Re: Filing Cabinets That Use Electronic Access?

["ABLE1" <royboynospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"W" <persistentone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:PqidnWS5wYT8xBrTnZ2dnUVZ5tCdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> "Bill" <billnomailnospamx@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:9eoqrdFdc3U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> "W"  wrote in message
>> > So let me ask does *any* third party make an office filing cabinet
>> > that has
>> > a solinoid activated locking bar that we could wire into?
>> >
>>
>> There are electronic combination locking vertical filing cabinets.
>> Note these tend to be higher security cabinets. I just looked at the
>> prices...
>>
>> $2,229.00 for cabinet.
>> $537.00 for add-on electronic combination lock
>> =======
>> $2766.00  Total, but shipping probably extra.
>>
>>
> http://www.filingtoday.com/Fireproof_Fire-King_Vertical_Files_Cabinet_1-Hour_Rated.html
>>
>> (For more search for filing cabinet combination lock.)
>>
>> Note: The way these may work is that the top drawer only has this lock
>> on it. You enter the combination, then can open the top drawer. Then
>> you could open the lower drawers. So I think you need to open the top
>> drawer a bit in order to be able to open the lower drawers? You would
>> need to verify that.
>>
>> Anyway that would have a drawback as to dependability so far as what
>> you want to do. A flexible cord would need to be wired to the top
>> drawer. Each time the drawer was opened it would stretch the cord.
>> That cord might last many years, but eventually it would fail and need
>> to be replaced.
>>
>> And with such an electronic combination lock, you would pretty much
>> need to buy one, then take it apart to see if it could be modified so
>> just the lock portion could be wired to you card access system. Most
>> probably it could, however it might not be possible to modify it.
>> Pretty expensive way to find out if you could use a product or not!
>>
>> If you already owned these cabinets, then that would be another
>> matter.
>>
>> I think it would be much less expensive to have a custom locking
>> mechanism made for your existing filing cabinets.
>>
>> I think this could be done by placing an electric solenoid / actuator
>> below the lowest drawer. Then the wiring to this would not need to
>> move as the actuator would be bolted to the cabinet and not a drawer.
>> Then no batteries needed as power for the actuator would come from the
>> wire / card access system.
>>
>> I think the best way to approach this would be to get an electric
>> solenoid / actuator, THEN find a "mechanical type" who could design
>> rods / bars / levers, etc. which would connect the actuator to your
>> existing filing cabinet locking bar from below. That type of person
>> you would find at a machine shop. If you could take a filing cabinet
>> to this person, a soleonid / actuator, a battery to operate the
>> solenoid, and then tell the person how you connect the actuator wires
>> to the solenoid to get it to lock / unlock, then he could make and
>> install the interconnecting mechanism to do the rest.
>>
>> It takes a LOT of pressure to move the locking bar on some filing
>> cabinets. That is... A lot of pressure from an electrical device. The
>> more force it can provide, the higher the cost of the actuator /
>> solenoid. With that said, a cheaper design might be to install a knob
>> where the existing key lock is. The solenoid / actuator would *allow*
>> the locking bar on the side of the cabinet to move freely. Then a
>> person would "do the work" of moving the bar by then turning the knob
>> to move the locking lever.
>>
>> The mechanical type person could design this so it stayed unlocked
>> once it was unlocked. Or so it re-locked each time the drawers were
>> closed.
>>
>> Anyway it would be easy to find a "mechanical type" to do the
>> mechanical parts for you. Look for an older guy. If all else fails, go
>> to your local university and find a mechanical engineering student.
>> They are all broke and will work cheap. Then need the money! And just
>> a few hundred dollars will make them happy or pay by the hour.
>>
>> Also "mechanical types" and "electrical types" are different breeds!
>> Mechanical people do not understand electrical stuff and electrical
>> people are not so good at mechanical stuff. You need to get two
>> separate people for this.
>>
>> Anyway the only question remaining is how does the "output" of a card
>> access system work? What is the output voltage? 12 volts DC? How much
>> amperage can it provide? 1 amp? How many different outputs can it
>> operate? (different doors it is designed to open? In your case, how
>> many filing cabinets do you have? Does the card access system have
>> that many different outputs?)
>>
>> Then how does the card access system output work? (Like it was opening
>> a door.) Does it provide 12 volts for say 4 seconds, then power off?
>> Can this be changed to longer shorter in settings or is that time
>> fixed?
>>
>> And note that you would NOT want the actuator to remain powered for
>> the full time the cabinet is open! Like powered for 8 hours. Solenoids
>> / actuators get hot when powered on for a long time. They can burn
>> out. Best is briefly on for a few seconds each time something is
>> opened.
>>
>> Then if the above is how a card access system works, next would come
>> the type of solenoid you would want. Some will spring forward when
>> power is applied, then return when power is removed. Others will
>> spring forward when power is applied, then stay then when power is
>> removed. Then you need to reverse power to move it the opposite
>> direction.
>>
>> So you would need a solenoid / actuator which would work along with
>> the output of your card access system.
>>
>> A device which could work is the electric door lock actuator on cars.
>> Some of these work by moving one direction when power is applied, then
>> it stays there. And it will move the opposite direction when power is
>> reversed. You can get these cheap from automotive wrecking yards if
>> you just want to play with one. They are located in the door of the
>> car and 12 volts DC (car battery) operates them of course.
>>
>> Or search google.com for solenoid. Or for actuator.
>>
>> People who play / work on robots are quite familiar with solenoids and
>> actuators. Again a university electrical engineering department would
>> provide a host of people who would know all about this.
>>
>> Before you do anything, remove the bottom drawer from one of your
>> filing cabinets and see if there is room below the drawer for an
>> electrical actuator....
>
> While this would be a fun project for someone, I really did not want to do
> an R&D project.     R&D projects are both very expensive and also have a
> very high chance of failure.   Further, without a lot of testing I would
> expect reliability problems.    It's just not the path I wanted to go.
>
> --
> W
>

LOL

Your choices are as follows.

1)   Find a file cabinet that already has a card access system built into
the unit.

2)   Find a file cabinet that can have a proper system designed and
retrofitted.

3)   Forget the project and go on with what ever security controls you are
presently using.

Now since #1 has been proven to be non-existent and #2 has just been shot
down by you as being too expensive then I would guess that #3 is your only
option.

Should you change your mind and would like to consider #2 my offer still
stands.  May not be as difficult as you might perceive.  R&D can be involved
or just a matter of looking at the details of the project and make a
determination in a few minutes.  I only used the term it indicate that what
you desired was not going to be like screwing in a light bulb.  This hole
thing comes down to what amount of dollars are you willing to invest into a
finished project that will provide the desired end result.  It really
depends on you and your perception of what is needed.

Les