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Replacing your traditional door look is high up the list for most smart home users, enabling easier access to the home, monitoring of who comes and goes, and linking their arrival or departure to a range of smart home devices for improved comfort or energy efficiency.
Naturally, there’s a wide range of Z-Wave compatible deadlocks on offer to ensure a headache for anyone thinking of picking one. They come from traditional lock companies, smart home brands and other providers.
In this roundup we’ll try and cover which are the most secure, which is the best value and which has the most technically advanced features. Some requiring changing the outdoor a complete lock, others just the inside mount, depending on what features you want to use.
Just because these deadbolts are smart, it doesn’t mean they are any more secure than a dumb model, some can be just as easily picked. Many models also have trouble locking doors that have insulation tape or foam strips that create extra tensions, so be careful which doors you consider buying these for.
The security issue is why many people are arming their smart homes with security cameras and other monitoring systems. What a smart lock can give you is information on who is coming and going, and additional awareness of activity around your property.
As part of a layered approach to smart home security, a deadbolt can help make your home more secure, and add convenience, but don’t rely on just the one device.
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Yale Real Living Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt with Z-Wave
Available in bronze, brass or nickel finish, the Yale touchscreen model provides pin-code or key-based access to a property. It replaces the whole lock system, so will take a fair bit of installation.
The Yale supports hundreds of codes, so you can assign unique codes to friends and family, a cleaner or whoever else needs access.
A step up from other Yale models, the LCD touchscreen means the numbers are only shown when there is activity, and since the numbers don’t wear out, a chancer would struggle to guess what your code could be if they happened across your door.
The door locks automatically after 30 seconds, or after a touch on the panel, although these settings can be changed if you connect the lock t o your Z-Wave system.
It supports and links to SmartThings, VeraPlus, Alarm.com, Honeywell, and other models, adding additional flexibility and can trigger other devices as you come and go. Among the benefits of the Yale lock are that it is very quiet compared to most models, and
What it doesn’t do is link to your smartphone, or an RFID tag, so you need to tap in the entry code every time. There are smarter solutions if you need one. However, the Yale does look good and is a step up from the ancient looking models with manual buttons.
Product Info:
Price $200-220 (For the latest prices and discounts, check here)
Battery powered
Stores 250 PIN codes
Voice programming
August Smart Lock/DanaLock V2 BTZW
The August is for the smart set who want to walk up to their door, wave their smartphone and enter automatically.
In fact you don’t even need to do that, it can be in your pocket as it detects the phone via Bluetooth, or WiFi if you use the August Connect plug. Available in red, silver or gray, it should look great on any inside door. If you need Z-Wave, then the DanaLock V2 looks very similar and incorporates Z-Wave.
The August fits on the inside of the door and works with most locks, just check it isn’t too close to the edge. Installation is quick and easy with all the parts supplied. Engage the batteries and you can then install the app and connect the lock to your phone.
The second generation is a more elegant solution with design and structural improvements, and it is also Apple HomeKit compatible, so you can use Siri to lock and unlock the door.
It doesn’t support Z-Wave directly, but SmartThings integration works via cloud-to-cloud and other hubs should be able to work with it.
You can check the status of the lock when you’re away, and other family members, guests or workers can have the app on their iOS and Android phone, to enter the home just as easily.
The app provides smart access with temporary or time-based options, so have fine-grained control over the lock, and can see who is coming and going. An everlock feature will let you automatically lock the door after a set time when you leave.
Product Info:
Price August $229 (For the latest prices and discounts, check here) Danalock $159 (For the latest prices and discounts, check here)
4xAA Battery powered
Multiple user access
August Bluetooth and HomeKit support
Danalock Bluetooth and Z-Wave
Schlage Connect Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt
The new Schlage models comes with two keys provided rather than one, suggesting that users of the original model weren’t very happy. It also requires a Z-Wave hub, unlike the others where that was an optional feature.
Available in nickel, bronze or chrome, it has a slightly classical look to it and is an entire replacement, unlike the interior August/Danalock here, which connect to your existing lock. It does come with a very short lead to connect the two parts, which might be an issues on some doors.
When hooked up to a hub, you can lock or unlock your door remotely, using a smartphone, or use the touchscreen when you’re up to the door. The display is bright and clear, and ideal for those who struggle to find their keys or struggle through age, sight or disability to fit them in the lock.
The Schlage can also be operated remotely via smartphone, and the app can monitor who is coming and going. It does lack the alarm feature of some previous Schlage models, but is otherwise easy to integrate into your Z-Wave system to create rules or triggers for other devices.
Product Info:
Price $179 (For the latest prices and discounts, check here)
4xAA Battery powered (Not included)
Multiple user access
iOS/Android App
However you want to go about installing a smart lock, there are various ways and means, plus different ID and connectivity systems. Z-Wave gives you the most flexibility, to create a true smart home solution, but find a product that will best fit your door and access needs first.
Patrick Sinclair is a geek; make no mistake about that. He runs All Home Robotics in his spare time so he doesn’t have to think about his depressing cubicle and it gives him an excuse to buy expensive gadgets to review!
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