Looking to replace a 25 year old standard key type dead bolt lock with a keypad lock of some type.

2 reasons to change: First, so family can get in without keys. second, increase security since my existing keyed lock is pretty old.

I really liked the old Simplex mechanical keypad locks, but with only a finite number of combos, these no longer suffice in terms of security for
a front door, where someone could just hang there for an hour trying all the combos until they find the right one.

Security is important to me. Hopefully something as strong as a standard deadbolt, and that cannot be picked if it has an aux key as a backup. We already had a stupid lockpicker in the neighborhood, so I know this isn't uncommon these days, with all the how-to videos out there, etc.

I really don't need or want WiFi to my door lock, and, if it had Wifi, I'm not sure I'd even bother connecting to it unless there was a good reason to.

As much as I hate household things that work from batteries, I'm less crazy about somehow getting power wires to my deadbolt area. So Batteries it is, but hopefully batteries that last a very long time.

If the lock fails, I'm kind of stuck. I'd have to go in through my garage, which I suppose is ok, but I'd like something reliable nonetheless.

any thoughts? Oh, I'm cheap. Hopefully $150 is a sufficient budget??? I'd pay more if that's what's necessary.

Go watch some LockPickingLawyer videos… They’re all pretty defeatable. Some take more work than others.

The old Symplex mechanical locks that you referenced just take a good neodymium magnet to defeat.

I'm biased (work for ASSA ABLOY), but if you don't need fancy WIFI, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aperio, or any of that $#%#$% the Emtek locks shares A LOT of internals with the Sargent commercial lock.

You need to specify 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset and finish. This is a "you turn the knob to move the deadbolt", not a motorized or solenoid lock. I lock my airplane hangar and shop up with these locks. Note: these are deadbolts only, not a latchbolt for traffic control.

https://www.emtek.com/all-prod...uch-keypad-deadbolt/

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
I'm biased (work for ASSA ABLOY), but if you don't need fancy WIFI, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aperio, or any of that $#%#$% the Emtek locks shares A LOT of internals with the Sargent commercial lock.

You need to specify 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset and finish. This is a "you turn the knob to move the deadbolt", not a motorized or solenoid lock. I lock my airplane hangar and shop up with these locks. Note: these are deadbolts only, not a latchbolt for traffic control.

https://www.emtek.com/all-prod...uch-keypad-deadbolt/

interesting. Thanks for the response.

2 questions...

1] I think these use a 9V battery. how often do you replace the battery under normal use?

2] is the key lock on the front for backup, in case the electric part fails? Wouldn't that key lock be easy for someone to pick?

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
I'm biased (work for ASSA ABLOY), but if you don't need fancy WIFI, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aperio, or any of that $#%#$% the Emtek locks shares A LOT of internals with the Sargent commercial lock.

You need to specify 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset and finish. This is a "you turn the knob to move the deadbolt", not a motorized or solenoid lock. I lock my airplane hangar and shop up with these locks. Note: these are deadbolts only, not a latchbolt for traffic control.

https://www.emtek.com/all-prod...uch-keypad-deadbolt/

I have all Emtek around the house currently and have been wanting to add one of these to the back of the house.
Does this have an auto lock feature? That it will lock itself automatically after being unlocked for a certain amount of time?

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
The old Symplex mechanical locks that you referenced just take a good neodymium magnet to defeat.

They fixed that.


You also have the option of pushing two buttons at once, that ups the potential combinations to a much less decode-able number.

I install lots of them at work and good lord are they expensive. (we use SFIC ones)

Realistically kicking is a much bigger threat than picking. (or decoding)

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
I'm biased (work for ASSA ABLOY), but if you don't need fancy WIFI, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aperio, or any of that $#%#$% the Emtek locks shares A LOT of internals with the Sargent commercial lock.

You need to specify 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset and finish. This is a "you turn the knob to move the deadbolt", not a motorized or solenoid lock. I lock my airplane hangar and shop up with these locks. Note: these are deadbolts only, not a latchbolt for traffic control.

https://www.emtek.com/all-prod...uch-keypad-deadbolt/

interesting. Thanks for the response.

2 questions...

1] I think these use a 9V battery. how often do you replace the battery under normal use?

2] is the key lock on the front for backup, in case the electric part fails? Wouldn't that key lock be easy for someone to pick?

I replace the 9V battery once a year - about a 3 minute task. It beeps to remind me if I forget. Our Montana weather is tough on batteries, so it might last longer for you.

Yes, the keyway/cylinder is a back-up in case the lock becomes inoperative. I won't say the cylinder meets BHMA Grade 1 for high security cylinders, but Medeco is a sister company and reviews ASSA ABLOY Americas designs. I'm pretty good at picking cylinders, but can't get these to open... but the Really Smart Guys at Medeco in VA can. It's good, but it's not Medeco or Mul-T-Lock quality. A very determined and talented person could gain access. But, they could also throw a brick through a window easier and faster.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
I'm biased (work for ASSA ABLOY), but if you don't need fancy WIFI, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aperio, or any of that $#%#$% the Emtek locks shares A LOT of internals with the Sargent commercial lock.

You need to specify 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset and finish. This is a "you turn the knob to move the deadbolt", not a motorized or solenoid lock. I lock my airplane hangar and shop up with these locks. Note: these are deadbolts only, not a latchbolt for traffic control.

https://www.emtek.com/all-prod...uch-keypad-deadbolt/

I have all Emtek around the house currently and have been wanting to add one of these to the back of the house.
Does this have an auto lock feature? That it will lock itself automatically after being unlocked for a certain amount of time?

No auto lock - you need to get the Yale Resi or August version for that.

EDIT: Apparently Emtek now has a motorized version of the Yale/August deadbolt that can autolock and be connected to wifi, Alexa, etc with the Yale bridge. I know nothing about this Emtek product, except I was given a Yale version to beta test on my home...but I quickly removed it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aileron,

The advantage to a Wifi would be remote monitoring of the lock, you'd know when it is locked and unlocked, combined with a Ring Camera or Blink Motion camera you'd be able to view what is happening.

This would be handy for latch key kids, moms knowing the kids are home, inside and the doors locked back or, you let the dog out at 2am and forget to reset the lock in a early am stupor as you go back to sleep.

Just a few examples of why it would be useful, it may not for some, and some may not want wifi access to a lock period. Understandable, imagine as technology improves more will use the wifi locks...

Our house is 3 yrs old and has Emtek deadbolts. They work perfectly for us. Inside is a mechanical twist knob, outside is the keypad.

Pros: Easy to use. Backlit touchscreen. Can program many combinations at once so you can give guests or hired help temporary access. Decent battery life (about a year but I change at 6 months along with smoke detectors just to avoid the hassle of a dead battery). Easy battery replacement. Have worked in all weather conditions.

Cons: A dead battery requires you to have previously stowed a key somewhere accessible. May need a different key for each unit (maybe matched sets can be purchased, but ours are not matched). The solenoid sometimes doesn't catch during unlock if the knob has been spun after locking: it is easy to feel and you just turn it slightly towards lock and then unlock. I have no trouble at all but an older person or mechanical dunce might struggle to figure it out.

I have had the Schlage dead bolts with the keypad but no key access, for 6 years. No keyway, nothing to pick.

If the battery dies there are 2 terminals on the keypad that you touch a 9 volt battery to and it powers the keypad so you can open the door. Batteries last 3-4 years for me here in the south.

When we bought our home last year I wanted the ability to have family that lives nearby have access.
In doing my research I came across Ultraloq and was impressed with their technology. It works off an authorized users thumbprint. We’ve had it for about a year and a half and have never had an issue. Highly recommended.

https://u-tec.com/products/ultraloq-u-bolt-pro-series

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
Go watch some LockPickingLawyer videos… They’re all pretty defeatable. Some take more work than others.

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about the Lock picking Lawyer, but seems every time I think I have selected a lock to buy, there he is picking it in about 20 seconds.

I had a Schlage at my old house for a number of years. I liked it enough that I went with a Schlage Sense at my new house.

I can see any time the door is locked or unlocked on my phone. It runs on 4 AA batteries and lasts about 6 months. It lets you know when they are running low. I can lock / unlock the door from anywhere I have a cell phone or wi-fi signal. I can also enter codes for others to use. Those codes can be temporary, permanent, or set on a schedule so that they only works certain days or hours.

quote:

Originally posted by Bluecobra:
I have had the Schlage dead bolts with the keypad but no key access, for 6 years. No keyway, nothing to pick.

If the battery dies there are 2 terminals on the keypad that you touch a 9 volt battery to and it powers the keypad so you can open the door. Batteries last 3-4 years for me here in the south.

^^^ These Schlage locks are good too ^^^
aileron

Ours are Kwikset via Vivint [takes 4 AA batteries], we have 3, all connected to the alarm panel.
Manual throw interior with push button lock or key lock exterior, and a 5 button [paired numbers] for code entry.

Only complaint is the back door which is a double French door entry. The deadbolt hole doesn't have enough throw for the powered lock. Need to drill it a bit deeper, but a low priority, it'll manually lock enough to show locked in the alarm panel.

My in laws have a [Schlage, I think] manual throw deadbolt, where the knob free spins if the code isn't entered.
They got it when the prior powered lock stopped accepting their code.

I just bought this Schlage that matches the handle hardware to replace the keyed deadbolt.
Seems good to me, as I like he manual lock and unlock and no motor to deal with.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N...dt_b_product_details

I have the basic push button Kwikset locks at my house and so far they’ve been great about 18 months in. It looks like the batteries need changing once a year and they take 4 AA’s

No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or any of that smart nonsense, all it is, is a keypad and a 4 digit code, and I punch the code in and the thing unlocks. I can’t tell you how nice it is to not have to worry about losing keys and getting new keys made and all of that stuff.

My condo building only allows the Schlage locks (for aesthetic consistency). The Schlage Sense that was on the door crapped out about 1 year after we moved in (it was 6 years old at that time). I replaced it with a Schlage Encode. Very happy with it so far. Easy to install and use.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
My condo building only allows the Schlage locks (for aesthetic consistency). The Schlage Sense that was on the door crapped out about 1 year after we moved in (it was 6 years old at that time). I replaced it with a Schlage Encode. Very happy with it so far. Easy to install and use.

Ahh yes, the good old HOA

God forbid you have another brand, a vortex might open up and the entire universe gets sucked in