21
Aug

How to choose the right access control power supply

The market for access control devices has specific needs. The manufacturers are increase their products to meet the specific requirements of today’s market. This includes power supplies and supporting optical transceivers. Making their own products will allow them to better compete in a competitive market.

The purpose of this document is to explain the types of access control systems and their applications.  It’s also designed to help consumers understand the  access control power supply and explain how to determine and choose them.

Why It’s Important To Choose The Right Access Control Power Supply

No. 1:  Measure The Output Power Of The Access Control Power Supply

There’s a substantial amount of equipment that needs to be powered with a door access control system. The power system you choose must have sufficient power to service each device, thus ensuring all access control devices operate efficiently. When you choose an access control power supply to purchase, it is important to pay attention to the access control power supply value. For best results, test these parameters on the job to ensure that you are not purchasing an unqualified access control power supply. Select the manufacturer of your access control power supply carefully.

How To Test The Output Power Of The Access Control Power Supply

To test the output power, start by loading the system with the access control power supply’s power output level – such as the resistance of cement – and then run the system for a full 48 hours. Then, measure the actual voltage output and the access control power supply current using a multimeter. Now you can compare these figures to the voltage output following a stably detected load. Ideally, you will run the test in the field to gain the truest results.

No. 2: Added Lightning Protection

The lines of an access control power supply will inevitably be partially outdoors. These lines must have robust lightning protection measures in place. Especially since outdoor wiring can become intertwined-increasing the potential danger of lightning.

Checking Your Product For Lightning Protection

First, perform a visual inspection of the access control power supply. Look for visible circuit protection designs. Next, check the instruction manual of the access control power supply product to see if the manufacturer has installed any technology to specifically perform lightning protection tasks.

No. 3: Wide Range Temperature Adaptation

The access control power supply to your access control system must have a wide range of adaptations for both low and high temperatures.  Otherwise you cannot guarantee the efficiency of the entire access control system. This especially applies to the access control power supply, so ensure you choose your product according to the installation environment.

The typical temperature adaption range is -40 degrees – 85 degrees.

No. 4: Intelligent Charging And Discharging Management Of Backup Battery

In certain environments, building access system specifications will contain additional provisions to ensure that the system runs correctly at all times. The backup battery must conform to certain requirements, including that it will be able to sustain regular operation for at least four hours and ideally up to six hours. The functions of discharging and charging the access control power supply exist to ensure that the battery does not overcharge and cause damage to the battery. An unstable system will result if you are unable to lower the current supply of other nearby devices by the charging current.

No. 5: Fault Isolation Avoids Damage To Equipment And Affects Overall Stability Of The System

Hardware device diversity can cause an access control power supply to distribute power in a unified way to multiple devices. The access control power supply must be able to intelligently calculate the current output in the case of an access control power supply with multiple terminals. Doing this can ensure that there will not be an adverse effect on the access control power supply output of the circuits. In that instance, there will not be an effect on the output of related ports even if one access control power supply output has a direct short circuit, nor will the access control power supply burn out due to one port’s short circuit.

No. 6: Wide Range Of Voltage Adaptation Delivers Stable Power Output

High and low mains voltage fluctuations can occur, so there must be a wide range of mains voltage fluctuations in your access control power supply. The output voltage of the access control power supply will stabilize at 12V output, thus avoiding instability. Fluctuations in the main’s voltage can affect the efficient operation of the access control system.

No. 7: Switching Access Control Power Supply Or Linear Access Control Power Supply?

The advantage of a switching access control power supply is its enhanced cost to performance ratio. With a variety of models and brands available, this type of model is lightweight and smaller in size. The disadvantage of such a model is that anti-interference attempts will be poor if a high-frequency ripple causes the access controller to crash and the door remains closed.

Linear Power

The advantage of liner power is that you can use it without worrying about a high-frequency ripple. However, these models have the disadvantage of the tendency to overheat and a low power ratio.

Note the following two points when it comes to liner access control power supply models:

First, if the area in question is warm, it is not a good idea to position the linear access control power supply in the same box as other equipment. This is because the operation of all devices could prove unstable due to overheating. The cost of supply and installation could also increase in this situation if you use a dedicated cabinet to offset this potential problem.

Secondly, battery damage can result from the lack of battery discharge and battery charging functions in lower-cost linear access control power supply units.