Push button "unlatching" front door
My 1972 Eichler (on Stanford campus) included an excellent device: a button inside the house which when pressed opens the front door latch, permitting me to allow people to enter the house without having to go to the door itself. It has not worked for several years and I have no clue as to how to repair it. Can some one out there explain it to me?
Sincerely,
Bob Swenson
1062 Cathcart Way, Stanford CA 94305
tel. 650-494-6934
There is a lot of information online re: these electric strikes if you do a quick search. They are easy and inexpensive to replace.
The device is a simple 110V solenoid. When you press the button, the solenoid retracts, allowing the door to open. First, make sure you have power to the strike. You can see it in the door frame. I have to think the buzzing noise is optional. I installed one 14 years ago that does not buzz. As irritating as the buzz is, I now believe the buzz in more useful than just a 'click'.
Dear ChatterBox,
This is a happy followup and thankyou for help from 2 readers. The electrician came and altho conversant with strikes had never seen one in a double door before. The electric current flows into the center hingeplate of the door containing the solenoid, and once the copper wire touching the hinge was abraded we were back in business, after 10 years out of service. No new parts requried. The electirician could not, however, find the location of the transformer, which I guess is OK uniil it burns out!
Bob Swenson
Haven't gotten around to fixing ours yet, but in our model the solenoid is hanging in the upper corner of the garage wall proximate to the carport. The wires go through the wall and along the top of the carport glass panel divider. In your case, it sounds like you have a two-car garage - but your solenoid may be hidden somewhere in your garage.
