Access-Control Power Calculator
The lock, not the reader, dominates an access-control system’s power draw — and magnetic locks hold by power, so they pull current every second the door is armed. Enter your doors, lock type, readers and voltage to get the total current, the watts, and the power supply you should specify. Planning figures; runs in your browser.
- Magnetic (EM) lock (lock)0.50 A
- 1 reader (0.1 A each)0.10 A
- Controller share0.15 A
Planning estimate only — real holding currents vary by model and rise with more readers and auxiliary devices (REX buttons, break-glass, door position sensors). Magnetic locks draw continuously because they hold by power, so they dominate the load; electric strikes and bolts draw mainly at the moment of release. Add margin and confirm each device’s datasheet. The backup battery is sized separately — use the battery-backup calculator below.
Related Guides — Deep-dive reading
Access Control Maintenance in India (2026): Readers, Locks and Fail-Safe Egress
How to keep a card, keypad, fingerprint or face access-control system reading reliably and locking securely — and, above everything, how to test that its doors still release on a fire alarm and on power loss, so an access-controlled door never becomes a life-safety trap.
SecuritySmart-Lock Power Battery Planning in India (2026): How the Lock Is Fed and What Happens When Power Runs Out
The install-side power decision for a smart lock: battery versus wired mains, sizing a UPS so a power cut cannot lock people out, and always planning the dead-battery get-in-anyway path with a mechanical key.
SecurityDoor Access Control for Indian Homes, Villas & Societies: RFID, PIN, Biometric & Networked Systems (2026)
How access control moves you from a single smart lock to managed entry across flats, villas and society gates - RFID cards, PIN keypads, biometrics, app and intercom integration, standalone vs networked controllers, audit logs, visitor and maid management, and what a basic vs networked system really costs in India.
Home Doors & EntrancesRelated Tools — You may also find these useful
Access-Card Quantity Calculator
How many access cards or fobs to order and re-order, from users, spare stock, a visitor pool and annual loss.
Card CountAccess-Control Battery-Backup Calculator
Size the standby battery so an access system keeps running through a power cut, with an egress life-safety note.
Battery BackupAccess-Control Schedule Generator
Build the time schedules that decide when each access group can enter — an editable list for your integrator.
Time Schedules