Emergency Door Release for Cooler

[HomeRaised]

I have spent most of the winter devising a way in which my cooler door would open in the event of power failure or if the cooling unit shelled out causing the temp to rise. What I came up with I have tested every day so far and have yet to find an issue with it. I have about $150 invested in the release and thought it would be of value for others.

I have a homemade cooler room with 2X6 construction and a range of R19 to R42 insulation thru-out. The door to my room is a standard insulated 36" residential entry door that can be bought from Lowes, Menards, Home Depot, etc for less than $100.

The release consists of three components.
1) Electromagnet  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UKZ31U/ref=pe_385040_127541860_TE_3p_dp_1
2) Heater Thermostat    [url=http://www.qcsupply.com/10048-corrosion-resistant-thermostat.html]http://www.qcsupply.com/10048-corrosion-resistant-thermostat.html[/url]
3) Commercial Door Closer [url=http://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/door-window-cabinet-hardware/cabinet-decor-hardware/home-security-hardware/exterior-door-closer-with-mounting-brackets/p-1486723-c-7595.htm]http://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/door-window-cabinet-hardware/cabinet-decor-hardware/home-security-hardware/exterior-door-closer-with-mounting-brackets/p-1486723-c-7595.htm[/url]

I removed the latch from the door and mounted the electromagnet to the door in a way that it would hold the door shut. The electromagnet is wired thru the heater thermostat with a 14/3 extension cord. Finally the door closer is mounted on the exterior of the door to work opposite of its intended purpose. Instead of closing a door it pulls the door open. you can still pull the door open with the magnet turned on, but the door closer cannot open the door with the magnet on.  The door closer I have is a size 5.

I will post pictures of the components and also try to get a video of it posted here for you also.

 

[HomeRaised]

I have a video posted to our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pudenzshow.cattle?fref=nf

 

[HomeRaised]

Pictures

 

[RedChuck]

Thats pretty smart. is that linked up to your cell phone?

 

[HomeRaised]

Its not hooked up to call or notify me at all. The way i am thinking, if I get a power failure, the door opens and they live. If the unit goes out and it starts getting hot in there, the fans keep running,the doors opens and they live. I work out of my house 75% of the time, so the 25% is what I am really managing for.

I used to work in hog confinements where the curtains would fall with power outages and high temps. They usually have a phone alert system, but I didn't take that step. I am not sure of the cost of a telular system to call out, but there may be a system that could be synced in into my wifi for alerts also.

I also made sure that the door sings freely and doesnt bind or catch. It seals very well, but the sweeps on the bottom are not real tight.

 

[cowboy_nyk]

Really cool set-up (pun not intended).  Props for the creativity and ingenuity to make it happen.