Gate lock - which one to choose? Overview of the best options + 100 photo models. Installation instructions from the pros!

The once-common latch and padlock are now obsolete, and are not able to cope with the task of protecting the site. But, fortunately, progress does not stand still and the owner of the site, who faced the choice of a lock on the gate, has plenty to choose from. Mechanical and electrical, code and magnetic ...

The abundance of information and photos of locks for gates is amazing, so a brief excursion into the world of locking mechanisms will not be superfluous.

Summary of the article:

Budget options

A simple and unpretentious mechanical lock has a low cost and, with the right choice, is still able to provide the proper level of protection. There are three types of mechanical devices:

rack and pinion;
leverage;
cylinder.

Rack street castle was popular 20 years ago. However, now it should not be considered as a worthy option. And the matter is not even in its bulkiness and inconvenience in operation. The main disadvantage of the mechanism is the low level of protection.

Level locks, on the contrary, do an excellent job of their task. Mechanisms with the number of levers 5 and higher are practically not inferior to more advanced and expensive options in terms of reliability.

High-quality cylinder locks are also still able to protect the site from unauthorized entry. They are difficult to crack with master keys or brute force.

Among the mechanical locking devices it is worth highlighting the magnetic and combination lock. The code has one advantage over the brothers who open the key, which can also be considered not enough: to open the gate, you do not need a key.

If the mechanism fails, it will not be easy to open it, and the buttons used will be erased, which leads to the need to regularly change the code.

Automatically latched magnetic locks are unlocked with a magnet key, which is convenient and practical. But not very reliable. The main disadvantage of mechanical locks is the presence of movable metal elements. In addition, mechanisms that are not protected from moisture penetration inside often fail when the air temperature drops below zero.

Mortise options are protected from precipitation by the gate design itself, but when choosing overhead locks, it is worth paying attention to the waterproofing of the case.

Another disadvantage of the mechanical versions of the locking device is the relatively rapid wear of the moving parts of the mechanism. Therefore, if a high frequency of opening the gate is planned, it is better to pay attention to more expensive and wear-resistant options.

average cost

The leaders in this segment are electric locking devices, such as electromotor, electromagnetic and electromechanical locks. They have a high degree of reliability.

The magnetic mechanism of the electromechanical lock is duplicated by a spring device, driven by a familiar key. This allows you to avoid problems with opening or to prevent spontaneous unlocking of the gate during power failures.

The more bulky and heavy electromotor lock works in the same way as its electromechanical counterpart. The only difference is that the bolt is driven by a motor.

The electromagnetic lock is characterized by simplicity of design, which is the guarantee of durability. There are holding and shear devices. The first magnetic field keep the gate closed. The principle of operation of the second is not much different from the operation of the electromechanical version.

The weak point of all electric locks is power.Therefore, if there is a risk of a power outage, it is better to opt for an electromechanical mortise lock for gates.
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The pluses include the reliable operation of devices regardless of weather conditions throughout the entire life cycle.

Expensive quality

High-tech devices cannot be cheap. The high cost and complexity of the installation, which cannot be carried out without the help of qualified specialists, is perhaps the only drawback of electronic and radio-controlled locks. However, this is offset by the highest degree of penetration protection they provide.

A scanner or signal receiver, control unit and locking mechanism - these are the basis of any electronic device. The scanner can be configured to any of the biometric parameters of the owners of the site, so that it is almost impossible for unauthorized persons to deceive him.

The control unit that receives the signal from the scanner and gives the command to open, close or lock the locking mechanism is usually already on the site, out of the reach of possible attackers. And the locking mechanism itself is characterized by a margin of safety and wear resistance.

An alternative or an understudy scanner may be a receiver of a radio signal or infrared radiation. These types of electronic locks can be opened with keychains that can unlock the gate from a distance.

Video door phone intercom kits with a lock are also common, which allows owners to open the gate to visitors without leaving their home.

In case of power problems, the design of electronic and radio-controlled devices involves the installation of a battery. Due to this, regardless of the circumstances, the site is always under reliable protection.

Special attention!

The reliability of any lock is determined by its class or resistance to tampering. There are four classes in total, of which the first one is the device with the weakest security features.

The fourth class, respectively, is assigned to the most reliable locking mechanisms. The second, third and fourth classes are subject to mandatory certification, which is authorized to conduct only organizations and divisions with the appropriate licenses. Therefore, for security reasons, it makes sense before buying a castle to study the accompanying documentation for it.

No matter how reliable it may be, improper installation of the lock can affect both the service life and its security properties. It’s better to trust such work to specialists, because the dubious savings on the wages of the master can affect the security of the site and your wallet. The only exception, perhaps, is the unpretentious mechanics of not high class.