CDVI Fail Safe Electric Strike Kit, 12Vdc, Adjustable Jaw GAEIR-12

What this electric strike is for

A door entry system needs a way to let someone in without a key, and without replacing the existing lock. An electric strike does that by changing the frame side of the door.

This CDVI electric strike suits installers working on door entry at blocks of flats and small business premises. Residents press a button and the door can be pushed open.

How does an electric strike work?

The strike sits in the door frame where the lock's latch normally engages. Its jaw is a small hinged gate: when released it swings aside so the latch can pass, and the lock itself never moves.

• Fail safe: this version needs power to stay secure, so losing power frees the jaw.
• Fail secure: the other type works the opposite way and stays secure without power. CDVI makes that type separately, for example as the GAER.
• MOV: a metal oxide varistor clamps the voltage spike a coil creates when it switches. This protects the door controller and other electronics on the same supply.

Where to use it

Communal entrances and office doors with an entry panel are typical positions. The strike's -15°C to 40°C range suits most sheltered UK doorways.

Plan to keep it sheltered from direct rain. Check the fire strategy for any door on an escape route with the building's responsible person.

What the figures mean in practice

• 250kg holding force: this is how much force the jaw resists when the door is pushed. The door frame and the lock must be strong enough to match it.
• 300,000 operations: at 100 door releases a day, this works out at about eight years of use.
• 630mA @ 12Vdc: a fail safe strike draws power for as long as the door is locked, so this is a constant load and not a brief pulse. It is more than three times the 200mA @ 12Vdc of a fail secure version.
• Adjustable jaw: small misalignments between door and frame are common, and this lets you set the jaw to the latch on site instead of re-cutting the frame.

Installing it

• Supply: as a rule, use a regulated 12Vdc supply rated for continuous use, and add this strike's load to any others on it. The 12Vac option on the wider range does not apply to this code.
• Cable: this constant current means long, thin cable runs can lose voltage. Keep them short or use a larger conductor.
• Handing: the body inverts, so decide the handing before you cut the frame.
• 24V sites: where the site runs on 24Vdc, CDVI's GAEIR-24 is the matching version.

Planning your system

The strike needs a door entry panel, exit button or access controller to release it, and a suitable power supply. Check the EURO style latch position against your frame before ordering.

A fail safe strike needs a back-up plan for security during a power cut, as the door will not be held. A battery-backed supply is the usual answer, but the door then stays held in a mains failure. Confirm how it will release on an escape route with the person responsible for the fire strategy.