Magnetic latches: rules for selection and installation

There is one important requirement for interior doors - they must close tightly, otherwise it will be very difficult to achieve coziness and comfort in the house. At the same time, the choice of door handles and locks sometimes takes much longer than the purchase of the door leaf itself. That is why many consumers are increasingly preferring magnetic latches, which combine smooth operation and durability.

The device of the magnetic latch seems complicated and highly technical only at first glance. In fact, it has a rather simple structure, thanks to which it became possible to achieve a long service life.

The door handles use a locking method that is well known to all furniture manufacturers. It is based on the effect of two strong magnets: the first is located inside the handle in the form of a special bolt fastened in the grooves of the box, and the second is located in the tray.

Everyone knows from school that two magnets, located at a short distance from each other, will begin to attract each other, this is exactly what happens when the door is closed. As soon as both magnets are at the minimum accessible distance, the magnet that is located in the box immediately begins to attract the bolt to itself.

It is noteworthy that it is not possible to open the door using the “push-pull” method - first you need to unlock the mechanism, for this you need to turn the door handle, which will pull the bolt back, thereby facilitating the disengagement of the magnets.

Magnetic catches are available in several versions:

• simple mechanisms;
• with a handle;
• with a retainer;
• with a magnetic card.

A simple latch in appearance and principle of operation is similar to that used in the furniture industry. A magnet is attached to the door, and a second magnet or some metal element is fixed to the door frame strip. Moreover, they are located not at the end, but directly in the door plane. The part in which the lock is located should be cut into the end of the door - this requires basic installation skills. This latch option is the most popular among consumers.

The locking handle is similar to a simple mechanism in its principle of operation, but has an additional element that locks the handle when closed. This completely eliminates the possibility of unauthorized entry into the room. This option is most often used in hotels or large office premises, here the latch is activated due to a special card that must be brought to the reader.

In general, there are quite a few options for handles with a magnetic lock inside. They can be made of metal, glass and even wood, so you can choose the mechanism that will best match the overall design concept of the room.The essence of the mechanism does not depend in any way on its design, but you need to pay attention to the shape and size - the handle lines must correspond to the technical capabilities of the door leaf. There are other reasons for the classification of magnetic type latches.

So, by type of device there are:

• built-in models - in this case, the magnet is brought into working condition using a door fixed on both sides;
• passive mechanisms include two basic elements - a miniature metal bar and a magnet, while all the elements of the shutter can be disconnected without any effort, and are connected rather smoothly.

According to the features of the installation, the shutter can be:

• mortise - its installation is the most laborious, since it requires special carpentry skills;
• consignment note - in this case, the main elements of the device are simply fixed on the door with special bolts that are part of the structure.

It should be noted that the installation of magnetic latches has many advantages in comparison with the installation of traditional mechanical locks. The main plus is safety for the child. It is well known that the standard handles in a traditional lock often protrude into the end of the door leaf and are often located at the level of the child's head. If your toddler trips, he can hit and be injured. When a magnetic mechanism is installed on the door, the likelihood of injury is sharply reduced, since the deadbolt in the device is constantly inside.

Magnetic latches have a fairly clear and simple installation principle, they are characterized by minimal wear and tear and therefore can be used for a long period of time. This is another advantage over mechanical closures, in which parts constantly rub against each other and wear out over time.

Mechanical locks are distinguished by the fact that when entering the room, the tongue begins to click quite loudly, so it is not possible to enter the room quietly. This brings discomfort if there are sleeping people in the room - the sound can wake them up. This does not happen with magnetic closures, they are very quiet. Among the shortcomings, one can note the high cost of magnetic latches, however, experts predict that with an increase in sales, prices will begin to decline.

When choosing a magnetic latch, it is worth giving preference to models based on the work of ferrite magnets. They retain their operational properties for many tens of years, which cannot be said about mechanical elements that shrink just a few months after use. Keep in mind that even though the basic interaction of internal elements is due to magnets, there are still mechanical components in the structure that need to be replaced over time. When installing, take this feature into account - try to install the latch in such a way as to provide free access to the internal parts.

This suggests that magnetic latches can be used not only for interior doors, but also for external ones - for example, balcony doors or those that overlook the veranda.

It is very important to choose the right size of the mechanism. You need to pay attention to its length, especially if the door leaf is equipped with glass or metal inserts. The width of the lining must be less than the size of the door itself.And, of course, the dimensions of the locking tab should not be ignored.

In order for the door magnetic mechanism to work as long as possible, it is worth giving preference only to products from well-known manufacturers. Professionals prefer the following brands.

• "Apec" - in the assortment list of the enterprise there is a wide selection of devices that differ in shape, color, size and other characteristics.
• Polaris - under this brand, universal devices are produced that are optimal for both right and left doors. The housing of the magnetic latch is made of galvanized steel, so that the mechanism can be used even in a damp, unheated room.
• Roxa Entrance Is a young but promising Russian manufacturer that produces both simple magnetic and the latest types of electromagnetic locks.

Nowadays, the installation of magnetic closures is gaining more and more popularity among the population. The reason for this is their numerous advantages over traditional mechanical locks, as well as the ability to connect such devices to the “smart home” system.

In the next video, you will find an insert of a magnetic lock (latch) with a router.