An electric strike is an access-controlled version of a standard door strike plate. It lets you unlock a door remotely without retracting the latch itself. Access systems trigger it, so a card reader, keypad, or buzzer can release the door.
Every electric strike runs on a set voltage. The power supply has to match that voltage exactly. The strike also has to fail the right way when the power drops. A fail-secure strike stays locked after a power loss. Lose power on a fail-safe strike, and the door unlocks instead. Fire-rated and egress doors follow strict code on which type to use.
Retrofits are common. Don Jo (a manufacturer) makes accessories that cover an old strike cutout or fit a new one to the frame.
Why did my electric strike stop working?
A dead electric strike does not always mean a dead lock. The same holds for a magnetic lock. The lock draws power from a separate power supply. A control board often coordinates it with the request-to-exit device, or REX. Sometimes the whole board fails. Other times a single relay on the board fails.
These systems usually need the building’s access control or security company. That company logs in to reassign a relay or program new users. A door service company replaces the lock hardware when practical. We coordinate that work with your security provider.