Digital Lock

[Farenheit]

Has anyone got a digital/electronic lock for their door? Recomendations/experiences/advice welcome please. This seems reasonably priced, some cost over $4000 pesos.
http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-471606751-cerradura-electronica-autonoma-codigo-y-pastilla-control-acc-_JM

 

[nlaruccia]

I'm curious too if anyone has used one and how effective they are.

 

[rickulivi]

Digital locks solve a lot of problems if you are renting out a unit. For example, I live in Calif but have a place in BA. A friend of mine, say from New York, wants to go to my apt. for 10 days. How do I get him the key? I can easily give him a combination that I can have someone else change later when he leaves. No need to have a locksmith involved. Furthermore, you can have different combination for different people.

The drawback? They are not particularly pretty and can be expensive. But they are convenient.

The brand that has been recommended to me is the Trilogy DL 2700. I suspect you will have to buy in the USA and take with you. Installation can be a problem because the door has to have certain width. But they offer a video showing how to install it.

 

[nlaruccia]

But are they difficult for robbers to break in? Are they worth the investment?

 

[cbonanni]

They are only as good as the door they are placed on. Why spend a fortune on a great lock when one swift lick will break the door down ?

I highly recommend , and own , a "Pentagono" . As for the key , it can only be reproduced by them , via a serial number , and you personally have to go to the factory. You can ask about an electronic lock , they may have them available.

 

[rickulivi]

Cbonanni

Thank you for suggesting the Pentagono locks. I am familiar with them and they are excellent but have the same problem of others: you need a key. The advantage idea of the digital locks is that they eliminate the problems associated with keys. Tenants are always forgetting and losing these.

I raised four kids and when they were teenagers the chaos before they left the house was unbelievable. The source of the chaos? They could never find their car keys. I installed a special place for all to put their keys as they walked in, and for some unknown reason, they would leave them everywhere but there.

Tenants. I get calls at 10 pm, 10 am and so on. I forgot my keys at work, and I can't get in my apartment . . . office, etc. Tenants change locks on me without telling, in violation of rules but they still do it, and then they call in for some repairs and we can't get in!!!!!!

Keys, keys, keys! That's why digital locks are the way to go, but they have their own set of problems. The best ones are ugly, huge, difficult to install and expensive. And they can run out of battery and you will need a key to open the door!

 

[AmigoArtistico]

I have one of those realtor locks attached to my door handle (because I locked myself out of my apartment a couple of times when I first moved here). It's a combination lock that can hold keys inside, and the combination can be changed, so it solves all the problems mentioned above. (Also not pretty, but it's saved me a couple of times.)

I bought it in the states (at Lowe's) because I couldn't find one here, but that was back in 2004. Might be able to find them here now in the better ferreterias (if Moreno isn't blocking their importation).

Anyway, it's a lot cheaper and easier than trying to install a custom door lock.