Those who use digital lock lip lai

[TMBagain]

Going for 3 weeks long holiday.

Any issues leaving the batteries in the digital lock while unused for 3 weeks?

The question as-is is odd if you are already using a digital lock for a while. Perhaps you have something more to add to the question? What (bad) things are you (sort of) expecting to happen in those three weeks? Perhaps you have an analogy of other scenarios that you are superimposing on a digital lock scenario (eg. some say you must start the car once in a while if you are away for long periods).

I don't think anything will happen in 3 weeks unless the lock has been problematic last few months or if your batteries are near the tail end of use.

 

[TMBagain]

I'm looking into installing a digital lock (first time) and wanted to know if the sound that these locks make when opened/closed can be shut off during specific times for example? My wife is a very light sleeper and when I go to work at night, I'd prefer if the lock doesn't make any digital sound if i have to open or lock the door. Any recommendations for light sleepers?

As far as I know, there is no feature for time scheduling of lock sound (tones). I may not know all locks but I will be very surprised if this feature made it to the lock design requirements.

 

[saidean]

As far as I know, there is no feature for *time* scheduling of lock sound (tones). I may not know all locks but I will be very surprised if this feature made it to the lock design requirements.

Thanks for the reply.. Then it has to be manually done. Does anyone use the yale locks and can I find out if the yale app allows adjusting the volume of the lock chime so that I can for example lower that volume before I go out at night?

 

[TMBagain]

Thanks for the reply.. Then it has to be manually done. Does anyone use the yale locks and can I find out if the yale app allows adjusting the volume of the lock chime so that I can for example lower that volume before I go out at night?

Almost all digital locks have sound control (be it a physical switch and/or in-app setting like my Lockin S30 Pro). That certainly applies to Yale as well. To have a more specific answer, one needs to drill down to the Yale lock model. But generally yes, there is sound control (incl mute). App-based-only tone volume control for Yale may require you to buy a separate Bluetooth module.

PS. All digital lock generate a mechanical sound (from the latch and the bolt, two separate mechanisms) that is not within your control compared to one's tight hand control for a regular key lock. Depending on what you currently have to do to stay silent during exit, you may have to focus on the mechanical aspect. Look for clutch based, handle lever type. Or a small rim or deadbolt that only has the bolting sound but not the latch sound.

 

[TMBagain]

Thanks! My door to gate clearance is around ~7.5 cm, but the door to gate handle is only around 2.6cm or so. I've found some mortise locks which are under 8cm including handle but its too tight for the rest of the body since the gate handle is positioned directly above the current door handle.

Those measurements are not challenging if you (or the vendor/ installer*) are not picky about the vertical location of the lock ie. displaced it downwards such that the gate handle when turned down does not hit the digital lock handle. The degree of displacement and amount of gaps (if at all) depends very much on your current gate handle and door holes displacement. For example my Lockin S30 Pro have a 22mm front and a 65mm handle depth. And if I turn the gate handle, I would have to move down the lock down by 20mm. In my case, the issue is not there because my gate handle is in the center. Or leave the gate open like some of us. (*not all vendor / installer like extra work and uncertainty , so take as many photos and measurements so the vendor can make an informed assessment).

I did find a slim door lock being sold in SG as Luxus Atlas Digital door lock but it seems like it's just a chinese OEM (called Keyplus KX2 if anyone is interested), so I'm reluctant to trust the quality. Do you have any recommendations for a similar slim mortise door lock?

There is nothing wrong with OEM and Chinese OEM per se. Almost all international brand names are manufactured by Chinese OEM lock manufacturers. But there are many lock manufacturers in China (some say a few hundreds) and you are right to say one must do due diligence and it can be very difficult to assess. TUYA platform based locks (like the Luxus model you mentioned) generally attract the less known lock manufacturers and they can be cheaply made. It is an issue (perhaps my biased perception? and not a rule ) that not only affects locks but all the home automation devices that use Tuya. It is not a rule - I know of cheap China locks that last longer than very established brands. Cheaply made does not mean they won't last.

That particular Luxus model caught my attention. I have the following comments:

• slimness of 11mm of the touch panel is countered by the usual protruding handle that is half (or more) of the entire the body length. I cannot appreciate slimness being the main highlight in the above context
  
  
• the rear handle is inverted. It is odd in this industry but I guess I can get used to it. I concluded that it has something to do with the integrated lithium battery (you cannot put it lower because there is a shaft that goes through the lower body). The handle base accomodates the battery and hence the handle is inverted to the top. Just my guess but it is odd (to me) for this acrobatics to support a half height slim body
  
  
• the integrated lithium seems* not removable and the entire lock operations runs off that battery.... I am not sure the design had considered how human behaves (not always perfect)

Update: I found the Luxus's OEM manufacturer: ZHUHAI MITALY INNOVATIONS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD with it's own housebrand called KeyPlus. Not a top tier manufacturer in a sea of 1300+ manufacturers in China. Personally, I will not get a "built-in" rechargeable type of battery lock (for safety reasons) from a lower tier manufacturer. Also, in the event you have to get a locksmith to break the lock (by drill), be sure to tell the locksmith where the built in battery is (which is the top half) to avoid fireworks when the battery is punctured.

 

[sPacEmAn_sPiFf]

Users of Yale gate + door locks with synchronized unlocking

1. Can u keep the main door open with the gate locked? I know this is not possible for some brands as the lock will keep reminding u that the main door is not locked.

2. From inside the house, can u open the main door without unlocking the gate? This allows you to open the main door to talk to a stranger without opening the gate

if there are other brands which can do the above, please recommend. Thanks

 

[otacon]

Users of Yale gate + door locks with synchronized unlocking

1. Can u keep the main door open with the gate locked? I know this is not possible for some brands as the lock will keep reminding u that the main door is not locked.

2. From inside the house, can u open the main door without unlocking the gate? This allows you to open the main door to talk to a stranger without opening the gate

if there are other brands which can do the above, please recommend. Thanks

1. There will be alert to remind u to lock the door
2. There is a button on main door lock to unlock just the main door but gate have to use the common button to unlock both

 

[otacon]

I'm looking into installing a digital lock (first time) and wanted to know if the sound that these locks make when opened/closed can be shut off during specific times for example? My wife is a very light sleeper and when I go to work at night, I'd prefer if the lock doesn't make any digital sound if i have to open or lock the door. Any recommendations for light sleepers?

U can switch off the sound on the lock but I was unable to switch off the sound for main door as the app controls the gate lock which controls the main door

Even though u turn off the locks alerts, there is the sound of the physical lock turning, can be quite loud too especially at night cos my cat can hear it from his room

 

[sPacEmAn_sPiFf]

1. There will be alert to remind u to lock the door
2. There is a button on main door lock to unlock just the main door but gate have to use the common button to unlock both

Thanks for the reply

1. Will the alert stop after a while or can be turned off?

 

[cloudangel]

There's a philips digital lock booth at Comex... if u guys are free, can go down take a look.

I just purchased a 9200 + gatelock there yesterday

 

[VonDeVous]

There's a philips digital lock booth at Comex... if u guys are free, can go down take a look.

I just purchased a 9200 + gatelock there yesterday

good deal? do u have to tell them your current door + gate measurements?
i will head over and check out, thanks

 

[KoChi]

anybody know if we can change Yale handle? mine starting to peel at the back

 

[cloudangel]

Th

good deal? do u have to tell them your current door + gate measurements?
i will head over and check out, thanks

The discount isn't super amazing but u do save around 100-200? Nope don't need to tell them the measurements, but i think they will remind u that u need to have sufficient allowance between the gate and door

 

[TMBagain]

anybody know if we can change Yale handle? mine starting to peel at the back

I think there are only 4 ways of approaching this.

1. Call Yale support and see if they can replace the handle. You can also see representative prices for repairs (take note there is a labor and a parts price). You may conclude at this point that you may not want to pay for this (perhaps minor) problem.
   
   https://www.yalehome.com/sg/en/customer-services
   
2. You can look for parts and then DIY . You need to have time/patience (a lot) to find the part (or from a second hand lock/handle). You need to have a handyman posture.
3. You may decide it is more practical to live with the blemish
4. You may get creative and wrap something around . get/make a sleeve of some sort including using racquet handle wraps, etc. [If you wear a ring on your hand, I guess this is more sustainable longer term].

 

[VonDeVous]

got back from comex, havent decide what i want. there's so many companies and different brands to choose. we are so fortunate most players are there.

really depends on the designs and sound of lock if considering a lock. budget as well.

luxus
Ezea
igloohome
kiizon
samsung
yale
philips
gateman
epic

 

[luckygal]

Schlage seems to be losing popularity.

 

[KoChi]

I think there are only 4 ways of approaching this.

1. Call Yale support and see if they can replace the handle. You can also see representative prices for repairs (take note there is a labor and a parts price). You may conclude at this point that you may not want to pay for this (perhaps minor) problem.
   
   https://www.yalehome.com/sg/en/customer-services
   
2. You can look for parts and then DIY . You need to have time/patience (a lot) to find the part (or from a second hand lock/handle). You need to have a handyman posture.
3. You may decide it is more practical to live with the blemish
4. You may get creative and wrap something around . get/make a sleeve of some sort including using racquet handle wraps, etc. [If you wear a ring on your hand, I guess this is more sustainable longer term].

Thanks for the advise. Greatly appreciated!

 

[TMBagain]

Schlage seems to be losing popularity.

My opinion is that the Schlage brand digital lock is at best known by a niche consumer segment here in Asia. The brand may be omnipresent in the US market for traditional locks, but their digital lock presence and portfolio was never aggressive - be it in terms of features, design or marketing. Most of their locks for Singapore market are derived from Korea's Milre digital brand* and one is from China brand. I recalled the Schlage parent company acquired Milre a few years ago.

If one likes the brand or other brands because you can identify with it somehow, be it the past, or paid endorsement for personalities and comedians, I guess that is it. However, there are better deals (quality, price) out there from the upper tier original lock manufacfurers.

 

[IcYFl4mEz]

I have not used this but I can offer some analysis on what is not apparent from the brochure/marketing.

1. The lock hardware has a Korean origin based on the design and the mortise structure. I saw at least another lock brand having almost identical hardware design. So hardware innovation is not the goal from an ODM perspective. Igloohome provides mainly the app layer value proposition. You may want to check if Igloohome locks can (additionally) operate without an app. I sometimes wonder what impact an app-centric lock will have when the company shuts.
   
   update 11/29/2021: I have traced this to Korean Solity ODM lock manufacturer. It is an old design with mechanical pivot push-pull handle.
   
   
2. This model (and also most Korean origin push pull lock design) does not have the important *inside* mechanical thumbturn. You cannot lock from inside should there a problem with motor or power. You have an issue a bigger issue should the internal lock handle cannot retract the bolt for any reason (which one would have resorted to the thumbturn in such cases); you will be locked inside the house.
   
   [Side note: Samsung attempted to incorporate this in their later high end models but the majority of their push pull models has the missing inside thumbturn issue. Almost all Korean non push pull model has inside thumbturn. Perhaps push pull handle placement and design makes it very difficult to incorporate an internal thumbturn]
   
   
3. Many push pull design from Korea and China alike has an inherent issue where push/pull pressure exerted on the lock handle to pivot it ( and engage the latch/bolt mechanism) indirectly results in the lock bolt pressing against the door side metal plate as the door panel is pushed away or pulled towards you. It does not cause issue per se - but it amplifies any alignment related issues from installation over time and one will encounter door opening issue when that happens. Push pull design makes it much more sensitive to this alignment issue.
   
   If you are particular on this as I was, consider staying with more traditional digital lock turn handles - which does not push or pull the door during lock operation. Push pull design is brilliant marketing- though it does not really drive much utility.
   
   [Side note: there is a trend towards fully automated mortise bolting and rigid non-pivoting lock handles ie you don't push the handle hard to pivot the handle to engage the mortise mechanism. I think this mitigates the older push pull design issue. You can see these in Chinese Loock / Xiaomi and also Samsung top end models].

For Igloo home, your point2 still valid? if the lock spoilt, will be trapped inside home?

 

[TMBagain]

For Igloo home, your point2 still valid? if the lock spoilt, will be trapped inside home?

"Still valid" ? Yes, until there is information to the contrary.

Longer reply:

However, the judgment is best made relative to the alternatives. All digital locks may fail. Some may have higher probability of failing: the design, the materials, the QC, and don't forget the USER (being the biggest variable that we forget about). Even regular key locks fail (which is why you have locksmith stickers pasted on every HDB door frame). So the judgement to be made is a relative one. There is no binary answer to whether you need to have the knob or not. However, if you miss out the pleasure of digital locks knowing there is a missing knob, and that gives you sleepless nights, then it is more important to have one.

Digging a little deeper may provide a little more context to how you judge the importance of the manual knob.

The unlocking of the bolt and latch (from inside) for this type of lock is mechanically driven by your hand pressure as you pull the handle. This handle is your effective "manual" unlock (no electronics involved) from a layman's perspective: it engages the mortise (the component that eventually locks and unlocks the door) through mechanisms (gears etc ) inside the lock. The probability of failure (of. The handle) would be higher than say the manual thumb turn by virtue of mechanism complexity and components involved. The thumb turn is a much simpler stick that goes right into the mortise core. All said, no one knows statically the failure rate other than the vendor or the manufacturer, and over time.

Perhaps an alternative way to look at it: the vast majority of turn handle digital locks have manual thumbturns where the inside handle already serves as the default manual opening. Why did these manufacturer incorporate the thumbturn knob at additional cost (and opportunity cost of rerouting around the shaft that the knob turns) when both are manual opening mechanisms?

Why didn't Igloohome design it into their lock? The simple answer could be that they are not a lock hardware manufacture: it was sourced from an ODM and that ODM has yet to embark on fully automatic mortise generation of locks.

If one has a choice/flexibility, buying a lock made by a top tier original lock manufacturer is a good approach. Re-labelled, white-labelled brands are sometimes constrained by choices at contractual time.

PS. Notice that fully automatic mortise models like Lockin S30 Pro or equivalents have the thumbturns. I believe this newer generation of locks frees up the internal space that was previously occupied by the manual push pull handle mechanisms.