Keyless deadbolt locks for house? (PICs)

[jagec]

I did wonder about that. What's the point of assigning two numbers to each button?

Cheaper to make, and people who aren't mathematically inclined won't understand just how much security you're giving up.:biggrin:

 

[sdifox]

Actually the OP one each bottom has two numbers, so their are only 625 combos, not 10,000.

you can assign 4-8 button combo.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

They are fine in a good neighborhood. not sure I'd trust them in a bad one.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Another thing I'd consider the non electronic ones, often seen in commercial applications. They are more rugged, and no electronics that can fail or be screwed around with. Chances are thieves buy these so they can play around with them and get to know all the different types. They can probably pry parts of it open to get to the electronics and know exactly what parts of the circuit to short out to make it unlock. Or if anyone of them happen to come with some kind of wireless fob, then they'll find a way to crack that. The simpler it is (design wise), the better. Also stronger = better. Those metal commercial ones don't really have any pry points so it's hard to try to pop the cover off or get to the internals.

Something like this:

 

[sportage]

I have 2 keyless locks. The kind/brand that allows you to re-code any manual key to work with the keyless. So you can re-key your keyless lock to work with any manually key. You also have the keyless push pad that you will use most of the time. But good to know your manual key for the other manual door(s) will also work with the keyless lock. Best of both worlds.
The bad... the keyless locks are pretty hard to align properly to smoothly slide the bolt. This is pretty much a dead bolt lock with a motor. So the lock depends on the motor to operate the bolt. If not aligned to smoothly operate, then you will have problems locking the door(s).
Some times weather or humidity can cause the alignment on doors to offset a bit. If that is an issue with a particular door, a keyless lock isn't a good idea. You want to ensure the motor will smoothly operate the bolt all the time.

And no... no one is going to figure out the code. As someone said, after 3 tries the lock beeps loudly and will not operate for 10 or so minutes. If you were sleeping and heard your lock beeping, you'd know someone was messing with it.
Also, on the better keyless locks, the device beeps a tone with every push of a button.
So you will hear someone entering their code.
And too... get the keyless locks with the light-up keypad. Much easier to operate at night.

You can set several different codes on the better locks. One main code for your family, and temporary or secondary codes for guests, the maid, a neighbor looking after your house while on vacation, the mistress. Then disable the temporary code when no longer needed. Or when you decide to dump the mistress. Without needing to recode a new master-family code that everyone has to remember. Just code in a different secondary code, give only that code to those that will need it, and disable the secondary code when no longer in use. The master family code stays the same and still operators the lock, even when a secondary code is added for temporally use.

You can buy cheap keyless locks, or keyless locks with a lot of features.
Go for the better locks with lighted keypad, and customized "manual key" re-coding.

 

[Codewiz]

I just finished installing some automation in my home.

Vera Lite
Kwikset deadbolts that use z-wave

My doors lock every night at 11pm. They also lock every morning at 7:45am. So even if I forget to lock my doors, it is taken care of. I got my deadbolts for $150 each.

As mentioned earlier, you must get the bolt lined up perfectly but it isn't that hard to do if you take your time.

 

[luv2liv]

even better: fingerprint scanner

http://www.amazon.com/iTouchless-Bio...t+scanner+lock

 

[sdifox]

even better: fingerprint scanner

http://www.amazon.com/iTouchless-Bio...t+scanner+lock

except for the whole Simon Phoenix digging out your eyeball to open the door part :biggrin:

 

[rsutoratosu]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39844-352-F...currentURL=?Ntt=satin+nickel+door+&facetInfo=

Been looking at these sets when I visit local Lowe's. $129+tax.

I have that.. its great.. my wife left her keys on the front door over night. I was like WTF, someone can make a copy of the key and put it back and rob us when we're not home. She had lost like 20 sets of keys before I got that installed.

Its also great because I give out a 9999 code to contractors and delete it when they're done. No need to issue keys and worry about key copying.

The 9V battery it uses almost last 10-12 months. Pretty good. I have not had issues with this unit, mine is almost 3 years old. When I go jogging, I dont need to bring keys, I use to worry about dropping keys and not being able to get back in. Love it..

 

[D1gger]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39844-352-F...currentURL=?Ntt=satin+nickel+door+&facetInfo=

Been looking at these sets when I visit local Lowe's. $129+tax.

We installed this model on our doors last year. Very happy with it and after a year of use, I can't see any sign that any of the numbers are showing wear or dirt.

 

[amdhunter]

I say they take it a step further and have a key-fob for your house. How cool would it be to walk out of your house, point the keyfob backwards and have the all familiar "Beep beep" emanate from your humble abode?

@ Home Depot.

 

[Jeff7]

@ Home Depot.

I bet that would be a bit cheaper if it wasn't "satin nickel."
How about some 304 stainless all up in the hizouse?

 

[Mixolydian]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_39844-352-F...currentURL=?Ntt=satin+nickel+door+&facetInfo=

Been looking at these sets when I visit local Lowe's. $129+tax.

That lock is Amazon's Deal of the Day today for only $79.

 

[Raizinman]

OP, you are wasting your time and money.

If someone wants to get inside your house, they will find a way even with your fancy $399 lock.

Not totally true! If I was a thief and saw a $399 lock on the front door, I would move on. They probably also have a $799 alarm system and other counter measures such as a video systems or such. I would move on to a house that has a $6 dead bolt. These people obviously don't care about security and their house will be easy to break in to.

 

[Raizinman]

even better: fingerprint scanner

http://www.amazon.com/iTouchless-Bio...t+scanner+lock

Naw - seen too many movies where they transfer my fingerprint from a Coke can or cup of coffee and then apply it to the sensor. Same with eye scanners. Did you not learn anything from watching Charlies Angels (movie) 30 or 40 times?

 

[LookBehindYou]

Just an fyi, amazon has keypad deadbolts as their deal of the day today:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref=cs_top_nav_gb27

 

[Raizinman]

The electronic deadbolt is now on sale through Amazon.com. Here is the link.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...5E8X0WXRDR34DV

Sorry the above guy and I posted at the same time. DUPLICATE.

 

[MixMasterTang]

I say they take it a step further and have a key-fob for your house. How cool would it be to walk out of your house, point the keyfob backwards and have the all familiar "Beep beep" emanate from your humble abode?

Actually my electronic lock came with 2 key fobs. I've had it installed for about 6 months and have had 0 issues with it.

 

[MixMasterTang]

4 digit code = 10,000 combos

It would be easier to figure out how to use a paperclip...

All of my codes are 6 digits which makes for many more combos , and I believe it locks out for a while after 5 failed attempts.

 

[hanoverphist]

I always laugh at the deadbolt on my front door which is made mostly of frosted glass...

i always told my mom the same thing. our back door had a half window in it, and a deadbolt with keys on both sides like the front door. turns out that when we did get robbed, they came in a window and couldnt get the doors open, so only got away with a few things they could shove through a window.


i actually do industrial control programming, ive been working on collecting the parts to automate my house in this way. i already have the PLC to control it all, a bunch of limit/ prox switches and such. i also have most of the solenoids i need, as well as some buzzers for alarming if there is unauthorized attempts. im just waiting on some good wireless leftovers to start working on getting it all set up. i have a small OIT i want to mount by my door for the kids to use to log in and get inside as well. should be a fun project. if it works.

 

[hanoverphist]

Not totally true! If I was a thief and saw a $399 lock on the front door, I would move on. They probably also have a $799 alarm system and other counter measures such as a video systems or such. I would move on to a house that has a $6 dead bolt. These people obviously don't care about security and their house will be easy to break in to.

but, the 6 dollar deadbolt house wont have the goodies the $399 lock house has. and besides, all you have to do is go to the back or side of the house, that is usually the weak point of entry anyway. and usually a bit more shrouded from street view. yes, i had a bit of a fractured childhood, i used to get into houses using all kinds of different ways that left no damage, let alone traces. only thing that really stops a casual criminal from stopping at your house other than the neighbors is really a dog or an obvious alarm. if a pro wants in your house, none of those things will keep them out. but chances are, if you have a pro interested in getting into your house, you have something they want and are protecting it a bit more than i protect my popsicle stick art collection.

 

[BUTCH1]

I say they take it a step further and have a key-fob for your house. How cool would it be to walk out of your house, point the keyfob backwards and have the all familiar "Beep beep" emanate from your humble abode?

Hopefully no one gets smart enough to hack it, it would suck to have someone carrying a $60 tablet break your system and get in. I'm not smart enough to tell if this is possible or not, but I'd hate to find out the hard way..

 

[wirednuts]

even better: fingerprint scanner

http://www.amazon.com/iTouchless-Bio...t+scanner+lock

thats awesome. i want it! i like the key code ones but this would be even better.

 

[bignateyk]

If you're only replacing ONE lock...and don't mind having different keys for each lock...maybe. To me, that's a pain in the ass. I'd rather have one key for all my doors instead of "this key for the front door lockset, this key for the dead bolt, that key for the side door, this key for the door into the garage, etc."

Little known fact: All door locks in the same box at lowes or HD have the same key. They do this so people can buy a whole box and have all their keys match.

Downside is that if you only buy one lock there are probably a dozen other people who have the same lock/key as you

 

[JimKiler]

So the consensus among us owners of keyless deadbolts is they are awesome and easily worth the price.

The only downside and this is from my home builder but they do not work in cold weather all the time. I live in MN when it can get below zero fahrenheit and i assume that can cause issues so I had the builder put it in the garage, so as long as the power does not go out i can get in my house without a key and we love it. if we are outside and decide to go for walk we can hit the lock button and not have to grab a set of keys.