Electric strike locks are an intelligent choice if you’re keen to boost security levels within your office, workshop, or commercial building. These innovative devices are fantastic for preventing unauthorized access to specific areas and keeping workers safe.

But what exactly is an electric strike lock? And how do they work?

You’ll find answers to these questions (and more!) below.

Electric strike locks: a quick definition

Electric strike locks are a type of locking mechanism powered by an electric circuit. They’re commonly used for access control, preventing unauthorised access to certain areas, and preventing theft.

Electric strikes are popular in security applications for safeguarding doors, windows, gates, and other openings. You can also use them as fire protection systems that shut down power to rooms or areas.

How electric strike locks work

Electric strike locks are used in many places such as homes, offices, stores, and factories to provide security and convenience for users. 

The locking mechanism is like a traditional lever or bolt, but it’s powered by an electric current. When the current is interrupted, one or more metal plates close together, making it impossible for someone else to open the door without first deactivating the plates with a key or code.

You can configure most electric strike locks in one of two ways: PTR (Power to Release) or PTL (Power to Lock). As you might guess, the PTR setting means the bolt will unlock when someone turns the power on, while the PTL setting means it will lock.

If you have your electric strike set to PTR, it will stay locked in the event of a power failure, which is why installing a backup battery is important. Otherwise, you may be locked in or outside a building when the power goes out.

On the other hand, for PTL systems, doors will remain open (i.e., you can push or pull them) during a fire alarm situation or power failure.

Benefits and drawbacks of electric strike locks

Electric strike locks are a great way to deter thieves and protect your property, but they do come with a few distinct benefits and drawbacks.

Some benefits of electric strike locks include:

– Sturdiness and durability,

– Low power usage,

– Convenience,

– Minimal maintenance needs.

Some drawbacks include:

– If the power grid goes out, the locks may release,

– Backup batteries will need replacing,

– If something goes wrong, repair costs can be high.

A quick summary

Let’s briefly sum up what we’ve learned.

An electric strike lock is an electronic device designed to automatically lock or unlock a door, gate, or window. Their main intention is to control access to unauthorised or high-risk areas.

The operational functions of electric strike locks are fairly simple. When an electric current runs through the strike, its locking (or unlocking) system activates, causing the device’s metal plates to lock together or come apart. Whether the electric current will lock or unlock the door will depend on how you’ve set up the electric strike.