A properly functioning maglock is crucial for maintaining door security and protection. When your maglock malfunctions, it can create serious safety risks, making prompt troubleshooting essential.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through common maglock issues, step-by-step maglock troubleshooting tips, and expert advice to keep your maglock working reliably and your property secure.
Why Your Maglock Isn’t Locking
A maglock not locking is one of the most common issues in access control systems. Here’s how to identify and fix the problem:
Maglock Troubleshooting Checklist:
- Voltage at the maglock
- Cable connections
- Jumper settings
- External system factors
- Armature plate alignment
Following this checklist resolves most maglock problems quickly, saving time and improving door security.
1. Check the Voltage at Your Maglock
- Importance: Maglocks require a consistent 12V or 24V DC to operate.
- How to check: Remove the cable cover plate and use a multimeter to measure the voltage at the terminals.
If no voltage is present, the maglock won’t lock, even if it is fully functional. Ensuring the right voltage is the first step in troubleshooting.
2. Inspect Cable Connections
- Importance: Loose or improperly terminated cables prevent electricity from reaching the maglock.
- How to check: Tighten the terminal screws and gently pull the wires to ensure they’re secure.
Even minor loose connections can cause intermittent locking issues, so it’s essential to inspect the wiring carefully.
3. Verify Jumper Settings
- Importance: Many maglocks have internal jumpers for either 12V or 24V operation.
- How to check: Open the maglock and confirm the jumper matches your power supply voltage.
Supplying the wrong voltage can damage the coil or prevent locking, so always double-check the jumper settings.
4. Check External System Factors
- Importance: Sometimes the maglock is fine, but external components prevent it from receiving power.
- Common causes:
These factors block voltage from reaching the maglock, so it’s important to examine the entire system, not just the lock.
5. Ensure Proper Contact with the Armature Plate
- Importance: A misaligned armature plate prevents full magnetic contact.
- How to check: Test the magnet with a small metal object (like a file). Adjust the plate so it aligns correctly with the magnet.
Proper alignment is crucial for holding strength and reliable door security. Even a small gap can reduce performance significantly.
Why Your Maglock Has Weak Holding Force
Weak holding force reduces the security of your door. Check these factors:
1. Voltage and Current Issues
- Importance: The maglock’s holding force depends directly on receiving the correct voltage.
- Symptoms of low voltage: Door can be pulled open easily.
- Symptoms of high voltage: Coil may overheat, causing permanent damage over time.
Verify voltage at the terminals and ensure the power supply provides enough current. Correct jumper settings are essential for optimal holding force.
2. Incorrect Installation
- Importance: Misaligned plates or wrong brackets reduce magnetic contact.
- How to check: Ensure the armature plate sits flat and makes full contact with the magnet. Rubber washers behind the armature plate allows slight movement to self-align.
Even small misalignments can weaken the magnetic field, so installation precision is key for door security.
3. Wrong Type of Lock for Your Door
- Importance: Not all maglocks suit every door material or style.
- Examples: UPVC doors may not provide strong enough fixings, while heavy steel doors may require stronger maglocks.
Conduct a site survey before installation to select the correct maglock and bracket for maximum holding force and durability.
Why Your Maglock Feels Warm
- Normal operation: Maglocks are continuously powered, so the internal coil naturally generates heat.
A slightly warm maglock is normal and does not indicate a fault. Overheating usually occurs only if the wrong voltage is supplied. Good practise to give the customer and yourself piece of mind would be to carry out the correct checks
- What to check: Confirm the voltage is correct and jumper settings match the power supply.
Final Thoughts
Maglock problems are usually easier to fix than they first appear. Most issues stem from power supply problems, wiring errors, jumper settings, or misalignment—not the maglock itself. Following a systematic troubleshooting approach—checking power, cabling, configuration, and alignment—can save you time, money, and unnecessary replacements.
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