So here is the scoop. I am an automatic door technician. I install lots of electrified door hardware, and control wiring for automatic doors. Typically, to power our electrified door hardware, such as mag locks or electric strikes, we install a dedicated power supply. The downside of this is they are often too large to fit inside of an automatic door cover, making it more difficult to install in retrofit applications.
On a job a couple of months ago, we installed an automatic door operator for the City. We also supplied the logic controller for the door hardware, automatic door, and key card system. Our automatic door operator provides 12 volt AC power, which we typically use to power the magic controller. However, in this application, the key card installer was responsible for providing the power to the electric strike. Instead of putting in its own power supply cabinet, he built a rectifier to convert AC to DC voltage. I have never used or seen a simple diode rectifier before. It powered the electric strike beautifully. Obviously, AC powered electric strikes provide that annoying buzzing sound.
Today, we installed another pair of automatic door operators. After the job was complete, they inquired about adding electric strike so that they can wirelessly unlock the door. I found a rectifier from my Supplier, but all it says is that it is a 50 VA rectifier.
This particular automatic door provides 24 volt AC output on its board, which I have already used for a receiver for the wireless push buttons.
Questions:
1) can I use this $12 rectifier to power my electric strike? (12 or 24v, ac or DC, 250mA)
2) what would happen if I put the 120V line voltage do this rectifier? Would it melt?
3) does the 50 VA rating mean that I can safely put 2 amps at 24 volts ac into this? Would it been put out 2 amps at 24 volt DC?
4) would it be wise to protect this electric strike with a fuse somehow? Could it be done on the rectifier?
Any general information to help me understand this better would be awesome! This would be very handy for future installs so that we can minimize the expense of power supplies.
On a job a couple of months ago, we installed an automatic door operator for the City. We also supplied the logic controller for the door hardware, automatic door, and key card system. Our automatic door operator provides 12 volt AC power, which we typically use to power the magic controller. However, in this application, the key card installer was responsible for providing the power to the electric strike. Instead of putting in its own power supply cabinet, he built a rectifier to convert AC to DC voltage. I have never used or seen a simple diode rectifier before. It powered the electric strike beautifully. Obviously, AC powered electric strikes provide that annoying buzzing sound.
Today, we installed another pair of automatic door operators. After the job was complete, they inquired about adding electric strike so that they can wirelessly unlock the door. I found a rectifier from my Supplier, but all it says is that it is a 50 VA rectifier.
This particular automatic door provides 24 volt AC output on its board, which I have already used for a receiver for the wireless push buttons.
Questions:
1) can I use this $12 rectifier to power my electric strike? (12 or 24v, ac or DC, 250mA)
2) what would happen if I put the 120V line voltage do this rectifier? Would it melt?
3) does the 50 VA rating mean that I can safely put 2 amps at 24 volts ac into this? Would it been put out 2 amps at 24 volt DC?
4) would it be wise to protect this electric strike with a fuse somehow? Could it be done on the rectifier?
Any general information to help me understand this better would be awesome! This would be very handy for future installs so that we can minimize the expense of power supplies.