Power Supplies (PSUs) in Access Control

The common misapprehension with most Installers is that a power supply is simply just another component part of a security system, however it is the most important part! If it does not work correctly or fails to perform to its specification, then the whole system will fail.

Working out what power supply you need doesn’t need to be a daunting task. This blog will explore power supply units within access control systems with the aim of helping you to select the right unit and Amperage for your requirements.

There are a range of different power supplies in the market with most Access Control systems using 12V DC PSUs, but there are a lot of systems/products that can run on 24V DC including Fire Alarms, CCTV and Entry systems and so specifying the correct product is essential at the time of design.

There are two types of Power Supplies that are commonly used in the Access control design.

Linear – Large Transformer based product, with medium efficiency, but they can run hotter than the switchmode alternative. They tend to be larger and heavier units.

Switchmode - A smaller and lighter overall product with higher efficiency and runs much cooler than the linear products. 

Switch mode power supplies are an alternative to the traditional linear AC – DC voltage power supply units.

Most of these products are regulated at around 13.8vdc or 27.6vdc for battery backed up units.

Non-regulated Power Supplies can provide a DC output voltage that is non-constant. These types of power supplies are affected by variations in mains power surges, temperature changes and changes in the load current, which cause the output voltage to fluctuate.

Regulated Power Supplies however are not affected by the above and therefore have a stable, maintained output voltage. These are the types of power supply that you want in your access control systems because the output isn’t unpredictable, and you know that it is the right output voltage for each product/component within the system.

A very basic definition of a power supply is an electrical component in a circuit that is used to reduce the Mains voltage (230VAC) down to a lower voltage (12/24V DC); which most electronic equipment require to function. 

Selecting the correct product requires a calculation of the products you are connecting to the power supply at the correct voltage.

 All Access Control products should state what voltage and current (mA) it requires to operate correctly and by adding all the combined current requirements together you will be able to select the correct output amperage (A).

Approximate Estimations:
Single Maglock @ 500mA
Basic Keypad @ 120mA
Ancillary Items @ 100mA

= 720mA so a 1Amp PSU would power this, but best to double it to ensure that it’s enough.

Electric Locking in Access Control
Be aware that some electric locks have a high activation current so make sure you take this into consideration when specifying your Power Supply Unit.

Example: Solenoid Locks can have a hold current of around 120mA but on an activation can surge to 740mA on 12V DC.

There is a small transformer located within the shell that reduces the AC Voltage from the mains to a safer level. The voltage then passes through multiple components within the unit in order to provide a DC output. Power Supplies are NOT the same as transformer rectifiers as the current passes through multiple parts (including a transformer) to provide DC Voltage. Transformer Rectifiers are less process based and include other functions such as being able to isolate circuits and change signal voltages in amplifiers.

Power Supply Units (PSUs) for use with access control

Most power supplies used in Access control systems require battery backup in case of Mains failure (230VAC) as the system will require to work 24/7.

So another feature of PSU products is to have some form of monitoring the mains input and also the battery status. These products then give you early warning of issues that could affect the system and give some indication that the customer can action before a total down powering of the system.

Battery Backup

Most Power Supplies designed for access control are supplied with a battery backup output. Battery backup is optional but great for access control where you want to keep the door secure for some time during mains power failure/interruption. 
Note: In the event of a fire alarm activation and your electric lock is failsafe, the door will still open to allow safe emergency egress.

What do you need? – Cables and Calculations

When deciding on the ampere of a power supply unit, as well as taking the distances into consideration; you will need to consider the draw of each unit. It is recommended that you add up the draw of each component and then double it so that you ensure you have enough to power the circuit.

The table below is designed to provide an approximate guide for the wire gauge in relation to the voltage of the PSU and the distance needed to power the locking device furthest away from it:

I had a coach in roller derby who used the mantra, “raise the bar - rise to the occasion” one season. It was used as inspiration for us to work even harder as teams and to raise our teammates up in hard times.

That same mantra can be applied to sound bars, in terms of how they deliver sound to the audience. They’re an excellent alternative to whatever speakers are built into your television by - wait for it - “raising the bar” on how you hear and experience movies, music, and online gaming.

Beyond the catchphrase, there is a deeper explanation of how a sound bar works to deliver a movie-theater-level experience. We’ll explain and give you some pointers on how to hook up your sound bar to your television.

HOW DOES A SOUND BAR WORK?

The bar is generally positioned just below your television, either on a console or table or mounted to a wall depending on what your space is like.

Klipsch sound bars take encoded sound from the television and process it using our proprietary acoustic technology to deliver a crisp and clear soundstage, right down to being able to hear every word of the dialogue. Words matter and hearing them clearly is extremely important. If you’ve watched any movie written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, you know what we’re talking about.

Going back to the “rise to the occasion” mantra, sound bars are designed to direct the audio toward the audience. Meaning, the sound is coming toward where you’re sitting. If it’s a Dolby Atmos sound bar, the sound will also envelop the room for a true 360° experience.

Klipsch sound bars are outfitted with our technology, including Tractrix® horns, Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) tweeters, and fiber-composite woofer cones on the front of the bar to deliver the soundstage you want. Dynamic, powerful sound goes out into the room for a better experience than just your TV speakers can provide on their own.

Buying a sound bar? Read this first.

HOW DO YOU HOOK UP A SOUND BAR TO A TV?

When we say “easy,” it’s not just lip service. No wood glue or tangle of cords. Often, it’s simply a matter of connecting one cable. Let’s go through a few different options to plug-and-play:

HOW TO HOOK UP A SOUND BAR VIA HDMI:

Use this connection method when using external HDMI sources (Blu-Ray Players, gaming consoles, streaming boxes etc.) to play audio/video content, and want to use TV as the source switch. Once all sources are connected to the TV via HDMI, press the 'TV' button on the remote control to output the audio from the external device(s) via the TV's HDMI-ARC function.

HOW TO HOOK UP A SOUND BAR VIA DIGITAL OPTICAL CABLE:

Most HDTV and 4K TV have an optical digital output, while nearly every sound bar has an optical input. Once your sound bar is hooked up, you can usually use your TV remote to control its volume. Most TV and cable or satellite remotes can be programmed to control a sound bar, or the sound bar can learn your TV's commands. Most sound bars include at least a basic remote control.

Note: You will likely need to buy the digital optical cable separately.

• Plug an optical cable into the Optical (or Digital Audio Out) on the TV

• Plug the opposite end of the optical cable into the 'DIGITAL' port on the back of the sound bar

• Once the optical cable is plugged into both the bar and TV, use the remote to press the 'DIGITAL' button

• The LED display screen on the front of the bar will show 'DGTL' to indicate that it is on the Digital/Optical source

HOW TO HOOK UP A SOUND BAR VIA ANALOG CABLE:

1. Connect a 3.5mm male to male audio cable (AUX cable) into the analog input on the sound bar

2. Plug the opposite end into the headphones or audio output on the TV

3. Plug the power cord into the sound bar

4. Plug the opposite end into the outlet

5. Set the bar's source to "Analog" by pressing the "ANALOG" button on the remote

HOW TO HOOK UP A SOUND BAR VIA BLUETOOTH WIRELESS:

Built-in Bluetooth® lets you stream music easily from your smartphone, tablet, or Bluetooth-capable laptop or desktop. This means you can stream your music from any device to the soundbar and add a soundtrack to your workout or chores.

The connection is as simple as any other Bluetooth pairing:

1. Hold the Bluetooth button on the remote or the source button on the sound bar for 3 seconds

2. The Bluetooth indicator LED on the sound bar will begin to flash

3. On the device, make sure Bluetooth is turned on, then select your sound bar model from the list of available devices

4. The light on the sound bar should now be solid, indicating the pairing was successful

Like we said, plug-and-play and easy integration are not myths when it comes to adding premium sound to your TV.

Here we answer some common questions…

Q.  What are the advantages of using a HDMI cable over other interfaces?

A. The key benefit of HDMI is its ability to transport a high bandwidth of data (video, audio and now 3D and Ethernet) using a single cable.  For the average consumer, the ability to connect their TV and DVD player with just one cable certainly makes setting up a home entertainment system less daunting. From a commercial perspective, system designers consider HDMI, along with other interfaces including VGA and DVI in determining the most appropriate interface for a project.

The key benefits HDMI offers over analogue interfaces are:

Increased quality of picture with better contrast and colour saturation

• Easy to use with a range of features transmitted via a single connector
• By allowing your devices to “talk” to each other, the AV system is more intuitive and can be controlled by a single remote.

A. HDMI versions are ‘backward compatible’ so a device outputting HDMI 1.3 will generally transmit effectively to a HDMI 1.4 input. In conjunction with looking at the version number, it is also recommended that you look at the features supported by the version and ensure the feature you want is specified in every device and cable in the system.

Q.  Are all HDMI cables the same and do they all transmit Full HD 1080p and Deep Colour?

A. There are five certifications for HDMI Cabling, with the two most well known being:

• Standard HDMI: performs at speeds of up to 2.25Gbps and will support 720p/1080i signals.
• High Speed HDMI: performs at speeds of up to 10.2Gbps and will support features such as HD 1080p and Deep Colour.

Standard HDMI with Ethernet, High Speed HDMI with Ethernet and Standard Automotive are the other HDMI certifications introduced to support features of HDMI 1.4.

Like all formats, cable quality does vary between brands. It is important to buy a cable that is HDMI certified to ensure quality, longevity and increase resistance of interference from other systems.

Advice from a trusted source is essential to ensure your cable does not let your system down.

Q. Am I able to run HDMI run over long distances reliably? 

A. HDMI cables in their original form do not tackle the problem of signal loss over long cable runs any better than DVI or VGA. Most cable lengths of more than 5-10 metres will inevitably lose data from source to output.

InSight Systems has encountered the challenge of running long cable lengths in several commercial applications including projects at Swinburne University of Technology and Box Hill TAFE. Both clients needed to maintain exceptional signal quality over long distances so to avoid any loss in data, InSight utilise Extron’s Twisted Pair technology.  The Extron solution takes the VGA, DVI or HDMI signal, converts and extends it over shielded, low skew UTP cabling. A transmitter and receiver pair is employed for each cable length, ensuring the signal quality is maintained from source to display.

At the end of the day, it is always best to get good advice from a trusted source.

When did you buy your first HDMI cable? Was it about 2006? That’s when I got mine. I think I paid about $25 for it from Radio Shack. 

Because in 2006, Radio Shack was still a thing. Later on, I started buying them from Solid Signal, because I could get cables that were just as good, but a lot less expensive.

And honestly, that’s probably the last time I thought about it. Over the years I picked up a few more cheap HDMI cables but for the most part I used those same old ones. Because, honestly, they worked. I never really had a problem with them. That is, until recently.

UniFi switches help you power, connect, and process traffic across all of your devices. Since each deployment’s size and layout are unique, we offer several distinct switch categories meticulously designed to optimize any network in any environment. We’d like to explore these categories further to help you identify the model(s) that will deliver the most value for you.

Flex and Lite switches are designed to be more stylish than traditional switches so you can easily place them anywhere without disrupting your décor. These switches offer a wide range of bandwidth, uplink speed, and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability. Plus, they look great mounted to a wall or sitting on your desk! 

Our marquee UniFi Switch models bring more uplink and power versatility to high-speed, device-dense networks. The UniFi Switch Pro line is even more powerful with enhanced fiber connectivity, routing, and PoE options.

UniFi Switch Enterprise models, coming later this year, are ideal solutions for demanding deployments. These switches are designed to direct a staggering amount of data and fully harness the power of UniFi 6 products.

To help you protect your enterprise deployment, we’ve created the UniFi Switch Mission Critical, which also be available later this year. The Mission Critical is a PoE switch with an uninterruptible power supply that will keep your pivotal devices (and UniFi Access products) running through outages and internal failures with its powerful internal battery and external backup battery connectors.

Detailed network insights anywhere, anytime

We know keeping track of ports and devices can be a headache, so we’ve engineered all of our switches to allow individual port naming, locking, and configuration—all from your UniFi Network application. Using UniFi Network, you’ll get real-time insights that will help you optimize your deployment.

Key network details are also visible on the sleek touchscreens built into our UniFi PoE Switch, Switch Pro, and Switch Enterprise models. You can even use your phone to view an augmented reality overlay that labels each port with its connected device!

See our switches in action

Your deployment is only as powerful as the switches powering it, so choosing the right UniFi Switch is critical for enhancing your network’s performance. To learn more, check out our new video above or the comparison table below for a deeper feature breakdown. Also, be sure to like and subscribe when you catch us on YouTube and check our blog regularly for brand-new UniFi content!

Choose the right switch for you

UniFi Network and WiFiman (iOS / Android) have worked in tandem to give you real-time speed testing, robust connection mapping, and detailed wireless performance insights—but always separately.

Our team has been working hard to bridge this divide and we’re proud to announce that we’ve finally brought full WiFiman functionality to the UniFi Dream Machine (UDM), Dream Machine Pro (UDM Pro), and Network application with our 1.9.0 firmware release!

Assess the WiFi speed of individual devices or your entire site from a single interface

The WiFiman mobile app, when connected to the same network as a UDM updated to 1.9.0 or later, can function as a site survey tool that allows you to centrally view and analyze the WiFi speed of multiple devices connected to your network. This new feature is ideal for those planning or managing complex RF deployments since it simplifies the evaluation of wireless coverage and capacity.

You’ll also be able to see detailed WiFi metrics for all of your devices in the UniFi Network application (web or mobile), including connection-specific downlink, uplink, and throughput information. If you’re looking for a little more detail, you can also see advanced data such as radio-specific packet transfer data, channel customization options, and comprehensive usage statistics.

Deeper speed testing and simpler result comparison

When connected to your UniFi system, WiFiman also makes it easier to assess your network’s pure wireless capacity. In addition to testing your direct ISP speed, you’ll also be able to conduct concurrent tests that gauge the connection strength between your UDM and network devices. This added dimension allows you to determine whether coverage bottlenecks originate from a wired or wireless source.

WiFiman and the UniFi Dream Machine:

IT’s dynamic duo

The greatest nemesis of any network administrator is a lack of information. Save yourself from the perils of wireless uncertainty and get the full picture of your network’s speed and connectivity by updating your Dream Machine’s firmware to version 1.9.0. 

To update to Version 1.9.0 or higher:

1. 1. Navigating to Settings > System Settings > Maintenance in your UniFi Network web application.
   2. Click the OS Settings link on the Controller Updates line.
   3. Click the Update to… link in your Dream Machine’s device window.