Residential combination locks

[Tech Guy]

There has been some threads lately in free parking and general discussion about combination locks for the house.

We install quite a few of these on both residential and commercial and have found them to be the best units so far. Made by Schlage, has rubber keys with a coating that does not show the dirt on the numbers and does not fade. Takes about 15 minutes to isntall and has multiple codes. Also uses the deadbolt from the Schlage B600 series which is there heavy duty unit. This does not use nylon gears like the power bolt to retract the deadbolt but instead uses a solenoid to engage the outer thumb turn. Interior thumb turn is always active for exit. Outer one spins until engaged by the proper code. To lock, just press the schlage button and turn the knob. To unlock, enter code and turn. At night, pressing the schlage button first backlights the keys in a neon blue. Also has a key override.

I have one that faces the sun almost all day long and after a year no fading issues on the keys at all. Strong unit and the kids havent managed to break it yet.

Just thought I would pass this on for anyone interested.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I have a couple of these, and love 'em!

Mark

 

[-B-]

Just do not buy them at the big box store are they are of lesser quality to meet price restrictions buy them at the local lumber yard or other resource.

 

[rcleaver]

What happens when the battery dies. Do they still work?

 

[Torque1st]

When the batteries get low on my unit it will beep just like a smoke detector. They do not fail overnight. My key will still work the lock also. My unit is a Weiser and has been on the door for almost 20 years now. It s not as sophisticated as the Schlage units but it has worked well.

 

[hldtyt]

How good are these locks at preventing "lock bumping"?

 

[Torque1st]

The combination portion which is electronic is not subject to "bumping". They all have a regular pin type lock in them tho. Pin or "Key" them properly and they are difficult to "bump". Lock bumping is just another rather poor method of picking a lock we have heard a lot about recently. Don't worry about it. If you are paranoid have a locksmith install a high quality lock and pin it properly.

I can pick many locks almost as fast as you can use your key but then I was trained by a master locksmith and have some tools to use. He has some very sophisticated tools but he rarely has to resort to them.

 

[Pingatpro]

How good are these locks at preventing "lock bumping"?

What does lock bumping really mean.. I have heard the term used but not having the criminal mind I don't understand how it works.

 

[Torque1st]

Ping, see my post above.

 

[e-tek]

What does lock bumping really mean.. I have heard the term used but not having the criminal mind I don't understand how it works.

Google it- you'll get a full lesson on how it's done, how to do it, how to guard against it.


Ps - Thanks Tech Guy for the useful info. I was trying to decide wether to get these or the finger-print types. But another poster said the FP types are poor - guess I know which to get now!

 

[Tech Guy]

Just do not buy them at the big box store are they are of lesser quality to meet price restrictions buy them at the local lumber yard or other resource.

Unfortunately B your statement does not apply to these electronic locks. The same version is sold to both big box stores and locksmiths and lumber yards. It does however apply to the standard key locks.

 

[Tech Guy]

What happens when the battery dies. Do they still work?

As Torgue mentioned, the unit beeps for almost a week once the batteries start getting low and it will continue to work during this time. As well it has a key override in the event the battery goes completely dead.

 

[Tech Guy]

How good are these locks at preventing "lock bumping"?

You guys really need to get this lock bumping out of your heads as its misleading. As I mentioned in other posts, lock bumping does not work on all locks. Only the locks that have chambers pinned close to each other. Bumping is another term for picking but using a filed down key. If the cylinder is pinned correclty you will not be able to bump it.

 

[Tech Guy]

What does lock bumping really mean.. I have heard the term used but not having the criminal mind I don't understand how it works.

Ok a lock cylinder contains 5 or 6 chambers in the body of the cylinder and the same amount of chambers in the core of the lock (where you put your key). The lock has a shear line which is between the core chambers and the body chambers. The bottom pins located in the core correspond to the cuts in your key. The top chambers in the body of the lock contain flat pins and springs. When a key is removed, the springs force the pins down into the core thus stopping the lock from turning. When you put a correct key into the lock, all the pins line up along the shear line and allow the lock to turn. If the chambers are pinned close together such as 54565 then it is subject to bumping which uses a filed down key to bump the pins into place along the shear line. This filed down key also provides the torgue to turn the cylinder when they reach the shear line.

If a lock is pinned lets say 69272 then trying to bump these pins into place wont happen. Yes you can still pick it but need the skill and tools to do it.

 

[Tech Guy]

Google it- you'll get a full lesson on how it's done, how to do it, how to guard against it.


Ps - Thanks Tech Guy for the useful info. I was trying to decide wether to get these or the finger-print types. But another poster said the FP types are poor - guess I know which to get now!

No problem E-Tek. I have clients that have issues with the biometric type for various reasons. Those locks are a scaled down version or our high security biometric readers. The high security ones work excellent in most conditions. The residential type have trouble with dirty fingers, temperature outside (as they read body heat to activate), knarled up fingers from arthritis and cuts on the fingers etc.

I have used these Schlage units in some commercial jobs to keep the cost down and they still function. Plus with my kids and the sun beating on them all day long they have stood up pretty good. I think you will like this one.

 

[ddawg16]

I have a close friend who installed a biometric lock about a year ago....no issues. But he has it on a side door that gets the most common use....so, if it 'did' give him a problem, he still has the key as well as the front door.

What he likes about it is that at night (not uncommon for us to get in around 3am) he doesn't have to fumble with keys....just grab the handle and open....he can also program in family members so they can get access without having to keep a key. I believe it also has a feature where you can allow someone acces for say a day or week and then they are locked out after that point.

I think I might go this way....especially since my kids don't carry keys.....

 

[Tech Guy]

DDAWG, some people like the biometric and some people dont. Our high security ones that we use in gov buildings and police stations work fantastic. It will be the way of the future for sure. People just have to get their head around the fact that these units do not store the fingerprints in any way. This is what is turning some people off as they feel its a privacy and identity issue, but since they dont store the prints, there is no issue. The lock I showed pics of has multiple codes and a one time code for people like maids or a neighbour letting in a delivery guy etc. You can have multiple codes too which is nice as you can then delete one without deleting the others. The main benefit over the biometric is you dont need the persons finger to program in a code for their use. Just slap in the code and off you go. The back light feature is great at night. Hit the button and the keypad lights up for a few seconds. As the residential biometrics are still fairly new, I personally would hold off a bit until the bugs are worked out.

 

[ovilla]

I have one of these as well, installed in the door between my garage and the house. I like the fact that you never have to remember whether or not you locked the door on your way out. Also, if you're really worried about "lock bumping" I know a lot of companies also sell these set up for use without keys. They just install a blank so there's no lock to pick or bump. This isn't a bad thing either as long as you change the batteries within the first week or two when the key pad starts flashing red.

 

[Torque1st]

I have one of these as well, installed in the door between my garage and the house. I like the fact that you never have to remember whether or not you locked the door on your way out. Also, if you're really worried about "lock bumping" I know a lot of companies also sell these set up for use without keys. They just install a blank so there's no lock to pick or bump. This isn't a bad thing either as long as you change the batteries within the first week or two when the key pad starts flashing red.

If someone is paranoid about lock bumping they can always fill the key passage in a standard unit with silicone RTV and nobody will be using a key to operate it. They can always replace the cylinder later.

I don't know how long my Weiser unit beeps when the batteries need replaced. I have never let it go for more than a day. Most of the time since the Weiser unit is motorized and I can hear when the motor is a little sluggish I just replace the batteries then. I don't think the motor vs solenoid issue is of much importance since my unit is almost 20 years old and gets used a dozen times or more a day with no problems.

 

[DamMan]

I have a close friend who installed a biometric lock about a year ago....no issues. But he has it on a side door that gets the most common use....so, if it 'did' give him a problem, he still has the key as well as the front door.

What he likes about it is that at night (not uncommon for us to get in around 3am) he doesn't have to fumble with keys....just grab the handle and open....he can also program in family members so they can get access without having to keep a key. I believe it also has a feature where you can allow someone acces for say a day or week and then they are locked out after that point.

I think I might go this way....especially since my kids don't carry keys.....

DDawg,

Do you have any more information on the brand and model of your friend's biometric lock? I tried the keypad garage door outside remotes and the family didn't like them as well as my recently installed biometric garage door outside remotes. Only time will tell if the garage door fingerprint reader is durable but I would like to find out up front if there is a good brand of personnel door biometric locks.

DamMan

 

[pgreen]

I have a Schlage keypad entry lock on my shop out back. Love it. Never get out there and remember my key is in the house still. Don't have a key stuck in the siding right next to the door anymore. Never forget to lock the door either.

I have had mine about a year, and will be putting one on the house sometime soon. From memory, it was about $100. I have the silver (brushed stainless look) one.

 

[Tech Guy]

I think the price is now about $160.00 CDN for the Schlage locks.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

My shop is a metal building. It has "commercial" man doors on it, which I think have different dimensions on the lock cut out and size. Does Schlage make a keypad entry lock for this type of door?

Charles

 

[Tech Guy]

Yes they do. Your sizes are as follows. Residential has a backset of 2 3/8. Commercial is 2 3/4. Bore size for locks is sometimes 1 1/2 on residential and 2 1/8 on commercial. The Schlage lock has a universal adjustable backset.