Electromagnetic door locks, often called maglocks, are strong locks found in some homes, apartments, and other buildings. If you're looking into how to remove your magnetic door lock to replace it, you're probably confused by all the wires and screws. Which part should you remove first? Will it take a long time? Don’t worry, because we did the research to help you answer these questions.
To remove the magnetic door lock attached to your door, you should follow these steps:
- Unplug the unit from the power source.
- Remove the screws that connect the armature to the door.
- Unscrew the magnet from the door jamb.
- Uninstall any accessories.
The steps above are simple and easy to do. However, you may want to know more about your magnetic door locks before completely uninstalling and removing them. How do they work? How strong are they? Continue reading to learn all there is to know about removing your magnetic door lock.
Removing A Magnetic Door Lock
To remove an electromagnetic door lock from your door and jamb, you simply have to do the installation process in reverse. The following steps will help you to safely remove your magnetic lock:
1. Unplug The Unit From The Power Source
First and foremost, you have to remove the power source of your electromagnetic lock. This step can be as simple as pulling a plug from an outlet or disconnecting the battery.
In doing so, you will eliminate the risk of electrocution. Removing the power supply will also remove the chances of your alarm inadvertently going off during the process.
2. Remove The Screws That Connect The Armature To The Door
The armature plate is a metal plate attached to your door. It's often secured by screws on two sides and a bolt in the middle to hold it securely.
You can remove the plate by using a screwdriver to loosen the screws and an Allen wrench to remove the bolt. This will allow it to slip off easily.
The only issue after you remove the armature from your door is that the screw holes are now exposed. Aside from looking unsightly, they can also allow water and pests to come in.
If you want to know how to fill in holes in your wooden door, check out this post: How To Fix A Hole In An Oak Door.
If you bought your new home with a magnetic door lock already installed, you might not have the necessary wrenches to remove the bolt. It would be best to use the right tools for the right screws and bolts, or you might damage the screw so much that it will be nearly impossible to pull out.
3. Unscrew The Magnet From The Door Jamb
With the plate gone and the power supply disconnected, you can now safely work on the electromagnet. Using an Allen wrench, loosen the fixing screws that attach the electromagnet to the mounting plate.
This will loosen the electromagnet, and you will be able to remove it from the mounting plate. You can then use a screwdriver to detach the mounting plate from the door frame completely.
4. Uninstall Any Accessories
With the magnet and the armature plate out of the way, you can proceed to remove all accessories attached to the mechanism. These could be any alarms, sensors, keypads, access control boxes, and wires.
Like the magnet and the plate, these can be removed by simply removing the screws and bolts.
How Do Magnetic Door Locks Work?
Magnetic locks have two parts: an armature attached to the door and an electromagnet attached to the door frame. The electromagnet on the frame is then plugged into a power source; it is usually a battery or an outlet nearby.
The locking mechanism works much like regular magnets that attract metal. However, the difference is that the electromagnet uses an electric current to create a stronger, more secure hold.
The door opens when the electric current turns off through access control. You can open the door from the outside by entering the correct code on a keypad, using a fingerprint, or an RFID fob that can open the door.
On the inside, there is a button that opens the door with a simple press. Some models also have infrared sensors that can detect whenever a person wants to go out.
Electromagnetic door locks are fail-safe. This means that in case of emergencies and subsequent power outages, the door will open to allow for a safe exit.
How Strong Are Magnetic Door Locks?
Magnetic door locks are very strong and nearly impossible to pry open. A magnetic door lock produces a holding force ranging from 551 to 2,205 pounds.
To put that in perspective, an average human who's dragging a load can exert around 107 pounds of pressure for a short time.
How To Reset Magnetic Door Locks?
When your magnetic door locks fail to latch on completely, you can try a couple of methods to reset and troubleshoot the problem. The first thing you should try is to tighten all the screws on both the armature and the magnet to fix misalignment.
If that does not fix it, try to check if your power source is connected properly. If your magnetic lock uses a battery, you should try replacing it or the wires that connect it to the magnet.
Are Magnetic Door Locks Secure?
Magnetic door locks are secure. They are nearly impossible to pry open through sheer force since the magnet pulls the door with up to 2,000 pounds of force.
However, these locks require a constant electricity supply, or else they shut off. If you live in an area where regular power outages are the norm, you might want to add an additional lock for protection.
There are also ways to bypass an electromagnetic lock, although the process is difficult. If hacking is one of your concerns, you can install tamper alarms connected to your locking mechanism.
If you want to know more about door alarms and sensors, read this other post: Do Door Alarm Sensors Have Batteries?
How Do You Bypass A Magnetic Door Lock?
You can bypass a magnetic door lock in two ways. You can use the paperclip method and the magnet method.
To bypass a magnetic door lock using the paperclip method, you need a paperclip and a screwdriver. Use the screwdriver to take the keypad apart to access the board inside.
Once you see the board, as shown in the video above, look for two wires labeled “NO” and “COM.” Use the paperclip to bridge the NO and COM in the circuit board, and the door will open instantly.
For the magnet method, you will need a strong magnet. As demonstrated in the video below, some access controls have multiple relays, with one specifically opening the door.
By simply placing the magnet in the right relay area of your keypad or access area, you can instantly open the door. However, some keypads and magnetic door lock access controls have a relay that triggers an anti-tamper system.
It would be best to look at your manual to see where the relay that opens your door is located.
In Closing
Removing your electromagnetic door lock is a simple task. Firstly, remove the power supply. Afterward, using a screwdriver and an Allen wrench, remove the screws and bolts that attach the magnetic lock, mounting plate, and armature plate to your door and frame.
The final step is to remove all the accessories installed in connection to your magnetic lock. However, you may want to reconsider removing your magnetic lock since it is one of the most reliable and secure pieces of technology that homeowners can use to keep their properties safe.
