A magnetic lock is well-received for glass doors, wooden doors, metal doors, fireproof doors, etc. in commercial and industrial use.

To understand how electromagnetic locks work specifically, you need to know the components of a magnetic door lock kit, how it’s installed, and what to establish a magnetic door lock system. 

What are the components of a magnetic door lock kit?

A magnetic door lock kit usually includes the top plate, magnetic lock body, armature plate, and screw pack. For unusual door situations, auxiliary brackets are commonly required, which are L Bracket, Z Bracket, U Bracket, and LZ Bracket combination. In the later part of this paper, I’ll introduce how they are used to back up the magnetic lock installation.

How to install a magnetic door lock kit?

Step 1: Select a good-quality electromagnetic lock.

For good quality electromagnetic locks like TOPLOCK magnetic locks, each component is fabricated with fine accuracy, and the screw pack is well prepared. When you install such good good-quality magnetic lock, you don’t need to spend much time adjusting the fitting of each component.

Step 2: Follow the clear instructions to start the magnetic lock installation.

TOPLOCK provides clear instructions below to help customers finish the magnetic locks installation and also offers free online consultancy services to solve customers’ issues occurring during the installation.

Magnetic Lock Installation Type

Surface Installation-the magnetic lock body:

  1. Use the 3mm Allen wrench to dismantle the upper stud.
  2. Remove the top plate (which is fixed before leaving the factory) with the wrench.
  3. Route the power cable into the wire hole of the top plate.
  4. Take the top plate as a template to mark the screw holes, then drill the marked positions, and install the top plate with 8 screws.
  5. Remove the screws in the magnetic lock cover, link the power cables with the lock body, and then reinstall the lock cover with screws.
  6. Attach the lock body to the top plate that is already fixed, then insert the wrench into the holes to tighten the screws again.
  7. Reinstall the upper stud again.

Surface Installation-the armature plate:

  1. Locate the armature plate on the door leaf where it should align with the magnetic lock body face to face when connected.
  2. Drill the suitable screw holes on the door frame according to the 1:1 positioning label (TOPLOCK offers it in the magnetic lock door kit), the hole depth should be 1cm.
  3. Put the location pins inside the two holes at each end of the armature plate.
  4. Insert the Central Screw M8x35 in the central hole of the armature plate.
  5. Plate the armature plate on the door leaf where it’s previously marked. On the other hand, put the metal washer and plastic washer one after another on the respective side of the door leaf.
  6. Tighten the Rivet Type Nut M8x30 with Central Screw M8x35 from both sides of the door leaf.
  7. Adjust the tensile of the plastic washer to make the armature plate contact with the lock body appropriately.

Hidden Door Installation

  1. Locate the lock body on the door frame where it should align with the armature plate face to face when connected. Then hollow the lock body hole, per the corresponding lock body dimensions.
  2. Insert the lock body in the hole with screws.
  3. Locate the armature plate on the door leaf. Make sure it’s aligned with the lock body after installation. Drill the suitable screw holes on the door leaf according to the 1:1 positioning label (TOPLOCK offers it in the magnetic lock door kit). The hole depth should be 1cm.
  4. Put the two location pins on the two ends of the armature plate.
  5. Fix the armature plate on the door leaf by the Rivet-type nut and the Central Screw M8x 35 respectively coincide on each side of the door leaf. Don’t forget to put the metal washer and plastic washer between the Rivet-type nut and the armature plate.
  6. Tightened the nut and the screws as indicated.

Auxiliary Bracket Installation

  1. Magnetic lock installation with L Bracket: If the door frame is too slim to hang the electro-magnetic lock body underneath it directly, installing the L bracket on the indoor side of the door frame can help to hang the lock body, then the armature plate installed on the out-swing door can contact with the lock body. This is suitable for out-swing doors.

2. Magnetic lock installation with Z Bracket: Z Bracket is specially designed for armature plates only, so it is not used alone normally. It usually comes with the L Bracket as a combination.

3. Magnetic lock installation n with the LZ Bracket combination: If there’s no door frame, or the door frame is so slim that it can’t provide enough space for the electric magnetic lock body and armature plate, the LZ Bracket combination can assist. Mounting the L Bracket on the inside door of the wall to hang the electromagnetic lock body, while fixing the Z Bracket on the door leaf, makes the two parts connect with each other in line. This suits both inside doors.

4. Magnetic lock installation with U Bracket: U Bracket is particularly designed for magnetic locks for glass doors. Mounting the U Bracket on the top of the glass door leaf to fix the armature plate, then it can contact with the maglock body underneath the door frame. This is suitable for out-swing glass doors.

How to wire a magnetic gate lock?

After installing the magnetic gate lock mechanically, you should turn to the magnetic lock wiring to realize its function.

The basic model of an electric magnetic door lock has two wires to connect with the positive and negative of the power supply to form a circuit loop for performance. Since the magnetic lock has no bolt or key, how to open the magnetic lock without a key is the question that must be considered. That’s why electromagnetic door locks with button release, access keypad, access reader, exit switch, or other similar devices become a typical way to cut the power supply and open the maglock.

Since electromagnetic locks can be also added with additional functions like feedback signal output, time delay or buzzer alarm, etc., which TOPLOOCK maglocks all provide, a magnetic door lock system consisting of the maglock and multiple access control products is the popular access control solution for both residential and industrial applications.

Below is the magnetic lock wiring diagram with multiple access control devices.

What else should you know about the magnetic gate lock?

  1. Since electromagnetic locks are driven by electric power to operate, they only have the fail-safe mode: to unlock when power is off. There’s no fail-secure magnetic lock (which means to lock when power is off), as there’s no holding force to lock when the electromagnetic field vanishes due to a power outage.
  2. You had better not use the electromagnetic lock under circumstances where the temperature is over 40℃ or 95% humidity, otherwise, the holding force and the lifespan of the magnet lock will be reduced owing to overheating or rust. 
  3. The magnetic lock installation should be linear to ensure the armature plate is loaded on the lock body face to face, in order to gain the maximum holding force. The touching surface should be maintained clean too to ensure the best contact.

When you fully understand how to install a magnetic lock, you will feel that an electromagnetic lock is so convenient and useful for the access control of your place. It’s time to choose the right magnetic lock now. Toplock is always in the locks line, and quite advantages in the magnetic lock, and electric rim locks. We can professionally suggest you the right lock according to your requests. TOPLOCK, for top security.