maglocks is a leading online supplier of low voltage security products and door access control systems to small and medium sized business. For over 18 years we have built a company that is designed with the requirements of our customers in mind. Our topic research, is focused on access control strategy, technology, and insight.

6 Apr 2019

How to Design a Door Access Control System?

How to Design a Door Access Control System?
Designing an access control solution requires decisions on seven (7) fundamental questions. This article is intended to help you understand the seven steps and the options and tradeoffs involved in designing an excellent access control solution. continue reading

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11 Jun 2019

How to program and configure Door Access Control Software?

How to program and configure Door Access Control Software?
Cobra Controls door access control software instructional library: Learn Cobra Controls Door Access Control software at your own pace: Play, pause, rewind. Watch one tutorial at a time, or the entire 18 video course. This series of videos is designed to help you get started with setting up the Access Control Software and basic operations. continue reading

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13 Sep 2019

Explosion Proof and Intrinsic Safety Devices

Explosion Proof and Intrinsic Safety Devices
Electrical equipment sometimes must be installed in areas where combustible vapors and gases are used or may be present. These are commonly referred to as “hazardous locations”, and are defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the US, or the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) in Canada. When equipment must be installed in hazardous locations, there are strict requirements for the construction of the installation, including materials and design requirements. To prevent inadvertent ignition of flammable gases and vapors by electrical equipment, the two most common methods of protection are “Explosion Proof” and “Intrinsically Safe”. continue reading

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15 Nov 2019

Calculating Wiring gage requirements to offset voltage loss?

Calculating Wiring gage requirements to offset voltage loss?
Wiring in many cases is a slightly lower priority subject when discussed with electric locks and door access control installation. Many installers and do-it-yourself people use a wire gage that they are familiar with, usually 18 or 22 gage. However, it is important to account for potential voltage loss over longer wire runs. At Maglocks, our advisors are always available to assist with wire selection and gage requirements. In addition, the following formula and example, provide a simple approach for figuring out the general voltage drop (or loss) in a given current. continue reading

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21 Dec 2019

10 Questions when purchasing an Electric Strike

10 Questions when purchasing an Electric Strike
Since the beginning of electronic access control, electric strikes have dominated the function of unlocking doors. They by far out-sell any other type of electric lock in the market place. With their popularity there are still many questions about operation, application and function. Our goal in this article is to let you know what questions we usually ask about electric strikes and the reasons behind them. continue reading

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10 Jun 2019

Access Control Equipment for most Buildings

Access Control Equipment for most Buildings
While every building should be assessed for its unique security needs and requirements, there are door hardware and security solutions that are common to many types of buildings, regardless of the type of structure. continue reading

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21 Aug 2019

Quality Control and Product Assurance Program

Quality Control and Product Assurance Program
Maglocks offers convenient card lock systems for hotels, motels, hospitals, dormitories, commercial offices and private residence. Our locks are designed to balance performance and cost effective operation. Before we offer products to you, we ensure our locks PASS the Maglocks Quality Control and Product Assurance Program. Our PASS program ensures you are receiving the very best for your money. Whether you purchase from us (our preference) or our competition in the industry, make sure your lock system is PASS compliant. continue reading

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13 Dec 2019

Understanding RFID Access Tags and Readers

Understanding RFID Access Tags and Readers
A common theme among access control users is a reasonability accurate view that the world of access tags and readers is confusing and difficult to understand. RFID, Wiegand, 120 kHZ, UHF, EPC, microwave, MIFARE, RS232, RS485, clock and data, AES, facility codes, client codes: The world of access control and vehicle identification is literally filled with concepts, techniques, acronyms and words that people outside our industry often find pretty difficult to understand and almost purposefully confusing. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the number of techniques and concepts. continue reading

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13 Jan 2020

Hardware Finish Descriptions and Color Codes

Hardware Finish Descriptions and Color Codes
In the United States there are two finish code systems: BHMA finish codes (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) and U.S. finish codes, created by ANSI (American National Standards Institute). In general, U.S. finishes describe only the color whereas BHMA finish codes describe both color and base material. The most notable exceptions to this rule are US32, polished (bright) stainless steel, and US32D, satin stainless steel. These U.S. finishes describe both the finish and the base material. The corresponding BHMA finish codes would be 629 for polished stainless and 630 for satin. BHMA finish codes are different for different base metals. For example, BHMA 626 is satin chrome plated brass whereas BHMA 652 is satin chrome plated steel. continue reading

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31 Dec 2019

Eight Pitfalls of Physical Locks and Keys

Eight Pitfalls of Physical Locks and Keys
As early as the Egyptians, we have been making use of keys to secure and lock our possessions. The traditional key has proven incredibly durable, but as digital security systems grow to be increasingly common, are the years of the simple key running out? It will not amaze everyone entirely if a creation from a few thousand years ago ends up being obsolete. However, keys have been extremely durable throughout modern history. That said, physical locks and keys do have a number of inherit pitfalls. continue reading

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1 Dec 2019

What is a Door Access Control System?

What is a Door Access Control System?
Access control systems provide authorized individuals safe and secure access in and out of various parts of your business while keeping unauthorized people out. They can range from electronic keypads that secure a single door to large networked systems for multiple buildings. Access Systems also greatly simplify management of your facility: no need to replace lost keys, hunt down old keys from terminated employees, or wonder who has access to which areas. continue reading

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1 Jan 2020

How to choose a Door Access Control vendor?

How to choose a Door Access Control vendor?
As with any major business purchase, it is worth taking the time to ask a lot of questions when choosing an access control manufacturer and support vendor. You want a vendor who is large enough to be stable and provide timely customer support when you need it, yet small enough to be responsive to your needs. continue reading

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11 Sep 2019

How to design a Hotel Lock System?

How to design a Hotel Lock System?
Hotel Locks are primarily classified as a keycard lock. A keycard lock is a lock operated by a keycard, a flat, rectangular plastic card. The card stores a digital pattern that the door mechanism accepts before disengaging the lock. Keycard systems operate by swiping or inserting a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, or in the case of RFID cards, merely being brought into close proximity to a sensor. Keycards are frequently used in hotels as an alternative to mechanical keys and the newer keycard systems tend to use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. There are several common types of keycard locking systems in use, magnetic stripe, smart card (embedded with a read/write electronic microchip), and RFID proximity cards. continue reading

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23 Jun 2019

What are locking system latch types?

What are locking system latch types?
All hotel doors, existing and new construction, utilize one of two 'Latch Types'. Latch types are categorized as either (1) Cylindrical or (2) Mortise. The easiest way to tell the difference is with the cylindrical lock, the latch plate or face plate on the edge of the door is about 2" long. In comparison, the latch plate or face plate of the mortise lock, is approximately 8" long. continue reading

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26 Jun 2019

How to determine door swing and handing for a door lock?

How to determine door swing and handing for a door lock?
How many Locks are required and what is the orientation of the handle? Are your doors Right or Left (or a combination) Handing? Door handing and door swing is easily determined in four simple steps. continue reading

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10 Mar 2019

What is the RIO for a Hotel Locking System Upgrade?

What is the RIO for a Hotel Locking System Upgrade?
All of the exciting new technology being created for the hospitality space can make it hard to decide what direction you should take when considering to upgrades for your property. RFID, Smart card, magnetic stripe, mobile phones, the list goes on and on. You can hardly check your email without hearing about all of the new and exciting ways hotels can do business and interact with their customers. The hard part is deciding whether or not you want to commit the capital and if the technology upgrade is worth the expense. continue reading

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1 Sep 2019

What building and fire codes impact door locking systems?

What building and fire codes impact door locking systems?
When access control hardware is installed on doors in a new or existing building, it’s extremely important to be aware of the fire, life-safety and building codes that impact these applications. Failure to take these code requirements into account could result in liability for blocked egress routes and fire door assemblies with labels which are null and void. continue reading

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