atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging keypad access on a sliding door.

Does anyone have and sugestions on how to provide keypad access to a sliding glass door. this is for a residence and they need to control access. They have an eldery person their that tends to wander. I sugested using a rail lock, but the caretaker enters the home via the sliding door, so that is a no go. Any ideas?

Anthony, I have no knowledge of alarm/security systems, but would it be possible to use one of the magnetic units that hold doors open in hospitals or other commercial facilities? Maybe this would provide enough resistance to make it difficult for an elderly person to force it, yet the power could be removed from it via a relay contact? Just a guess.

How bout this?

web page

ed that is the route I was thinkiing, I am just trying to figure a good way to mount the magnet and strike. I can control that via a standalone keypad like a corby.


matt that just might work

Anthony:

The electrical portion can be mounted in a standard weatherproof box (better looking than a standard electrical box), then fastened to the wall using standard "L" brackets. If you mount them with the legs facing the door opening, the box will cover them from view. As for the catch that mounts on the door, you could probably just use the same type of "L" brackets to hold it without a box. It's still not going to be pretty, but it may be the cheapest way out and a Corby keypad will certainly give you a cheap means of local control.

The fact that you have to hold down the last digit on the keypad to keep the coil energized (or de-energized) would make it complicated for the escapee even if they did figure out the code!

I think Matt's link is a good option instead of mag locks but since I've become more aware of the fire codes in the last few years a major concern for me would be: What will happen in the event of a fire in the residence?

Use a relay contact in the alarm panel to bypass or "hold open" the latch until released. Same way you would operate a driveway gate to allow fire and ems apparatus into a driveway upon activation of the building alarm.

With our fire alarm systems at UT, a power loss or system failure will release all of the door closers...they can be opened but do not stay open. We had a short in some wiring a month or so ago and many of our doors were affected.

Arthur, no alarm system on site, that was my first recomendation. I showed the link matt provdided to the enduser, he is going to take a look at it, but that may be the way he goes. This is for a friend of mine for his home, he will be installing the unit, he is an old phone guy as well.

Bobby, you raise a very valid point, I will make sure I metion it.

Ed, that would work but lol

For a quick fix he is going to go low tech ..a small latch on the outside of the door. I will let you guys know what happens.

THANKS for the input

Uh oh.

I clicked a few links to see how much the gizmo was, and:

Uh oh

First thing to do may be to call them. Hopefully they just removed the price and the product isn't actually discontinued.....