While settling the West, pioneers were attacked occasionally by Indians. The settlers defended themselves by forming a circle with their wagon train, surrounding family and cherished belongings while allowing limited access into the area.

The Victoria Place Homeowner’s Association decided about three years ago to employ an electronic access control system to stop abuse and vandalism in its community pool area.

ABC Locksmiths of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., installed three card readers with three electromagnetic locks, 200 feet of wire, 175 access cards and two 5-amp power supplies to retrofit a plain, wrought iron fence and control access to the pool area. The entire job took three workers about 40 manhours and cost $5,200.

ABC Locksmiths ‘Keys’ into the Access Control Market

Up until two years ago, 90 percent of ABC Locksmiths’ revenue came from locksmithing. Now, Vessels’ company reaps 50 percent of its revenue from access control.

Vandalism, Unpaid Dues Lead to Pool Protection

Originally, the gates just had standard locks to which all the homeowners had keys. Unfortunately, they could be duplicated and every time the locks were rekeyed, the vandalism, abuse and unauthorized use of the pool area started again after a short lull.

Sometimes Who You Know Can Help Land an Install

It just so happened the bookkeeper for ABC Locksmiths was a resident in the Victoria Place community and was well aware of the problems that had been going on with its pool area. After being informed, ABC Locksmiths was able to submit a bid in the beginning of July 1997.

The Homeowner’s Association received three bids for the security system installation. In mid-July, ABC Locksmiths was awarded the job and scheduled to begin work on August 8.

Inform the Client of Options, Benefits of Various Systems

Often times, a client does not know what type of system or application is best for what his/her situation requires.

The Homeowner’s Association first wanted a pushbutton type of lock and a keyless entry system but, according to Vessels, that would be just like rekeying the original locks. The codes to the keypad could be given out just like copies of keys.

Vessels’ idea for the pool area was to use access cards.

The Homeowner’s Association decided to go with Vessels’ idea and to install an access control system by retrofitting the wrought iron fence already in place.

3-Man Crew Finishes Job in About 40 Hours

ABC Locksmiths sent three workers out to the site of the community pool to work on the access control system. The whole job took between 40 manhours and 60 manhours with three crew members.

ABC Mounts Three Readers, Two Power Supplies

The first order of business was to remove the old locks.

Next, the new electromagnetic locks had to be installed to replace them.

After putting in the electromagnetic locks, card readers had to be installed and adapted to each of the three gates.

Two Altronix MP5 power supplies were used to give the fence and the system enough juice. Since only about 13/4 amps were required for each gate, one power source and one transformer wouldn’t have been enough for all three.

Interior and exterior access to the pool gates for entering and exiting also had to be accomplished. Besides that, the electromagnetic locks had to be installed in such a way as to not let them stick out, thus being susceptible to further vandalism and abuse. Mounted items also had to be put in places where they could not be stepped on and used to climb over the fence since it only is six feet high.

Calculations, Underestimation Complicate Installation

The most challenging parts of this particular installation, according to Vessels, were the electromagnetics and the power supplies.

Bottom Line Installation Cost Adds Up to $5,200

The Victoria Place Homeowner’s Association bill came to about $5,200, including parts, labor and the whole installation.

Since ABC Locksmiths completed the August installation, there have been no instances of vandalism of any kind.

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