A lockout solenoid is a small coil of wire that prevents a locking mechanism from moving unless an electromagnetic force is used to gain access. It is commonly used in doorways, vending machines, and turnstiles. The solenoid only requires power when it unlocks and most are battery operated. Heavy-duty solenoids are used in construction equipment and exhibit powerful electromagnetic forces.
A lockout solenoid is a conventional solenoid, a coil of wire that is magnetized when coupled to an electric current, made to lock a door or device. The coil is small enough to fit into a lock, where it prevents the locking mechanism from moving unless an electromagnetic force is used to gain access. When the door is locked, no power is used, so the solenoid has a long duty cycle and tends to drain the batteries. While most are very small, there are some large ones made for heavy equipment and safety gear. The most common places a lockout solenoid is used are doorways, vending machines, and turnstiles.
When a door or device locks via a solenoid, it uses basic electromagnetic forces to control the lock. The solenoid fits into the locking mechanism and, when locked, will expand so that the device cannot be unlocked by sheer force. It takes an electromagnetic force, like a key card, to tell the solenoid to move, allowing the device to unlock and open.
While the lockout solenoid will keep the device locked out, it is technically inactive when in lockout mode, as no power is being used. The solenoid only needs power when it unlocks, and since most devices are constantly stuck, the solenoid requires very little power. Because of this, most solenoids are battery operated and seldom need to replace the battery.
Most of these solenoids are made to be small, because they fit in small devices, but there are some that are large and exhibit powerful electromagnetic forces. Heavy-duty solenoids are used in construction equipment, such as forklifts, to lock the mast when the machine is shut down or not running. Unlike smaller solenoids which exhibit a force of approximately 45 Newtons, these larger solenoids use approximately 1,000 Newtons to lock the equipment in place.
The most common devices that use a locking solenoid are usually small, about the size of an adult human or smaller, and don’t require much locking force. Hotels, offices and other secure areas use them to lock doors because a solenoid lock is very difficult to pick. Instead of the easy-to-break padlocks long used on vending machines, solenoid locks are a modern alternative. Turnstiles in parks, subways and entertainment events also use solenoids to stop people unless they are allowed through.
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