As the name implies, a keyless entry electronic door lock is the ability to unlock the door and enter the premises without the use of a mechanical key. At present, keyless entry electronic door locks have been widely used because it has many advantages over traditional door locks. For example, there is no need to carry keys with you. This way you avoid the risk of losing your keys. Easy to manage, you can check who has entered the house at any time through the door lock log, at a glance. Of course, there are many other advantages to keyless entry electronic door locks. Today, however, we’re mainly looking at how to buy keyless entry electronic door locks. Read on to learn more.
1. How keyless entry electronic door locks work
The keyless entry electronic door lock is a comprehensive product that combines integrated circuit design, electronic technology, and a large number of electronic components with a variety of innovative identification technologies, including the mechanical design of the lock body, built-in software card, computer network technology, and network alarm. Its interior is equipped with corresponding hardware facilities, which are used to set, store, identify passwords and display, drive electromagnetic actuators and detect their driving current values, receive alarm signals from sensors, and send data.
Built-in embedded processor and intelligent monitoring equipment, so the homeowner can remotely control the door lock through the mobile phone. In fact, keyless entry allows you to enter your home in many ways other than using a mechanical key to open the lock. For example, PIN codes, digital passwords, key cards, fingerprints, RFID cards, etc.
The core components of electronic locks include the motherboard, clutch, fingerprint collector, cryptographic technology, microprocessor (CPU), and intelligent emergency key. As a fingerprint lock, the most important thing should be the algorithm chip, because it is equivalent to the heart of the door lock.
2. How to buy a keyless entry electronic door lock
If you’re looking to buy a keyless entry electronic door lock for your home or business, but don’t know which one to choose. Don’t worry, here are some suggestions for you that you can refer to.
1) Determine the width of the door frame
First and foremost, the type of frame you need to consider will determine whether you need a wide or narrow lock. For example, door types are standard wood, fiberglass doors, standard metal factory doors, aluminum framed glass doors, or full glass doors. Aluminum framed glass doors come in narrow, medium, and wide frames, which describe the width of the aluminum framed glass door. If you have a narrow door frame, you’ll want to choose from narrow door frame keyless locks.
Choosing a lock that is compatible with your frame can save you on installation costs. However, different types of door locks have different requirements and restrictions on the door frame, but generally, the most important dimensions are the thickness of the door, the distance from the center of the key wheel to the edge of the door, and the diameter of the existing hole. After some research, we found that the general keyless door lock is suitable for the following standard doors:
- The deadbolt hole in the door opening is 1 1/2″ or 2 1/8″ in diameter.
- The backrest is 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches.
- Bolt holes in the door edge are 1 in. in diameter.
- 1 3/8″ to 2″ thick.
Don’t worry if your door frame does not meet the requirements, you can ask a professional installer to refit the door frame.
2) Easy to install
The simple installation of electronic door locks can be a standout advantage, and more people will choose to install simple electronic door locks. If the door lock fails or the battery needs to be replaced during use, you can do it yourself with a screwdriver instead of calling a professional repairman. This not only saves maintenance costs but also saves time costs.
3) Battery life
As you know, keyless entry electronic door locks rely on the battery power in the door lock to keep them running, and if the battery runs out, the door lock will not work properly. So when choosing a door lock, it is best to choose a door lock with a longer battery life. Also, you should consider the battery indicator on the door lock. It will remind you when to replace the battery by blinking the light, avoiding the risk of the door locks not working properly. So the battery indicator is also an essential consideration.
4) Intelligent integration
The smart integrated function of the door lock can bring more convenience to your life. It can integrate with the rest of your smart home, such as digital voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa. This way you can simply control your door lock by speaking or turning on the light and air conditioner at the same time when you unlock the door. It’s very convenient, isn’t it?
5) Unlocking method
As we said above, there are many unlocking methods for keyless entry. Before buying a keyless entry door lock, consider which lock opening method you prefer, keypad, touchscreen, or facial recognition. You just need to choose according to your preferences and needs.
6) Different protocols
The keyless entry electronic door lock needs to be connected to the mobile phone to control the door lock, but it can be connected to the mobile phone through different protocols. Generally, there are three most common protocols: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Z-Wave. However, each agreement has pros and cons that you need to know before buying.
Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a common smart lock protocol that is available on almost all smartphones today. The advantage of the Bluetooth door lock is that the battery life is longer than that of wifi, which can be used for about a year. On the other hand, its disadvantage is that it does not support remote connections. Preferably 300 feet around the door lock, if you go beyond that, you won’t be able to control your door lock.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi door locks allow you to connect to your door lock from anywhere in the world. You can lock and unlock doors remotely, create new users or access codes, and view lock status and activity logs from anywhere. The premise needs to be connected to the Wi-Fi network, which is the biggest advantage of the Wi-Fi door lock. At the same time, this means that the door lock is always running, so the power consumption will be very fast, and you will need to replace it with a new battery regularly.
Z-Wave: Unlike Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, Z-Wave doesn’t connect directly to your phone, but needs to connect to a Z-Wave-compatible hub first. The hub will convert the lock’s Z-Wave signal into something your router can understand, and once that’s done, you can connect your lock from anywhere. If you have SmartThings or another hub, you can connect to many more third-party devices than a standard Bluetooth lock. However, the downside of Z-Wave is that it requires an additional hub to communicate with Wi-Fi.
Our advice is that if you don’t plan on using a ton of other devices with your lock, Z-Wave probably isn’t for you.
7) Security system
Even secure keyless entry electronic door locks can be a concern of theft. To reduce this risk, you can consider security systems that are compatible with keyless entry electronic door locks when choosing one. Such as video surveillance systems, alarms, etc.
8) Durability
The door lock is generally installed on the outside of the door, so it is very vulnerable to weather and man-made damage. Therefore, choosing a hard, waterproof, cold-proof, and heat-resistant electronic door lock can increase the service life and save costs.
9) Cost
In fact, the cost factor is also a very important consideration. The price of the door lock is determined by the function, characteristics, installation, and other factors of the door lock. First of all, you need to understand how much money you have to buy a keyless entry electronic door lock, and then choose the door lock that suits you. We suggest that it is best not to exceed your budget. What’s more, the price of door locks will also be affected by packaging. I have a friend who makes a box machine, their machine can provide customized corrugated boxes for different products, but because of the difference in size, the cost of a single packaging is very different. Therefore, before buying, be sure to confirm the purchase cost of the smart lock.
3. Recommended keyless entry electronic door lock
For your reference, here are some cost-effective keyless entry electronic door locks that we recommend for you.
1）Leap KS XS4
The SALTO KS XS4 is a powerful standalone smart lock, It fits most doors including fire doors and emergency exits, and you can use them indoors or outdoors. The XS4 is completely wireless and can be retrofitted to most ANSI locks.
advantage:
- Comes with an easy-to-use mobile app to control the door lock.
- Send digital keys to visitors and vendors anytime.
- Easy to use and install.
- Anti-drill protection makes it durable, durable, and safe.
- Available in a variety of finishes.
- Concealed screws improve appearance and safety.
- Smart home solutions and access control systems can be integrated.
shortcoming:
- Unable to find prices online
2）YRD256 Assure Lock SL
Yale lock is one of the famous lock brands, it is worth your choice. The YRD256 Assure Lock SL is the easiest to program, most customizable, and best-looking Yale lock.
advantage:
- Easy to program, there are voice prompts throughout the programming process.
- Auto lock function.
- The deadbolt is quieter and more flexible.
- It looks sleek with nice metal accents.
- Smart modules can be purchased separately.
- Multiple language settings.
shortcoming:
- expensive.
3）Kwikset 909 SmartCode Electronic Deadbolt
advantage:
- Easy to install, no wiring required, you only need a screwdriver to install successfully.
- Automatically lock, you can leave home with peace of mind when you step out the door.
- The backlit keypad unlocks and can be customized with 8 entry codes, as well as a master code option.
- Affordable.
4. Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about keyless entry electronic door locks.
1) Whether the keyless door lock allows guests to enter
Once a keyless door lock is installed, you can set specific temporary access codes for guests or unlock the door remotely via smartphone control. Temporary access codes expire after they visit, so you don’t have to worry about security.
2) Are keyless entry electronic door locks worth buying?
It depends on your needs and preferences. Keyless entry offers more security and convenience than traditional door locks, while it also saves you money on new keys if lost. Our suggestion is that if you have the budget, you can buy a keyless entry electronic door lock.
3) Can keyless door locks be hacked?
The answer is yes, but there are steps you can take to avoid this risk.
- Keep your door lock and app always up to date.
- Enhanced protection of your home network.
- Set a password that is hard to crack.
- Set a different code for each user.
- Enables a timed lock after repeated failed attempts to access a code.
5. Conclusion
This article summarizes how keyless entry electronic door locks work and some buying advice. After reading this article, I hope it will help you choose the right keyless entry electronic door lock. Meanwhile, iLockey is also very happy to help you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us, and we will give you some pertinent suggestions.
