Strike Lock Advice

[bigbrorpi]

Happy Holidays!

This looked like the most appropriate forum for this post. I’m desperately trying to replace my door lock with something that I could control remotely (Zwave pre ferable but Wifi would be Ok too). Of course I have a ZWave Schlage on one of my doors but my front door is more of a commercial door - all glass with an aluminum frame and a hook lock by Adams Rite. I realize I would need to put in a strike but have no idea which type or parts I would need (both for the lock and the automation). I’d have to ditch the hook lock, but not sure what my other options would be. I’ve attached some pictures and would love any input!

[jmaddox]

you might check out the august smart lock. this fits over the existing deadbolt. https://august.com/

[jvm]

It looks like a Mortise lock. I had been looking for one for my a door I have, but my door needs multipoint mortise and I couldn't find one. For "regular" mortise, I it looks like Yale may make some (see: https://products.z-wavealliance.org/...chText=mortise), but the only place I've seen them sold, they are quite expensive: https://www.gokeyless.com/product/ya...n-keypad-lock/ So the August lock mentioned in post #2 might be the way to go.

[Fellhahn]

So you need an electronic door strike, here are some models:

https://www.assaabloyesh.com/en/loca...ctric-strikes/

Assa Abloy is sold under different names in pretty much every first world market. Here in Australia it's "Lockwood", in the US I think it's Yale.

You then need an Arduino board, Greig's Arduino plugin, the DC power supply for your strike (likely either 12V or 24V) and a relay module for the Arduino. You can get single relay boards that are powered directly from the Arduino's 5V VCC pin:

https://www.jaycar.com.au/arduino-co...board/p/XC4419

Or if you're planning to do multiple doors, you could use a multi relay board, these require an additional power supply:

https://www.jaycar.com.au/arduino-co...board/p/XC4419

The links above are for an Australian store but I'm positive you'll find something equivalent on Amazon or eBay.

Get the Arduino board setup and connected with the plugin, configure one of the pins as an on/off output and wire it to the normally open input of the relay.

Connect the strike power supply and the strike in a circuit with the relay. You want to buy a "fail secure" door strike, one that will remain latched when not powered and which only requires power to open. This ensures people can't break into your home by simply flicking the breaker at the street.

When the Arduino pin is switched to high, the relay will close and complete the power supply/strike circuit, powering the strike and unlocking the door.

You can configure your opening time in the HomeSeer event config,

eg:

THEN Set Arduino Pin 2 to ON
THEN Wait 10 seconds.
THEN Set Arduino Pin 2 to OFF.

Adjust the wait period to adjust how long the door unlocks for.

You can also configure alternative events that open the door and leave it open until locked again, eg maybe your bringing the groceries in from the car and have to do multiple trips through the door.

If you have a pin pad that can be programmed with multiple pins, you could have one pin that temporarily opens, another pin that opens and keeps open.

The DanaPad bluetooth version launched not long ago, according to email conversations I've had with their support a Z-Wave version is coming, though no exact timeline on when.

https://danalock.com/products/danapad-v3/

In the status graphics tab of the created Arduino pin device, set the control use to "Door Lock" and "Door Unlock", and ensure the "voice command" tickbox is ticked on the configuration tab. Ensure "is light" and "is dimmable" is unticked. This setup will ensure Alexa discovers the device (door lock) and treats it like a door lock in the Alexa app. You can open the door with your voice but will have to provide a pin code when opening by voice. I'm not sure because I don't live there, but I think this means you can allow unknown, unvetted delivery drivers from Amazon into your home, so that you can enjoy the minor convenience of having a package inside the door rather than on the porch, hooray!


As an alternative to the Arduino/Relay setup, you could also use a Z-Wave dry contact module, such as this:

http://qubino.com/products/flush-1d-relay/

BUT, I don't know if that dry contact relay version is for sale in the US, might be EU only. If you find one, make sure it's the "D" variant, the non D version relays the supply voltage, not a separate circuit. You might be able to power the non-dry module it with a 12V DC supply though and have it switch that.

Also, if you're doing even just two doors, you'll likely find the Arduino solution more cost effective, and with ethernet connectivity, more reliable.

There are also strikes known as "monitored strikes" these are great pieces of tech that include an optical sensor in the bolt cavity that can tell when the bolt is home in the strike, allowing you to determine if the door is truly closed. These have an additional circuit wire pair that you would monitor by connecting to a different pin on the same Arduino board and configuring that pin as an input in the plugin. BUT, these strikes cost extra, a lot extra.


I have done something very similar to all this with my garage door (which includes a pin pair that tells me when the roller door is closed). I am planning to use electronic strikes on my front door and fence gate, but I'm waiting until the DanaPad Z-wave keypad is released.

[bigbrorpi]

Wow Fellhahn thanks so much for the detailed info! Definitely appreciate it!
I'd like to go the August route, but I have such narrow clearance, I don't think it would fit...