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How does the 'Master-key' functionality work?
 
Overview
The 'Master Key' functionality is mainly developed for 'standalone' charging stations (without a back office) and offers an easy way to add charge cards to the whitelist.
One RFID card is set up as the 'Master Key'.
This 'Master Key' can then be used to control access for other users, without having to use the ACE Service Installer.
 
If the card is programmed as 'Master Key', it can no longer be used as a charging card.

It is possible to set up a Master Key for every Alfen charging station. For a location with multiple charging stations, the administrator of the location can use a single Master Key to manage access to all charging stations.

To use this function, the authorization method must be set to RFID and the Master Key functionality must be enabled.
There are two ways you can set the Master Key as follows:

On site with the ACE Service Installer
Use ACE Service Installer Setup (for NG platform), this program can be downloaded from alfen.com/downloads. 
Under 'How to obtain login information for the ACE Service Installer configuration tool' you will find information about how to apply for an account.

  1. In the ACE Service Installer, go to the 'Authorization' tab.
     
  2. Select 'Master key' in the left menu.
     
  3. Change the 'Master key mode' to 'Enabled'.
     
  4. Save the configuration.

     
  5. Next, click on ‘Whitelist’ in the menu on the left side.
     
  6. Select the Tag you want to change to use as a master key.
     
  7. Click the edit-symbol

     
  8. A pop-up opens.
     
  9. Select ‘Master Key’ from the Status menu
     
  10. Click ‘Ok’


    This Tag can now be used as a Master Key and can no longer be used as a Charging Pass.
     

Remotely via a back office

  1. Go to the Configuration tab in the back office.
     
  2. Change the 'MasterKey-isEnabled' parameter to 'True'.
     
  3. Save the configuration.

 

Add a new charge card to the whitelist with the Master Key
Once the functionality is activated, you can add charge cards to the charging station's whitelist. 
This is done as follows:
  1. Hold the Master Key in front of the card reader on the charging station
     
  2. Remove master Key from card reader on the charging station
     
  3. Hold new charge card in front of card reader on the charging station

After this operation has been performed, you can use the charge card you just added on the charging station (without further use of the Master Key).

 
Removing the charge card from the whitelist with the Master Key
To remove a charge card, you can follow the exact same steps as mentioned before. The charging station will recognize that the charge card has already been added to the 'whitelist' and therefore will remove it from the 'whitelist'.
After this operation has been performed, the user can no longer use the charge card on the charging station.
Keywords: Master-key, Master, RFID, Card, Masterkey.