Basic Single-Door Access Control System Secures Conference Room

This hardwired component based single door access control system was installed on an interior door to control access into an executive conference room. In addition to the very large wooden table with leather chairs surrounding, the conference room holds the latest in electronics including computer system, telephone conferencing, large screen HDTV and an espresso machine.

The single entry, wood, non-fire rated interior door with glass panel is equipped with a very old mortise lock. A decision was made to install an electrified mortise lock. Running power to the mortise lock requires drilling a raceway through the door.

A standalone keypad was selected to control access into the conference room. Since only a few key people need access, advanced features like audit trail and time-date access limitation were not required.

The hardware chosen to be installed for this single-door access control system is:

Altronix 125ULX Power Supply

Belden Wire jacketed two conductor 18 gage stranded cable

Camden Door Controls CM-8PS Fluorescent Self-Contained Keypad

Command Access ML180 Electrified Mortise Lock

Command Access ETH2W Power Transfer Butt Hinge

KEYPAD

The Camden Door Controls CM-8PS keypad is designed for light to medium duty applications. This self-contained 12VDC/VAC keypad has a consumption maximum of less than 100mA (0.1 Amp). The keypad and electronics are installed into a compact polycarbonate enclosure, designed for indoor applications.

The telephone style keypad’s 12 clear buttons (1-10, triangle and square button) are backlit. All programming is completed at the keypad. Three LEDs indicate status. The green LED indicates when relay one is activated. The red LED indicates when relay two is activated. The yellow LED illuminates when pressing a button, in programming mode and if there is a data error in the programming mode.

The CM-8PS has a Master Code and eight programmable User Codes. The codes are five digits in length. The only additional programming is the time delay for the latched output. The choice is from one to 99 seconds for the momentary output time.

To attempt to prevent unauthorized access, after six incorrect code entries, the keypad jams for 30 seconds.

Each of the keypad’s two relays is operated by four user codes. For dual operation, the same user code can be programmed to operate both relays. For this installation, only one relay is required to power the mortise lock’s solenoid.

MORTISE LOCK

The Command Access ML1 Series Grade one electrified Mortise Lock is being installed to replace the mechanical mortise lock. These mortise locks feature continuous duty 12 or 24 volt solenoids. Depending upon the application, the ML1 Series lock can be field configured to Electrically Lock (Fail Safe) or Electrically Unlock (Fail Secure) the outside lever. The ML1 Series mortise lock’s two-wire lead has a plug-in bridge rectifier that accommodates an AC or DC power supply. In addition, ML1 Series locks are available with options including REX, LBM, DPS, SLM and CRU2i.

Fail Safe mode is used where the mortise lock requires power to remain locked. When power is removed, the lock unlocks providing access. Fail Secure mode is used where the mortise lock requires power to unlock. Electronic access is granted only when the lock is powered.

The ML1 Series id available in five functions including Storeroom ML180, Institutional ML182, Classroom ML170, Entry with deadbolt ML153 and Privacy with deadbolt ML148. These mortise locks are compatible with Schlage “L9000” Series trim. For this installation, the rose trim will be a compatible retrofit.

For this installation, the mechanical mortise lock is being replaced with a Command Access ML180 Electrified Mortise Lock equipped with a 12 Volt solenoid. Power is required for this Storeroom function mechanical lock to release the outside lever. The inside lever is always free for egress. The latchbolt can be retracted using the proper key from the outside.

Because the Camden CM-8PS keypad operates using 12VDC, the mortise lock was ordered using a 12 Volt solenoid configured to Fail Secure. This 12 volt solenoid current draw is approximately 750 mA (0.75 Amp). This plus the 0.1 Amp power required for the Camden CM-8PS necessitates at a minimum a one Amp power supply.

Note: It is never a good idea to under-power a solenoid-based access control system.

To configure the mortise lock to Fail Secure operation, the metal pin must be in pin hole “A”. To set the function to Fail Secure, the cover must be removed from the mortise body. Once the four Phillips Head screws were removed, check to see if the pin is in the correct hole. If not, the metal pin can be lifted out of the “B” pin hole using a magnet or magnetic screwdriver and inserted into the “A” pin hole.

The handing of the mortise lock can be reversed without opening the mortise body. Two steps are required. First, locate the handing screw that is located below the hub and towards the rear of the mortise case. This Phillips Head screw is removed from one side of the case and installed into the same hole on the other side of the mortise case. The second step is to hand the latchbolt. If necessary, remove the faceplate. Then pull out on the latchbolt and rotate it 180 degrees. The latchbolt will retract back into the mortise case slightly. Test the operation of the lock. The ML180 will allow the hub on one side of the case to rotate freely (interior for egress) and the other only when the solenoid is energized or when the proper key is operating the mortise cylinder.

A minimum of one Amp of power is required to power is necessary to operate this access control system. Although the lock and the self-contained keypad together only need .85 Amps, it is a good idea to have some extra power. This could be necessary if the power supply is mounted in a different room or if the system hiccups. Having a power buffer helps ensure proper operation.

POWER SUPPLY

For this installation, the Altronix 125ULX Power Supply was chosen. This Class 2 rated one Amp power supply can be configured with battery backup. The 12VAC or 24VDC outputs are filtered and regulated. There is a supervised Fire Alarm Disconnect. Although not needed for this application, the Altronix 125ULX has an auxiliary relay output. In addition, this Altronix power supply has short circuit and thermal overload protection. The 125ULX Power Supply is the same as the 125UL except the enclosure is larger.

In order to power the mortise lockset, the non-fire rated wooden interior door must be drilled for a raceway. A raceway provides the ability to run wire or cable from the hinge side of the door to the installed mortise or cylindrical lock. The raceway for this installation is drilled from the center of the middle butt hinge through the width of the door into the rear of the mortise pocket. Because of the glass, the angle drilled will be less than horizontal. For this installation, the raceway drilled through the door is 3/8” diameter with a pocket at the hinge edge to accommodate a wire bundle.

POWER TRANSFER BUTT HINGE

A Command Access ETH2W Power Transfer Butt Hinge with a four-foot two wire lead on one leaf will provide power to the electrified mortise lock. This four-foot lead provided sufficient reach to directly connect with the mortise lock wiring without additional wire. The four-foot lead on the hinge has only one connection, reducing the possible failure points. The jamb leaf wire lead is one foot.

To wire the access control system from the Altronix power supply to the Camden keypad and the keypad to the jamb side of the power transfer butt hinge, Belden Wire jacketed two conductor (black and red) 18 gage stranded cable was used.

The Camden CM-8PS has numbers printed on the circuit board along the three terminal blocks (1-3, 4-9, 10-12). To control the operation of the electrically unlocked mortise lock, the black wire is connected to terminal two (Common) and the red wire is connected to terminal three (Normally Open) of the keypad’s circuit board. The two conductors from the power supply are connected to terminals four and five to supply power for the keypad based access control system.

For more information on the manufacturers mentioned in this article, contact your local locksmith distributor or the following companies:

Altronix Corporation, 140 58th Street, Bldg. A, 3 W, Brooklyn, NY 11220. Telephone: 718-567-8181. Web Site: www.altronix.com

Belden Wire & Cable Co., 2200 US Highway 27 South, Richmond, IN 47434. Telephone: 800-235-3361. Web Site: www.belden.com

Camden Door Controls, 5502 Timberlea Blvd., Mississauga, Ontario Canada L4W 2T7. Telephone: 888-436-8739 visit Web Site: www.camdencontrols.com

Command Access Technologies, 2386 E Walnut Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831. Telephone: 888-622-2377. Web Site: www.commandaccess.com