Frequently asked questions, FAQ
From time to time certain typical questions arise in most of the users regarding the website, the locks and other products.
Here we have collected these questions and their replies grouped by subject.
General questions
Mechanical locks
Electric locks
General questions
May I purchase on ZARTALON?
Anyone may purchase on the website, let it be a private person, company or any other organization. To be able to place an order you need to have a valid registration.
How long are the indicated prices valid?
Indicated prices are always the actual valid prices. A price change may take place any time. New prices become valid by appearing on the website. Price changes that occur after a sent order acknowledgement do not affect earlier orders.
Do indicated prices include the shipping fee?
No. Prices do not include shipping and are valid with goods receipt on our site. Please read our Shipping terms.
Does a store exist, where I can take a look on the products?
Currently not.
When are you open?
We are happy to welcome our customers from 8.15 to 17.00 on working days in person also. A written order may be placed any time. Processing of orders placed out of working hours will begin on the next business day.
How can I place an order?
The simplest way of placing an order is on our website through the webshop. You will be able to purchase after registration and login. Please put the selected item(s) into the virtual cart, fill in the form, then submit your order.
How long is the warranty period of products?
We provide various warranty periods to our products. Warranty period of a specific product is indicated at every item.
Mechanical locks
Where can I have a key duplicated?
Key cutting may be requested at our Resellers. Our colleagues are happy to provide information about the availability of the key cutter closest to you.
In case of a cylinder lock with code card, key-cutting is only possible upon presentation of the card.
How much does key cutting cost?
Price of key duplication is set freely by our Resellers. Please make a price inquiry with them. Price of the cutting depends on the price policy of our Resellers and on the type of the key too. The duplication of a cylinder key costs roughly gross 2000-6000 HUF. Our Partners will inform you of the cost based on the type of lock in advance.
How do I tell if I have a right- or left-hand door?
As a rule of thumb for finding out the DIN-direction, you have to face the door from the side where the hinges are. This is the side towards which the door is opening.
If the hinges are to the left hand = DIN left, if the hinges are to the right hand = DIN right.
When ordering a bracket striking plate for a strike, you always have to provide information on the DIN-direction.
Why is it good to use a locking system?
With a locking system you can use more locks with only one or a low number of keys. It is possible to create keys with different authorizations, specifying which keys would open which doors. Thus you can get rid of the heavy bunch of keys and finding the right key.
What is needed for the planning of a locking system?
You should know the purpose of use, the number of doors, the length of the locks, the authorized persons, groups, and the relation of these. Our colleagues are happy to help you identify the information you need.
Electric locks
When is an electric lock necessary?
In all cases where the mere mechanical solution is insufficient, because e.g. the lock has to be controlled from a distance, it needs to be connected to a system or status feedback is necessary.
What to be aware of when selecting a coil?
Electrical characteristics of the electric locks basically depend on the type of coil used. The coil determines whether direct (DC) and / or alternating current (AC) can be used. That the lock can be operated with a short or long impulse. How much voltage can be used and how much electricity the lock consumes. For electric locks, these features are found in the technical data.
If the entrance door has to be open in case of power failure, what kind of electric strike is to be used?
Fail-unlocked type strikes (e.g. water resistant series 36; 37, 342, 343, 138, etc.) become openable in case of power failure. To lock the door, the electric strike has to be placed under power again. If power is turned off, or the power is interrupted due to power failure, the strike becomes openable. Due to technical reasons these models can only be operated by direct current.
Important: electric locking mechanisms used for emergency doors have to comply with strict requirements, which are only met by systems specifically designed for this purpose.
How do I provide permanent access through a door with a time relay or timer switch?
The eE marking means an electric strike that can be permanently powered. To avoid the typical clicking sound coming with strikes these are operated by direct current. If the entryphone system making an audible clicking sound has to be combined with noiseless permanent openability, the 7410-10 switching device may be used. 8V eE / 12V eE / 24V eE versions are available.
How do I prevent the unauthorized opening of emergency doors?

The tested emergency exit locking mechanisms can be locked electrically. Effeff is also offering a wide lock assortment (door holding magnets and special emergency route strikes), control units and door terminals with built-in emergency button. Thanks to the newest product group, compact terminals, now even the full functionality solutions are available with low installation costs. The commissioning and the required annual inspection must be carried out by expert, trained people.

Why does hold-open (memory) or monitoring not work?

For the proper operation of the hold-open and monitoring functions, the latch bolt has to extend at least 9 mm (5 mm with FaFix strikes) into the strike latch. In case of a shorter intrusion of the latch, the hold-open pin and the indicator plate does not fully engage. The microswitch is unable to function and the hold-open pin cannot operate either.

For medical and law offices the door should not be wide open, however, during office hours it is handy if it becomes automatically openable by pushing a button.
How to achieve this?
This can be achieved by using the effeff automatic electric strike control unit 750. The visitor presses the bell and thus triggers the delayed opening of the strike, if the automatic mode is active. The time elapsed until opening can be set, i.e. the length of the delay and the duration of the opening impulse. If the control unit is turned off (inactive), normal, standard operation of the electric lock is restored.
The electric strike allows opening only if the door is pushed opposite to the direction of opening, to the frame (seal). Why is this happening?

If there is a seal on the door, there is some degree of repulsive power on the door leaf, due to which the strike is subjected to some degree of pre-load or pre-tension. This lateral preload in the case of direct current-operated strikes inhibits the proper release of the latch bolt, thereby impairing the opening function of the strike. In case of such doors, an AC-strike must be used and operated with an alternating current. This makes it possible for a standard strike to open surely even with a maximum preload of 80N.

What causes the clicking sound with electric strikes and how do I overcome this?
All fail-locked strikes operated by alternating current generate a buzzing sound that is typical of strikes. This buzz is generally desirable as it is well audible, thus indicating when the lock works. The strength of the sound is most often the highest at the lower limit of the rated voltage range. Depending on the actual installation and usage conditions, this sound may occur as noise pollution. Reduction of this noise pollution is limited in its place of origin. For tubular frame doors, e.g. the affected chambers can be filled with insulating foam. It may also be helpful to operate the strike with direct current. However, in such case, the signaling effect is absent and the preload that may occur can degrade the opening function.
What do the indications 1.9 or 01.09. mean on the type label of effeff products?
This marking indicates the date of manufacture. In the case of a bar code type label, the number before the point is the month, the number after the point is the year, e.g. the marking 01.09 means 2009 January.
In the case of a type label without bar code, the first number is the quarter, the second is the year. E.g. the marking 1.9 means the first quarter of 2009.
For which electric strike is it allowed to be built in a fire door?
Only a lock with a fire resistant certificate must be used. The effeff 131, 142U, 143 and 118F series have a certificate issued by the North Rhine-Westphalia Certification Institution.
What kind of strikes are suitable for obliquely grooved profile doors?
If the front side of the door leaf is obliquely grooved, a strike with a slant flat or flat striking plate with latch guidance is needed. The striking plate of such a strike is always cut or blunted askew on the hinge facing side. Obliquity of the door and striking plate is indicated by numbers. These figures, referring to the skew, are given in mm and apply to a door thickness of 45 mm. For a door with a different door thickness, the degree of skew of the door must be measured, then, based on that, the appropriate skew value has to be found.
Which strikes can be used with an access control system?
For electronic equipment such as code access entry devices, there is a need to keep electronic interference pulses away from the electronics. Therefore, we recommend using strikes with a built-in recovery (anti-surge) diode. These strikes received a 05 marking. Such strikes can only be operated with direct current at the voltage corresponding to the specified rated voltage. When using an access control system, in most cases it is advisable to install a version with monitoring contact (RR) for security and proper operation.
Which strikes can be used in smoke protection doors?
The effeff 118S and 111U series have a smoke resistant certificate so they are suitable for use in such doors.
With which strikes can the excessive gaps due to tolerance be offset?
There are two non-combinable solutions to this.
1) The Fix function makes it possible to adjust the strike horizontally with a maximum of 4 mm, and fix it through the special fastening holes on the striking plate. The Fix function cannot be combined with bracket and latch-guided striking plates.
2) With the FaFix function, adjustability applies to the horizontal slide-adjustment of the screw-on attachment with a maximum of 3 mm. Here, additional adjustments can be made by screwed-on attachments applicable in the case of various, inwards or outwards shifted latch bolt intrusions.
Which electric strike remains locked in case of a power failure?
Fail-locked strikes (models 1, e.g. 118, 116, 16W, 142U, 143, etc.) remain locked in the case of power failure. The door can only be opened until the electric strike is under power. In case of alternating current, the typical buzzing sound is heard. There is no sound when operating with direct current. In principle, such electric strikes were designed to open by an instantaneous contact, e.g. through a switch.
With which strike is a short impulse enough for the door to stay open until the first opening?
Strikes with hold-open function (models 2, e.g. 26W, 27, 128, 126, etc.) work exactly this way. Placed under power, with a closed door, the hold-open pin in the centre of the strike latch is fully engaged. The strike remains open until, by opening the door, the pin pops out.
With which strikes is it possible to assess door position and state?
The strikes with an RR marking have a built-in changeover contact, that is operated by the intruding latch bolt, thus identifying the "open" or "closed" status of the door. The contact is potential free and can be charged with a maximum voltage of 25V and a switching current of 1A.
What does the "E" marking mean with electric strikes?
The E marking indicates the mechanical unlocking function. This additional function, with the exception of high security strikes, is available only for fail-locked strikes. The unlocking lever is replaced by an adjusting screw in case of water resistant or swing door strikes. If a door closer is also installed on the door, door opening or a door remaining open due to an air blast or air pressure difference can be prevented.
 
Template title
Template header
Template content