Electronic Deadbolt....

[xJoey Dubsx]

What do you guys think of them?

Thinking it would be convenient to have, specially when you are in a rush, cold or have your hands full.

Anyone have one?

Recommendations?

Bad experiences?

 

[SmokeyBC]

Had one on my old house, when the kids lived at home, very handy, no problems.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have one, bought mainly because my wife has arthritic issues. It makes it easier for her to get into the house versus twisting a key. I also changed the doorknob to a lever handle. We all love it. I have been thinking of installing one on my shop. The code can be different for different people, which allows you to give a code to a workman for a day, then change it later, all the while shielding your normal code for entry. I also have a code set the same as my son's house so my 7 year old grandaughter can quickly open the door for my wife when she picks her up to visit.

 

[Elvenhome21]

My girlfriend has the door knob style keypad. its pretty nice considering you never need keys, however it set in "always locked" mode when you close the door so you always have to enter the code to get in. Which has its benefits sometimes.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Beyond the lock being nice in general, it makes things pretty seamless for my wife. She can exit the house, push a button to lock up, get into her car, push a button to start, get to work, enter using a proximity card, leave work, push a button to unlock the car, a button to start the car, come home, push a code to enter, all without digging in her purse for keys. I also installed a Delta touch faucett in the kitchen and a touch/proximity faucett in the bath. A happy wife is a happy life.

 

[Autorotica]

We have them on all the outside doors to the home. No matter what door I walk up to I can always get in...

Love it!
Chris

 

[BearCuda]

Do they have batteries that might die or what?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Mine uses 4 AA batteries. If they get weak, the buttons flash red on activation to let you know.

 

[dsimatt]

I woulda got one when i put in my new front door last month but i wanna wait a year or so for the prices to come down on the wifi ones so i can control it with my phone when i'm not there.

 

[willf650]

I have one on my front door I put in about 4 months ago. I bought it as a way to let a dog walker in when my girlfriend started a new job. I opted for one with a z wave interface and also bought a vera lite to monitor it. I wanted to keep track of the dog walker and I set up an alert that texts me when her code is used. It's a slick package as you can add codes on the fly and open the door via the web or smart phone.

You might want to opt for one with a z wave option if you ever have asperations of automating anything in your home in the future.

I also have a door knob with a keypad for the door that enters from the garage. I bought this one 8 months prior to the deadbolt. I locked myself and had to break into my own house. I'll never own a home with out atleat one key coded door again.

My oldest one is about a hear old and haven't had to change batteries yet. The knob is powered by a 9 volt and the deadbolt by 4 AA.

 

[SMKS]

There are a couple different designs.

It appears the kind the OP pictured has a motor that moves the deadbolt. I don't like that style as much. I prefer the style where there is a thumb turn that is engaged/disengaged when you enter the code.

http://consumer.schlage.com/products/pages/productdetails.aspx?ModelNumber=BE365 CAM 619

I like Emtek hardware, but I would strongly encourage you to stay away from their electronic locks. I bought two through Handlesets.com and neither worked properly. handlesets.com majorly screwed up the rekeying, too. Emtek's customer service was basically no help, because the locks just didn't work right. I had to return them and it was a big hassle.

If I bought one now I would get the Schlage I linked to above.

 

[Pate]

I sell locks and have the Schlage BE series on my own home. They are reliable and have a long battery life. I got 4 years on the original set.

 

[cparcell]

im looking for a key pad to remote mount and control a deadbolt so i can secure my gun-valuables closet without drawing attention from the exterior. Currently the idea is two closet locks at the top electronically controlled with a dead bolt in the center and and two closet locks on the bottom.

 

[Thumper68]

We have the door knob versions on the front door and the basement door, the best part is that the kids don't have keys to lose. I have also set a code for guests and workmen, nice that your guests can get in.

 

[Pate]

im looking for a key pad to remote mount and control a deadbolt so i can secure my gun-valuables closet without drawing attention from the exterior. Currently the idea is two closet locks at the top electronically controlled with a dead bolt in the center and and two closet locks on the bottom.

This is a good brand at decent pricing.

http://ieib.com/stand_alone_access_control.php

 

[ambenz]

Got one on every outside access door....garage too.
It is a godsend...I don't know how many times I had to go get the hidden key from being locked out of the house...never had to go get that key since....and am never locked out.
Usually, the batteries will last about 3 months or more.
We can give a preprogrammed temporary code to the neighbors if we are away and we need them to go check on something inside the home.
When we get home, we can program a new temp code for a future emergency and rest assured the neighbors can't get back in without our permission.
No keys to pass out or loose...."priceless!"

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have a Schlage on the back door and the shop door. Not the deadbolt, but the regular door knob/lock. Uses 9v battery on the inside, I change them at the same time in the fall I change the smoke detector batteries. I like them because they have ten separate buttons, and not the dual numbered buttons like some I've seen.

Its worth it not to have another key on the key ring.

Lots of arguments opposing them. One friend said the commonly used buttons would get dirty and reveal the code to a criminal. The buttons are Teflon coated or something that never gets dirty, and if you screw up three times it makes you wait 30 seconds to try again. Someone else worried the batteries would go dead, but I head that off with the yearly changes in the fall. Someone else said that I'd use a easily figured out code, but I avoid stuff like the last 4 digits of MY phone number, street address, etc. I do use the last 4 digits of other people's phone number however when I need to set it up for cat caretaker, GF, buddy using the shop, etc, to get in.

Charles

 

[machine_punk]

We had a big thread on this a few months ago.

I love them. I have the Schlage models (one on the main door and one on the door between the house and the garage). I hate having to carry keys.

You can set up to 19 codes. If you have a housekeeper, she can have her own code for as long as she works for you. If you have a repairman coming, you can put in a temporary code and let them in for a day, then turn off the code the next day. No kids losing keys (but you do have to train them to NEVER give the code out).

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Kev

 

[James-W]

We don't have one, but I bowl with a guy who does. He says it was probably the nicest thing he ever bought.

 

[wrench409]

Are these electronic locks 'bump' key resistant?

 

[gatchel]

Most of the newer electronic locks are just as bump resistant as the next one. They use the same cylinders that are used by normal locks.

Now how bump resistant are they, that depends on who you ask. If someone wants in, they'll get in with or without a lock bump key.

 

[jeffmoss26]

All depends on the cylinder...

 

[dsimatt]

Most of the newer electronic locks are just as bump resistant as the next one. They use the same cylinders that are used by normal locks.

Now how bump resistant are they, that depends on who you ask. If someone wants in, they'll get in with or without a lock bump key.

Locks are for honest people, why waste time picking a lock when most doors you could smash out the glass and reach in and unlock it.

 

[FarmerPete]

I have one of these http://www.kwikset.com/SmartSecurity/electronic-locks/Powerbolt.aspx installed on my house door inside the garage. It sticks every once in awhile, but that's my only real complaint. I've considered getting one of the ones that doesn't have the motor, since then I wouldn't have to worry about the deadbolt sticking. Unfortunately, the powerbolt locks adds screw holes to the door that wouldn't be covered if I went with a new style lock. So now I have to either keep the lock that doesn't always work, replace the lock with an old style lock that may or may not work, replace the lock with a new lock and leave exposed sharp holes (metal door), or replace the door and get a new lock. Seems like a loose loose loose situation.

 

[Dieselbeast65]

I bought a fully mechanical deadbolt for my pole barn, it's new so I can't really tell how reliable now. It seems like good quality initially.

 

[fiveohpatrol]

I have the Schlage one too and love it. I thought it was a little pricey at first, but it's definitely worth it for the convenience.

 

[JordonMusser]

I have one as well and love it.

Going to a Zwave version with the new garage/house