31
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.com to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

UPDATE: well, I've belatedly realised I've left out a key piece of information. I need to buy a pair of locks - one for a regular wooden entrance door, and one for a security screen door in front of it.

Turns out hardly anyone (reputable) makes a decent smart lock for screen doors, except the Yale Unity range, but those aren't Z-Wave compatible.

Guess we're sticking with keys for a while longer...


Hey folks - the time's come for me to consider diving into smart locks.

I've been running HA for many years now, and have resisted the urge so far, but a few recent incidents have me thinking smart locks are the next upgrade I need to think of.

My requirements, equal in priority, are:

  • Must be usable via HA (automating my locks is the primary reason I'm considering this move)
  • Key lock backup (I'm petrified of flat batteries stopping me from entering)
  • Ability for HA to report on battery level (see above)
  • Local network only (prefer IP, but will consider Z-Wave - anything that calls home in the cloud is a hard no)
  • Code and/or fingerprint entry (unique code per person, at least 6 codes)

I say "consider Z-Wave" as I don't currently utilise any Z-Wave devices. The main reason for this is that I run HA (Home Assistant) on a (heh!) HA (high availability) Proxmox setup, and I hadn't sat down to think through how that would work with a Z-Wave USB hub across two nodes.

But, after some cursory research, it seems there's enough options out there that will let me control Z-Wave remotely via MQTT, so I can use one of my RasPis to host a Z-Wave hub just fine.

There's been plenty of positive comments on other posts regarding Schlage's locks, so I'll probably start my research there. But I'm very keen to hear of anyone's experiences with any smart lock brands - good or bad - to help guide my research.

While I'm at it, I'm open to recommendations on a Z-Wave hub. I have zero Z-Wave experience, but I gather it's reasonably straightforward to use. Simple enough requirements:

  • Usable on a RasPi running Rasbian
  • Decent enough range - has to reach the smart locks through a couple of internal walls, from the garage to the front door (about 6m/20ft)

Cheers in advance for any advice offered!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] bravesilvernest@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago

I had the Yale deadbolts at my last house: front door had key backup, backdoor had just keypad. Worked phenomenally, and you can set codes on the fly pretty easily. We had a pet sitter often, so i just created a pin then had it disable when they weren't coming over.

[-] Strit@lemmy.linuxuserspace.show 1 points 3 months ago

I didn't know about Yale. It's bluetooth only?

[-] bravesilvernest@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago

There's a component you can buy to replace the Bluetooth or WiFi module, which is a little bit of a pain

load more comments (1 replies)
this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024
31 points (97.0% liked)

homeassistant

11921 readers
46 users here now

Home Assistant is open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a Raspberry Pi or a local server. Available for free at home-assistant.io

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS