G+_William de Lacey Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Hey all, i need some help! I am wanting to install some swipe card controlled mag locks throughout our building. We have many volunteers in and out throughout the week so the main thing I want to be able to do is control when people can access certain rooms etc. For example I would like to give a volunteer access to the front door between certain hours on a certain day. I know there are professional systems that do this however we can’t spend the thousands they cost! Any diy help would be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Black Merc Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 How much time do you have to diy this together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_William de Lacey Posted October 2, 2017 Author Share Posted October 2, 2017 Black Merc I do have time - my main criteria is to keep cost low and for it to be expandable in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Black Merc Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 I'm thinking a raspberry PI with relay board, usb card reader, network connect to a db of cards numbers with valid time windows(9am-5pm)... PI checks clock, activates door appropriately, sends log entry to server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Scott W Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Black Merc But he needs multiple door control, so that means a PI at every location. I am thinking RFID controlled by an Arduino at each location talking to a gateway via NRF24L01's. Database can be stored on the PI. Either way its not a small project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Black Merc Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Scott W? I did not say it would be perfect to everyone's standards... Just a basic idea... I'm sure there are persons that know how to slim down the hardware. With a master server setup, access can be very finely controlled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Scott W Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Black Merc Just throwing out another idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Black Merc Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 Scott W please, share your alternate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Scott W Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 For our mudroom door I have an RFID reader wired to an arduino that communicates with my home automation controller(Vera Lite)via an NRF24L01 . It activates a solenoid lock on the door. The RFID tags are hard coded into the sketch as I dont need to limit access times. All my sensors etc are built using the mysensors.org - Home | MySensors - Create your own Connected Home Experience plugin for Vera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Black Merc Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 I believe the motel/hotel biz. are employing a comercial version of that idea... Without a connection to a central server they run into security issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_David Wiggins Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 I'll second the RFID option. Both just make sure the reader is compatible with the cards (ntag, mifare and such). A benefit of this is you can have a tag on a keychain or card, and base the action on the card id or written data (just be aware that anything written can be read rather easily). That is actually a place mag stripe has a slight advantage, not as many people have mag readers as do nfc capable phones. It sounds like a very interesting project. It's making me wonder what else I can do with my spare cards. (I accidentally bought a bunch that were too small for full contact information.). My nephew wants me to clone those Nintendo figurines with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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