12v pulse into 12v supply help needed

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Hi guys and gals, sorry if this is simple or old news but I have looked over the forum along with the rest of the internet and find myself running in circles to find a solution.
I have chosen this forum to join and ask for help so please be gentle and I thankyou in advance for any help.

I have limited electronics knowledge but can make a circuit up and do understand what components are, I just might not understand certain phrases or know what long words mean lol.

Onto my issue,

I have a video doorphone that has an unlock feature. The equipment was bought 10 years ago and only just being fitted.

There is a lock\unlock feature whereby on pressing a button on the inside monitor the door unit will operate a lock on the door to allow entrance.

The unit is a Chinese special and did not even come with chinglish instructions to follow (didn't even come with the locking system).

I have bought and installed a 12v locking strike plate. This strike plate allows the opening of the door when power is applied, at all other times it is fixed closed (fail secure).

The unit has an output to connect to the locking system the user chooses which emits a very brief 12v output when the unlock button is pressed.
This output is powerful enough to operate the solernoid on the latch (I can hear it activate) but as it is a split second instance it is not open long enough to allow a user to open the door.

I have been working on the assumption that I merely need a simple circuit to lengthen that '12v pulse' so its on long enough to allow the lock to operate.

I have looked at a lot of 555 timer circuits but can only find ones that use a switch to either start the timer or reset the timer. I have looked at monostable multivibrator circuits but they seem to run from a negative trigger which I admit I don't even understand fully.

Is anyone willing to help me out a little and hold my hand?
I want a circuit that will take a split second 12v output and turn it into an adjustable length 12v output?

I think I can get a constant 12v supply from the board to run the lock solernoid or I could use a separate transformer either way im not worried about getting the 12v supply needed for the locking latch.
I perhaps only need the pulse converting to a 1-10 second constant supply as once the door is open the lock itself will close again without the latch being operable.

Perhaps I am trying too hard? maybe just a capacitor across the latch to hold some power in long enough is needed but that's above my knowledge level.

Sorry for such a noob question, I know most of you will be able to do this in your sleep so again I thankyou in advance for taking the time to read this and maybe offer a little help.
 

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Hi, thankyou so much for your reply.

Unfortunatley I do not have the specs of the latch, I will try to get them but it will be Monday before I can ring the supplier.

The coil is rated at 5-12v, is there a way I can read its current rating with a meter? im not sure I can but if you could tell me a method I am happy to do it.

Ill be honest and say it may be quite hard to get its rating as I bought it from a supplier and I doubt they will have the specs, I can try to contact the makers.

Would a high current transistor work such as a capacitor swap can be a higher voltage? or maybe im getting mixed up.

On the signal in part of the circuit would the negative be left open or connected to the ground of the circuit?

Sorry for being so new.

I really apprechiate your help.
 

wayneh

Joined Sep 9, 2010
17,496
I agree a 555 monostable (as alec_t has shown) is the correct strategy to turn a brief pulse into a longer one. The 555 will trigger on the negative-going edge of a pulse.

As a small thing, you could consider eliminating Q1. It's purpose is to reverse the logic of the pulse, but it sounds to me like your pulse is so short that it would be OK to trigger the latch when the pulse shuts OFF instead of when it turns ON.
 

MikeML

Joined Oct 2, 2009
5,444
Here is my version:

I am guessing that the solenoid DC resistance will be low, less than 5Ω, which means that it will take a couple of Amps to operate it. You can test it with an Ohmmeter.

My version uses an NFET to switch the coil to minimize heatsinking as would be required by an NPN transistor.
 

Attachments

Alec_t

Joined Sep 17, 2013
14,280
On the signal in part of the circuit would the negative be left open or connected to the ground of the circuit?
Connected to ground.
As MikML says, you can measure the coil resistance with a meter (DMM). That will be useful info.
 

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Thankyou for your replies, some interesting reading.

What would be the pros and cons of the two circuits? I am unsure which to choose but it is correct that the 12v spike is so short it will be fine to activate the timed 12v after the spike has already ended.

I shall measure the coil resistance tomorrow as I am away from home right now.
 

MaxHeadRoom

Joined Jul 18, 2013
28,619
One question, you mention the lock requires a longer pulse, long enough to enable the door to be opened and then the latch returns, if the door is open at that point, how does the latch return into the striker plate as in the closed position when closing the door? This could not be like a dead bolt type, it could work if it had a curved side as in an ordinary door latch,often a magnetic latching solenoid is used in this application, but these require a latch and a un-latch pulse.
Max.
 

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Its a strike plate that has a moveable plate that when the solernoid operates the latch on the door is allowed to 'push/pull' out of the strike.
When the latch pushes past the strike the strike is returned shut by a spring and the solernoid springs back in place.
The latch on the door is a normal nightlatch which has an angled latch which when pushed past the strike it is forced inwards to allow the door to shut against it.

They are very common across the uk, I know a lot of commercial properties use magnetic latches but I could talk all day, im a locksmith lol.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_strike

http://www.yale.co.uk/en/yale/couk/ProductsDB/?groupId=2872&productId=58956
 
Last edited:

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
Measure the resistance. Everybody is waiting for the specification so they can figure out the best answer.
 

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Yes i appreciate that but as i say i am not at home. The earliest i could have done it was today but i am still away with work. I will be back tomorrow now.
I will post the resistance asap.
 

Alec_t

Joined Sep 17, 2013
14,280
Incorporating the various suggestions above, the circuit could look something like this.
D1/R1/C3 have been added to reduce the likelihood of U1 power supply glitches when the lock activates. R2D2 (wasn't he in Star Wars?:)) reduce the positive voltage spike which would otherwise be fed to the trigger input of U1. R4C2 prevent spurious operation of the lock (if that's a concern) at power-up.

Edit:
BTW, have you checked that your original controller doesn't have a trimmer/knob somewhere to set the pulse duration?
 

Attachments

Thread Starter

nooby

Joined Nov 16, 2013
13
Hi, thanks for that very helpful.

I have gone over the hardware and software but not found any way to adjust the delay. Im as supprised as anyone that there isn't an adjustment but it doesn't seem there.

I will get the coil resistance tomorrow afternoon and start to get some pieces together.

Thanks for all your help so far. Much aprechiated.
 

Alec_t

Joined Sep 17, 2013
14,280
:confused:....er, I= 12/30.6 = 40mA. So the 555 could perhaps directly drive the coil (albeit at ~10V) without the need for the FET or a BJT ?

:rolleyes: Edit: Ignore that. Current = ~400mA :)
 
Last edited:

MikeML

Joined Oct 2, 2009
5,444
Alec, I dont know about you, but it is too early here...

Actually, it must be early there, as well.

It requires 0.4A
 
Top