What's in the Enclosure
When people talk about “security systems”, most
people think of cameras or cards and readers at the door or the
software to manage the whole system. However, one critical component
of any Access Control system is the controller that has the intelligence
to make the yes/no decisions about who to let in the building
or how to respond to certain conditions detected by sensors in
the building. Unfortunately, most people, when buying an Access
Control system, don’t ask and aren’t told about the
features of this essential piece of electronics.
At PCSC, we have always strived to provide the easiest to use,
easiest to maintain and lowest price equipment in the access
control industry. As a part of this mission, we strive to provide
the best controllers in the industry. To illustrate this effort,
look at some of the features that are STANDARD in all PCSC controllers.
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Surface
Mount Technology
While this technology has been around for over 20
years, many access control manufacturers are still using
an even older technology referred to as “through-hole
technology”. This older technology requires an individual
to place each component into the proper holes on an electronic
circuit board and, when finished, run the final assembly
through a solder bath to provide connectivity between all
components. By contrast, the newer Surface Mount Technology
involves an automated robot, picking up electronic components
and placing them into the surface of the electronic circuit
board. When finished, the components are soldered in place
for connectivity.
The advantage of this newer technology is greater reliability, longer life
for the controller and a cheaper price. Thus, all your electronics should
be using Surface Mount Technology. |
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Flash Memory
As most people are now aware, software is what makes electronics work.
But, people are also aware how software is constantly changing and improving.
With the software inside your electronic board managing your security,
the situation is the same. The access control manufacturer is continually
adding new features as they become required or simply as the manufacturer
has the time and manpower to finish the software feature.
With Flash Memory, this capability allows for an electronic controller’s
software to be upgraded without having to physically touch the controller
and in much less time. With the older, conventional, socketed memory
chips, a dealer must find the controller, power the unit down, remove
the old chip, install the new chip and then download all the information
to the controller again on power up. Obviously, this is a much more
time intensive and consuming effort and, therefore, more costly and
potentially hazardous as touching the controller always entails a usually
minor risk of causing an electrical short or other malfunction due
to touching the controller
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On Board Power
Management
Most access controller’s utilize a power supply
providing 12 volts direct current (DC). These controllers
will operate anywhere between 10 volts and 14 volts on
average. However, if a brown out condition or faulty power
supply which starts providing increasingly higher voltages
occur, these units will simply either shut down or be damaged
from the voltage outside the recommended range.
To help resolve this issue, PCSC has built onto every
electronic controller we manufacture an onboard power
management module, which will seek to provide a constant
12 volts DC or simply powering down. By insuring this
constant electric supply, the onboard power management
helps to create a longer lifespan for the electronic
controller and additionally make it more reliable.
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Transient Protection
While virtually all access control manufacturers provide
protection on the controller against electrostatic shock
or surges of electric coming into the controller via any
wire connected to it, it is always a good idea to ask about
this feature. The purpose of Transient Protection is to protect
against those low voltage surges that may happen to occur
to any device and/or wire attached to the electronic controller.
The controller is then protected, as opposed to the low voltage
surge damaging the board, requiring loss of security while
the controller is replaced and potentially expensive repairs
or even replacement of your electronic equipment. |
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Socketed Relays
When constructing an electronic control board, the manufacturer has the
choice of type relay styles – soldered or socketed. The soldered
relay is soldered directly on the board and, if a problem occurs,
will require removing the board and sending back to the manufacturer.
A socketed relay, on the other hand, involves a relay that snaps
into a socket. If the relay should fail for some reason, the relay
can be removed, a new one installed and the control board is back
up and operational within a few minutes.
Obviously, in a industry such as the security industry
where operation is both desired and required 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, a situation where a board must
be removed and shipped back to a manufacturer is less
than desirable. So unless the local security dealer has
a stock of these boards, you face the possibility of
being without security for at least a day or more.
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Snap Off Connectors
Snap off connectors allow the dealer to pre-wire for the electronic controller,
quickly remove and then replace connectors when replacing a damaged
electronic controller and re-wire one device connecting to the controller
without touching the controller in the process. All these items help
lower the cost of installation or repair and insure a more reliable
operating controller.
Unfortunately, some manufacturer’s still build
their connectors onto the electronic controller circuit
board, thus increasing time to install or repair and
increasing the possibility of damage to the board by
touching, pressing, etc.
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So, the next time you are looking for an access control system,
be sure to ask your security dealer which of these features the
solution he is proposing provides. And, if any of these features
are missing, ask about the projected additional costs, downtime
and resulting lack of security you will have to endure. Then
ask your security dealer to check into a solution from PCSC.
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