I’ve been wanting to expand our connected home into access control, and with Yale’s latest offering my head was turned.
Inspired by the opening seconds of this guy’s home control setup, I wanted to make sure that the lock would have a few different methods of user detection. The lock itself had to be able to interface with the home control system and I wanted to be able to use keys or cards of some description to open the door. This lock ticks all the boxes.
The lock itself appears very well made and solid (as expected from Yale) and was surprisingly easy to fit as only one additional hole needs to be drilled (for the cable to be passed from the front keypad to the battery pack and home control interface that is affixed to the inside of the door). You can choose when fitting the lock if you want to turn the knob clockwise or anticlockwise to open the latch. I opted for both.
When not in use the keypad remains unlit and just looks like an inconspicuous glossy black panel.
There are a few methods to open the door: firstly you can place your palm on the black area to light up the keypad, then enter a particular code. The codes can be of varying lengths for different users. After confirming the code, the keypad lights animate in a ‘waterfall’ pattern to indicate that entry is permitted. If an incorrect entry is made, some numbers extinguish while the 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 numerals blink to make an ‘X’ shape.
Alternatively, and this is where my gadget-loving heart goes aflutter, you can use RFID keyfobs or key cards available from Yale or other retailers. These are not expensive and are very useful. To gain entry you simply present the item to the centre of the keypad (marked with the word ‘CARD’) and access is granted. As simple as that.
There are also 3 modules that can be bought for the lock and slotted into the top. The first is to link the lock to Yale’s proprietary security system, another is to enable the lock to be opened from a longer distance via a remote control keyfob and the third connects the lock to a home control hub using the Z-wave protocol.
The actual mechanism seems to connect the outside knob with the inside latch when engaged (by default for 6 seconds) then after this period the connection is released so the knob moves freely but does not move the latch and therefore effectively no longer allows entry.
The memory is set up in the lock for twenty users. These users can either have a code, a key fob, a card or a mobile-phone tag. The user can have one code and one of the wireless devices.
There are many options to ensure you are happy with the lock, from selecting the volume of the beeps emitted, to the length of time the lock will remain unlocked after a validated entry is permitted. There is also the facility to enter a 24-hour code so that a visitor can let themselves in for a day but then the code is erased from the lock’s memory.
We have been using this lock for a month or so now. There have been no problems with it and indeed it has been quite a talking point at times. The main benefit I have had is the knowledge that that horrible moment when you pull the door closed and realise that you have forgotten your keys is a thing of the past. You can just type in your code to get back in. It’s also a strangely liberating feeling to nip out without taking keys.
I can also see this lock benefiting an older person who perhaps lives alone and is cared for by rotating staff. Each staff member can be given their own code and perhaps even a keyfob, so that they can gain access when required. If and when that member of staff leaves their employment, the lock can simply forget that member of staff so access would not be granted again. Relatives could also respond if a neighbour found that the older person had wandered outside and needed to get back in, by giving the neighbour a code to allow the safe return of the occupant.
More fun and games are to be had when I get the interface module for Z-wave. For now, however, I’m really pleased with this lock and would heartily recommend it for geeks, gadget lovers and forgetful families alike.
Fabulous Home Automation 