A warm hello to all. This is my first post on this forum. I have been reading about Home Automation since some days now, and was dribbling in between HomeSeer and Vera 3, and finally have decided to pull the trigger on Vera 3. Being a beginner into this technology, i would like to have a simple solution. Plus there is not a lot that i want to automate in my condominium.
In a very near future for the new house, i plan to do more.
However the plan is to setup dimmers, thermostat, garage doors, Entertainment and Door locks. Talking about locks, i was lurking in between Schlage, Yale and Kwikset. Did some reading on the board, and found the pros and cons of all the three.
Loved Yale, but i guess they are battery hoggers. Wife will be pretty upset if either of the month i forget to replace the battery and she is locked out without the keys. All my ambitions of high-end home automation will get buried cos of her refusal.
So there is no way Yale can work for a year or so without replacing the batteries even if a Lithium cell is used?
Hate that schlage does not have a motor for remote locking and unlocking, although the 3 year battery is good.
Kwikset… hmm, i guess thats the only choice i have. however i dont like the five button option. Although the battery lasts a bit more than Yale, i guess 3 months or so for the lithium (is that true)?
What are your thoughts, am i missing anything… or Kwikset is the winner in my situation.
I used my Kwikset 2 or 3 times a day and it automatically locked every night. The batteries lasted for about 10 months. The 3-year life on the Schlage is because it does not have the motor.
I love my Kwikset!! Just make sure you get the one with z-wave, don’t take for granted all come like that. The ones Home Depot sell look the same but they are another reference that does not include z-wave.
I bought mine through Amazon and has been working GREAT!!! Besides, looks so good, I used the bronze. But they have silver and gold which might be your taste…
Very easy to program and syncs very easily with Vera, and if you take the step with the alarm later on, you can program to disarm the alarm upon entering the code on the lock to open the door… very useful.
8
I went with the Schlage lock (not the dead bolt).
My feeling was that if I used a dead bolt, that a burglar would just break a window.
If they want something they will find the easiest way in.
Link a home security system to your Vera or add a motion detection, a camera, and a few notifications and you can limit the time they have in your house and maybe even have a snap of their picture.
I’ve had the Yale touch-screen deadbolt for about 4 months now, and the battery level is at 76%. We don’t frequently use that door though (maybe 2-3 times a week).
Got the Kwikset on Amazon and it works like a charm!!!
Highly recommended!
Flo
[quote=“Ary, post:3, topic:170630”]I love my Kwikset!! Just make sure you get the one with z-wave, don’t take for granted all come like that. The ones Home Depot sell look the same but they are another reference that does not include z-wave.
I bought mine through Amazon and has been working GREAT!!! Besides, looks so good, I used the bronze. But they have silver and gold which might be your taste…
Very easy to program and syncs very easily with Vera, and if you take the step with the alarm later on, you can program to disarm the alarm upon entering the code on the lock to open the door… very useful.
8[/quote]
I have both a yale and schlage. Once I replaced the batteries that came with my yale with Energizer Li-On it is now 3 months and going strong. The initial batteries must have been weak. The schlage dies after a month, but again suspect the free batteries…
I’ve been using my KwikSet for a very short time but love it already. Easy to install, set up and link to Vera. So far so good. Its mounted on my front door, which will get very little use, since we park in the garage and come into the house through another door, so we’ll see how the battery life is with light usage.
Thanks guys, these advices helped me with choosing the right product for my needs. Brought the Kwikset today, my Vera 3 will be arriving on Tuesday. Cant wait to set this up and get it going along with the 3M-50 thermostat. Well for now, i have these two to setup on vera, but i am researching more on adding on more
[quote=“RichardTSchaefer, post:6, topic:170630”]I went with the Schlage lock (not the dead bolt).
My feeling was that if I used a dead bolt, that a burglar would just break a window.
If they want something they will find the easiest way in.
Link a home security system to your Vera or add a motion detection, a camera, and a few notifications and you can limit the time they have in your house and maybe even have a snap of their picture.
I believe I bought mine at Lowes.[/quote]
Thanks for the suggestion mate, this is a big learning curve for me, and i plan to take it up soon. For now, i am adding few dimmers, on/off switches, thermostat, Kwikset locks, lamp modules also (probably garage door open/close module). In a few months i do plan to install a camera, motion detection as well.
[quote=“Exorcist, post:12, topic:170630”]In a matter of few mins, i was able to setup the Kwikset with the Vera 3. The lock works perfectly fine with the vera 3 controller, remotely.
Now, two tasks remain…
How can i enable sms/email notification for these locks. As in, whenever the locks are locked or unlocked, email/sms notification is sent.
How can i trigger the lights in the hallway and entry way to turn on when the lock is unlocked from outside?[/quote]
The scenes to turn on the lights are easy to set up using the lock as the trigger. Notifications are also easy to set up using the “Notifications” tab in the device setup. Alternatively, you can create your own email notification messages - I’m using the SND plugin made by @Ap15e, with service from smpt2go.
Hi, using 5 quikset locks for different sites and all work well. So far about 6 months use out of regular batteries for 3-6 openings per day. for each lock.
Good luck!
Chris
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