Smart Locks - Single System Internal and External

Not sure if this is better here or in electronics?

I’m looking at smart locks - my partner has problems with her hands that makes keys painful to use. But I’ve got security screen door as well as primary external doors. My partner also has a small child. I was thinking about adding some smart locks to my office door, and the cupboards where I keep poisons in the garage and medicines in the bathroom. Current old school locks are pretty annoying to use every day when I take meds,

Seems like a pain in the ass to need seperate systems for that stuff. But I’m failing at Google and can’t find a company that does security screens, regular doors and internal cabinet style locks on a single system. Has anyone else had the same requirement set and found an option?

I could probably do the install myself, but for my front door I’d probably rather pay someone else o make sure it’s done right without any cosmetic fuckups left there forever…. but none of the installers I’ve looked at give even indicative pricing for a simple install in Melbourne suburbs. They all want all contact info so they can come do a quote and put on the hard sell or something. Has anyone paid for that kind of thing or familiar with the industry who who could give me a ball park for price?

And for folks living with smart locks - any tips on which features are essential or what’s a stupid idea that only sounds good until you try it? My partner has one of the ikea smart locks on an old bed frame and I don’t really want to carry a full-size prox card around at home, are there smaller tokens or phone proximity systems that actually work? Using Google Assistant for most of the smart home stuff we have at the moment and iOS devices if it matters.

Comments

  • +1

    Have you looked at Samsung push and pull range seems to be the best option since it requires literally no effort to unlock. It needs at least 8 batteries and I think mine usually last 6-7 months averaging 15 entries

    • I haven’t looked closely, but it didn’t seem like they’d work on a security screen door, or that they had any products pitched at the keeping kids out of cupboards market segment.

      Is there anywhere with a guide to help Dummies such as myself figure out the product range? Everything I’ve looked at so far seems to expect a great deal of expertise from the buyer and they’re quite and expensive products to not be confident you’re buying the right thing

  • +2

    I just installed a digital lock for our front door with a discount it came to about $65. This is the lock I installed

    https://www.amazon.com.au/Keyless-Round-Keypad-Electronic-Ma…

    It only took 15 minutes to remove my old lock and install this one that required no drilling or modification. Amazon seem to have the cheapest. I was just sick of carrying keys. Very happy with the lock.

  • +1

    If hand mobility is an issue I would get the ones with the keyless fob, or mobile phone, options. You just need to put them on the plate.

    We have a Samsung smart lock we’ve had for a few years now. Ours is a PIN and Card entry. It has lasted pretty good but we do need to push the faceplate back into a snug position occasionally. Ours allows us to program our MYKI cards for entry, so we didn’t need more fobs. I don’t know any others that do that now days. We have a padlock for our porch; so I’m not sure about smart locks and direct weather. We don’t have internal smart locks, either.

    Putting the smart lock on has been great.

  • I was doing some research on security screen smart locks a while back, and this product came up: https://mcgrathlocks.com.au/security-screen-door-lock/

    I haven't had any personal experience with it, so would be interested if anyone else has installed it?

    For the OP, it looks like the company has another product which is marketed to those with a disability, but there doesn't seem to be any internal cupboard locking systems.

  • Low tech suggestion, would a key turner help your partner?

    • Or hire a doorman?

    • Have tried a couple of products, they change what part of her hand hurts and the ones that are the best are only a little better, and feels like it’s got a real risk of breaking the key. Not really a net gain. OT was the one who suggested smart locks as their standard cheaper options didn’t really land.

Login or Join to leave a comment