A Monthly Newsletter Focusing on Important Issues for the Automatic Door Industry
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In this Issue:
Optex Technologies, Inc. 3882 Del Amo Blvd. Suite 604 Torrance, CA 90503 Tel: (800) 877-6656 www.ot-inc.com |
Optex offers series of AAADM Certification Trainings in their new Facility
In an effort to support the new ANSI Standards change which takes effect this month, Optex Technologies is announcing their schedule of open AAADM Certification Trainings to be held in there newly opened Facility in Torrance, California. Currently scheduled dates for Open Classes are as follows:
All training's will be held in our new facility in Torrance, CA. Additional trainings will be added as needed. For more details, contact Mike Smith at 800-877-6656, x120.
CRUCIAL TO TROUBLESHOOTING AUTOMATIC DOORS
Jim Sargent
You might want to print this article and use it as a guideline for a training session. For more information or questions of a technical nature call Jim Sargent at Optex Inc., (800) 877-6656 EXT: 330
Relay Terminology & Operation
In automatic doors we encounter the terms Normally Open (N.O.), Normally Closed (N.C.), COMmon (COM), Single Pole Single Throw (SPST), Singly Pole Double Throw (SPDT), Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT), Dry output, Wet output, Active Relay, Passive Relay, Fail-Safe and Fail-secure. Though fail-safe and fail secure are not actually relay terms, we often try to apply it to relays. Fail-safe and fail secure actually apply to the state of an automatic door if you have a power failure. Fail-safe means the door can easily be pushed open to enter and exit the building upon power failure. Fail-secure means the opening is secure not allowing access into the building upon power failure.
In this discussion we will focus on metallic contact electromechanical relays. Solid-state relays operate differently but effectively achieve the same results. Most sensors actually use metallic contact relays for their outputs. You may on occasion encounter a Transistor Output. We will not be discussing this type of output just remember that the final affect is the same as a dry contact relay (a change in states from open circuit to close circuit or vise versa).
An electromechanical relay is designed to operate on either AC voltage or DC voltage. Generally DC relays are more stable but you may choose your relay based on available power supplies. A relay has a coil and one or more set of contacts. Each set of contacts has a common contact (think of it as the Pole) and a Normally open or Normally closed contact or both (think of them as the THROW). If your relay has one COM then it is a single pole (SP) relay. If it has two COM's it is a double pole (DP) relay. If a SP relay has one N.O or N.C contact it is a Single Throw (ST) relay. If it has N.O. and N.C. contacts it is a Double Throw (DT) relay. If a relay is designated DPDT it is Double Pole Double Throw. This means it has two COM's and a set of N.O. and N.C. contacts for each COM.
Inside the relay an arm is connected to the pole (COM) and mechanically moves back and forth making and breaking contact with the N.O. and/or N.C. contacts. Power is applied and removed (energized / de-energized) to a coil inside the relay to change the relay state moving the arm from one contact to another. When the coil in a SPDT relay is de-energized the arm of the COM is held against the N.C. contact by spring pressure. If you put an OHM Meter across the COM to N.O of a dry contact relay when it is de-energized you will read a closed circuit (effectively 0 ohms resistance). Placing the meter leads across the Com and N.O. contacts will read an open circuit (effectively Infinite resistance, OL).
To change the state of the relay a voltage is applied to the coil, thus, producing a magnetic field that attracts the arm. The attraction overcomes the spring pressure and the arm moves over making contact with the N.O. output and breaks contact with the N.C. output. While the relay coil is energized, an ohmmeter will indicate an open circuit from COM to N.C. and a closed circuit from COM to N.O. (exactly the opposite of the de-energized state). This is referred to as a CHANGE OF STATES. In troubleshooting, when you energize and de-energize a relay, if you do not get a change of states at one or more set of contacts, THE RELAY IS BAD. If you are getting a change of states, THE RELAY IS GOOD, your problem is somewhere else. NOTE: When diagnosing a dry contact relay remove any connections to the COM and N.O. or N.C contacts before placing the ohmmeter across those contacts. If not, you may get inaccurate readings due to the connected equipment, or, if voltages are present you might damage your ohmmeter.
DRY contact relays simply open and close a circuit (COM to N.O. or N.C.). They do not put out any kind of voltage on the circuit. This doe not mean that voltages are not present. The circuit they are connected to may, and probably does, have voltages present. Dry outputs are normally used when connecting sensors directly to a control box.
A WET output relay actually applies some sort of voltage to the connected equipment. Generally a voltage is applied to the COM and transferred to the N.O. or N.C. contact, which in turn is applied to the connected equipment. Wet output relays are generally used for applying voltage to a device such as a magnetic lock or an electric strike.
Sensors With Relay Outputs
Now, lets place a SPDT dry output relay inside a motion or presence sensor and control it thru the microprocessor or "the brain" of the sensor. With power applied to the sensor and the sensor in Non-Detection, the internal output relay coil would be in one of two states (energized or de-energized). When the sensor detects a person or object, its internal microprocessor changes the state of the output relay coil. As discussed before, when the relay coil changes from energized to de-energized it changes the state of the relay outputs (N.C, N.O). Therefore the relay outputs of the sensor changes states from non-detection to detection.
Sensors often have a PASSIVE RELAY or ACTIVE RELAY option. This refers to the state of the relay coil when power is applied to the sensor, and, the sensor is not in detection.
In the United States PASSIVE relay mode is when power is applied to the sensor, the sensor is in non-detection and the output relay coil is de-energized. When the sensor is in detection the relay changes states to an energized coil. To verify this place an ohmmeter across the Com and N.O. output of the sensor. In passive mode, with the sensor in non-detection, the COM to N.O. will read open (infinite resistance, OL). When the sensor is in detection the COM to N.O. will read closed (0 ohms resistance). The COM to N.C. contacts will read closed in non-detection and open in detection.
| Passive Relay Output Non-Detection |
Passive Relay Output Detection |
ACTIVE relay mode is when power is applied to the sensor, the sensor is in non-detection and the relay coil is energized. The relay de-energizes when the sensor goes into detection. In this mode your relay outputs read exactly opposite that of the passive mode.
| Active Relay Output Non-Detection |
Active Relay Output Detection |
Be careful on the subject of Active and Passive. The European version of Passive and active is exactly opposite to the US version. When in doubt use your Ohmmeter and check the output contacts of the sensor. On a properly functioning sensor that is not in detection, if the relay contacts change states when power is applied and then removed from the sensor, it is in active mode. If the contacts do not change states the sensor is in passive mode.
Your probably wondering what is the need for two different relay modes (Passive & Active). Passive relay mode is the most commonly used mode. Some manufacturers prefer to have a change of state on the output of a sensor when it loses power. This requires the senor to be in Active relay mode. This is the case with the Stanley SU-100 motion detector. When the SU-100 loses power the relay changes states sending a signal to the automatic door control box to hold the door open.
That covers the fundamentals of relays in conjunction with automatic doors. A strong understanding of these concepts will significantly improve troubleshooting of automatic doors. For installers I cannot stress enough the importance of documenting your work. You may install external relays to power a mag-lock or an electric strike, or connect to a fire system or a PBX system. Take the time to diagram the circuit for each application. Make a copy to leave in the door header. Place a copy in your file on your service van. Place a copy in the service file at the shop. Maybe make copies to give to your fellow service techs. It may sound like extra work but in reality, it will save everyone a lot of work whenever they service that location.
i-Sensor provides Jamb to Jamb Safety Coverage in a single sensor
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In the price competitive market for Automatic Sliding Doors it is important to find a way to differentiate your company from all others. The i-Sensor from Optex is one way to stand out and win more jobs. The i-Sensor from Optex is the only sensor in the market today that can provide true “Jamb to Jamb” safety coverage with a single sensor. Offer your customers a sensor that will cover not only the threshold but the sidelights as well. If your competitors are offering any lesser sensor, they won’t be able to provide the same coverage and they won’t be able to get the job. This means a distinct competitive advantage and a clear difference between your offer and that of your competitors. Contact us for more information and a copy of our end user sell sheet. Call 800-877-6656, x123 and ask for Lucy. |
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to Increase Sales
By David A. Peoples
#1 Call on the president, division head, or head person in the department
More often than not he's easier to see. Certainly he's the easiest to talk with. He'll let you know "up front" whether or not you're wasting your time - and most importantly, he's the decision maker. Have you ever heard a president say, "It's not in the budget?"
The hardest person to call on is the controller, (even worse is the assistant controller). He is a bookkeeper. Even if you are successful in selling the bookkeeper, he has to sell the president. And if bookkeepers could sell computers, they wouldn't be bookkeepers.
So, double your sales and double your pleasure ($$'s) - Call on the president!
#2 If you try to be all things to all people, you will be nothing to nobody
So be a specialist - this is the age of the expert. The person with the need and the money will gladly pay a premium to increase the probability of success and reduce the risk of failure. And that comes from doing business with the person who has in-depth knowledge and experience in their corner of the world. So find your corner of the world and be the best you can be in your part of the universe.
#3 A guaranteed way to be a hero to your customers
When a customer asks you to do something - do it right now.
What is it that you are doing right now that is more important than earning the respect of a customer? And by the way, did you know that the single biggest complaint from prospects and customers about sellers is lack of responsiveness?
#4 Never start with the A, B, C's
When working from a prospect list always start with the M's, or P's, or R's. Everybody before you started with the A's.
They got worn out and tired out and quit before they were half way through. So don't plow the old ground - start where the others stopped.
#5 How about a living testimonial?
On your tape - introduce the top executive of one or more of your good reference accounts. Take your portable recorder to his office and let him record his story of "how good it is" in his own words.
#6 Once a year (that's all) write a letter to each customer
Too often we forget to thank them for their business and tell them how important they are.
If you don't write it directly to the president, at least be sure to copy him. More often than not, they don't realize all the things that you have done and the progress they've made unless you tell them.
#7 Our job is to persuade other people to a course of action we would like them to take
Here is the greatest principle of human persuasion that exists:
"People are persuaded more by the depth of your conviction that by the height of your logic. More by your enthusiasm than any proof you can offer."
#8 Organization counts
Is there too much to do and too little time? How would you like to do more in less time - and have peace of mind?
Then take a day out of your life to get yourself organized for the rest of your life. Sign up for one of the professional "time management" courses.
In fact, a key principle of time management is do-it-now - so do-it-now. What is it that you are doing right now that is more important than getting yourself organized for the rest of your life?
Remember, the only thing we have is time - and we all have the same amount. The biggest difference between us is how we use it.
#9 A lack of progress report is almost a good as a progress report
Don't leave them twisting in the wind. If you don't have the answer - let them know what you've done and why you're waiting. If you don't, they will assume you're doing nothing. This silence isn't golden - this silence is deadly.
#10 The miracle drug of the day is physical fitness
If your heart beats fast, and your nerves are tight and your palms a little sweaty - then your not working at your peak performance.
So partake of the best drug known to man or woman on a regular basis - exercise
#11 Install every job 50% ahead of schedule
Why not? It's so easy - and takes no more effort, and nothing pleases a customer more than a job finished ahead of schedule. So get in on the glory.
How do I do that? It's simple. Always tell them that the job will take 50% longer than you think it will take. So they win and you win. That's called win-win. And there are no losers in the win-win game.
#12 Five keys to succeed - the ingredients for success
#13 Become "too" valuable
How would you like to become too valuable to keep in your present job at your present pay?
The answer - the common denominator of successful people throughout history is:
#14 Do more than you are paid to do. Give better service than you are paid to give.
David Peoples is an internationally known author and speaker on the subject of Presenting, Persuading and Winning. He is the author of "Selling to the Top" and "Presentation Plus". For information on his books, seminars and presentations, you maycontact Mr. Peoples at P.O. Box 8850, Longboat Key, FL 34288
