Why do these Folger Adam hinges have wires?

[Squelchtone]

take a look at these Folger Adam hinges with wires attached to them: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Folger-Adam-El ... 2419590544

Can someone explain what these hinges are supposed to do?

Do they actually lock together or unlock via a solenoid or other method to keep someone from opening a door, or are they just to indicate real time position of the door to let someone (like a guard in a control room) remotely know if a door is shut, ajar, open half way or open wide? IF this is the case, then how do the hinges work? a rheostat/potentiometer?

Thank you,
Squelchtone

[GWiens2001]

To alert the tower control room if the door is open. Door open when it shouldn't be open - send in goon squad to get the inmates under control.

Gordon

[Jacob Morgan]

Looking at the second picture, it looks like the wires may go in one hinge and out the other. May be this item: http://www.southernfolger.com/Folger_Adam_4_1-2_EH_Hinge.pdf

[GWiens2001]

That looks like it. Interesting that it is non load bearing.

I do know that the control towers I have seen show when a door is open, as well as having the ability to lock/unlock the doors. Guess the ‘door open’ switch would be built in with the electronically controlled lock.

Gordon

[Jacob Morgan]

I think the idea would be that the top and bottom hinge would be load bearing and the middle one would carry wires--probably the concept behind this hinge is simply to keep wires totally inside the hinge so they cannot be tampered with. Probably for this sort of lock: http://www.southernfolger.com/10600_Institutional_Mortise_Lock.pdf

To the OP's question about combining a door-open sensor with a hinge, that is probably not what this is, but it would be a clever approach to putting an alarm sensor on a door. There would be absolutely no way to know it was there, even testing for concealed magnets, or examining an open door / door frame, would not give it away. A miniature optical encoder would be perfect--no moving parts, although it would need a circuit board mounted elsewhere to read the encoder and operate a small relay. There would be no casing the joint for that sensor.

[stratmando]

They do make locks that can be controlled remotely with the wires, also show the status if it is open/closed/locked.
I like recessed magnetic contacts, as far as someone knowing it is there may not Help. I like to add a second reed switch, one works with the magnet to show the door open or closed, the second one close to the first one, but not so close the magnet triggers it, This way if some one was looking for the contact with a compass or whatever, then applying a magnet, it will trigger the alarm, it would be a 24 hour always on, should never see a magnet unless someone is up to something. Zone could be called "Magnet Detector"?
I like to not just keep Honest people Honest, but Keep Dishonest people Honest?

[jimu57]

Its a butt hinge. Gives you the red ass.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[ltdbjd]

The hinge is just like a commercial electrified hinge; it carries current from the door to a power source. A good example is a hardwired panic bar, or a door mounted lock (such as the 10600 listed in another post). You can route the wire to and from the device through the door, but have to get it into the wall without getting it pinched when the door is closed. The electrified hinge does that; it bridges the gap between the door and frame, and protects the wire.

As for door indication, there are two types: Locked/unlocked and open/closed. The locked/unlocked signal can come from a switch inside the lock (e.g. Folger Adam 120E or Southern Steel 10120E), or it can come from a push button or lever switch in the strike.

The open/closed indication typically comes from either a magnetic contact, or a door position switch.

Depending on the facility, they may be wired in parallel, indicate separately, or may be wired in series, so either locked/unlocked or open/closed will signal the control center.

[Squelchtone]

Thank you guys for helping me understand how these work, so much good info from all of you!

Squelchtone

[dll932]

We have a good number of electrified locks with wired hinges. I don't like them. Much rather have a door loop. The wires in the hinges break under constant use.