This 12VDC Solenoid Door Lock is a compact, robust electronic locking mechanism designed for automated security setups. Operating on a simple pull-solenoid principle, it features an iron core bolt that retracts immediately when a 12V pulse is applied, allowing a door, drawer, or lid to open. It is a favorite among makers and engineers for building smart cabinets, automated lockers, and low-voltage security enclosures.

Specifications

• Operating Voltage: 12V DC
• Operating Current: Approximately 0.6A to 0.8A (at 12V)
• Power Consumption: ~9.6W
• Lock Bolt Stroke (Travel Distance): 4mm to 5mm
• Unlocked Duration: Designed for intermittent triggering (<10>
• Body Dimensions: 31mm x 16mm x 15mm (L x W x H, excluding the latch bolt)
• Latch Bolt Dimensions: Extends roughly 7mm to 8mm from the housing body
• Wire Length: Standard 2-wire lead (approx. 10cm–15cm) with a termination connector (often XH-2.54)

Key Features

• Fail-Secure Operation (Normally Locked): The lock remains securely extended (locked) by an internal steel spring when power is turned off. It only retracts (unlocks) when 12VDC is actively supplied.
• Ultra-Compact Footprint: Measuring just 31x16x15mm, it fits easily inside narrow drawer slides, small jewelry boxes, or custom 3D-printed closures.
• 4-Way Adjustable Latch Orientation: The small beveled latch bolt can be unbolted, rotated in 90-degree increments, and re-secured, allowing you to configure it for left-handed, right-handed, top, or bottom-slamming doors.
• Slotted Mounting Holes: The outer chassis features small threaded or pass-through holes, making it easy to align precisely with your strike plate during physical installation.

Mechanism of Operation

• Power Off (Default State): An internal return spring pushes the iron core latch outward. If a door slams shut, the chamfered (beveled) edge allows the latch to retract mechanically and then snap back out into the strike plate, locking the door without electrical power.
• Power On (Energized State): Driving 12V DC through the internal copper coil creates a strong magnetic field. This electromagnetic force pulls the iron core inward into the solenoid body, compressing the spring and releasing the door latch.

Common Applications

• Smart Lockers & Parcel Delivery Boxes: Building RFID or keypad-accessible public locker grids.
• Automated Vending Machines: Dispensing products securely upon digital payment confirmation.
• Smart Home Furniture: Hidden drawers or gun safes triggered via Bluetooth, fingerprint scanners, or home automation systems.
• Robotics & DIY Projects: Building automated sorting traps or remote-controlled containment systems using Arduino, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi.

Interfacing and Driving Tips

• Do Not Hold Power Open Continuous: Solenoids are essentially electromagnets and act like high-current inductors. If you leave power applied to this tiny lock for more than 10 seconds at a time, the copper coil will quickly overheat, degrade the wire insulation, and melt or burn out. Keep your software unlock pulse brief (e.g., 500ms to 2 seconds is plenty of time for a user to open a latch).
• Flyback Diode Requirement: When the microcontroller cuts power to the solenoid, the collapsing magnetic field creates a massive reverse-voltage spike (flyback voltage). You must solder a flyback diode (such as a standard 1N4007) in parallel with the solenoid wires (Anode to Negative supply, Cathode to Positive supply) to prevent frying your driving circuit.
• Transistor/Relay Drive: A microcontroller pin (which outputs ~20mA) cannot drive this 800mA solenoid directly. You must use a relay module, an N-channel MOSFET (like the IRF540N), or a power transistor (like the TIP120) along with an external 12V power supply to handle the current load safely.