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Summary: Alkaline type batteries (eg. Energizer Max or Duracell) should be used and changed every 8-10 months as a rule of thumb. 

1. How often to change batteries?
   
   Gateman and most Samsung locks require 12 months cycle change (assumption: 10 entries a day and alkaline batteries are used). To avoid battery liquid leaks, we suggest a more diligent 8-10 months replacement cycle (and never leave batteries in the lock beyond 1 year). Remember to check the battery compartment for battery liquid leaks every 6 months. ​Digital locks are designed to give you low battery warnings but you should not wait until then; they are warnings!
   
   [Additional notes: ​The battery cell expands near the end of it's power due to chemical changes. The risk of battery liquid leaks rises towards the end. Err on the safe side and replace batteries earlier than later]
   
   
2. What batteries type to use?
   
   Use alkaline type batteries. These batteries have the word "alkaline" printed somewhere on the battery body. If the prints are too small for you to read, go with the following two: Energizer Max or Duracell. 
   
   What not to use: You should not use carbon-zinc batteries because these run out of power 3-4 times faster than alkaline batteries. Battery power also dips dramatically near the tail end and low battery indicators may be missed. Eveready "Super Heavy Duty" is an example of carbon-zinc type battery. The wordings may lead you to believe it is super heavy duty but the low price tells you the truth.
   
   [Additional notes: You do not need expensive lithium batteries because digital locks are not high currents discharge devices like your flashlight, cameras etc. You should not use rechargeable batteries because the manufacturer says so]
   
   
3. How many batteries? 4 or 8 pieces?
   
   Most locks have requirements for just 4 batteries. So, that's about it.
   
   Some locks allow up to 8 batteries: the additional 4 pieces could be useful if your lock is optionally equipped with remote control or bluetooth option. If they are not fitted with those options, then the rule of thumb is:4 batteries are enough.
   
   [Additional notes: Some locks come overloaded with functions and it may state 8 batteries when replacing batteries. Good luck with that. Stay with simple locks if you have not decided on your next lock.]
   
   
4. What brand of batteries?
   
   We are not intimately familiar with every battery brand and their supply chain. We can however put on our thinking hats and rationalise along the following lines to minimise chances of poor quality battery:
   
   - buy from high traffic​ outlets (supermarkets, petrol kiosks) on the assumption that the batteries have not been on the shelf for a long time (alternatively read the dates on the batteries)
   
   - avoid heavily discounted batteries or batteries priced very low 
   
   We think Energizer Max or Duracell at NTUC supermarket are decent brands to use.
   
   
5. What if the batteries run out of juice?
   
   Fear not as this has been a design consideration since the first iteration of digital locks from many years ago. When the battery is low, the lock will play a melody when it operates. There is usually a visual indicator battery low as well. In the event you miss all these indicators (say when you are away on vacation), and the batteries are completely depleted, just get a 9V battery from the supermarket and plug it in from the outside to give it enough power for you to unlock using one of the access methods (pin etc.).
   ​

See pictures below for AA size and 9V Energizer Max alkaline batteries.
​

If you are renting out the premise for short and long term stays, what you really need is a good quality digital lock that has only the bare essentials to deliver digital access convenience on a daily basis. This translates to the following guidelines:

• Keep it simple on features
  - don't let the 'gadget' person in you get carried away
  - future requirements without a timeline associated - is not a requirement
• Focus on build quality
  - a failed budget lock will cost you more than the initial savings 

Some examples:

• Keep It simple
  A conservation house owner wanted to install a "big-on-features" (and price!) Samsung P920 Push-n-Pull digital lock and he is renting out the space through AirBnB and other platforms. Digital locks are still new to most travellers and you would not want to surprise them after their long trip into Singapore with an odd looking (handle) digital lock. There is a reason why hotels still use just cards! The owner went for a Gateman A20 (see previous post). Simple, straightforward (and happens to be less than half the price of Samsung P920 - and the small footprint of Gateman A20 is not imposing and that is in keeping in character with the conservation house door.
  
  
• Focus on build quality
  A landlord wanted to change a faulty China-made digital lock with the cheapest equivalent digital lock. We could have proposed a Samsung model that is slightly cheaper than a Gateman branded one but our experience with both brands says Gateman build quality is perceptibly better in both build. Our business is dependent on our understanding of lock reliability (warranty is by our company) and trust we develop with our clients.

What are our thoughts on bluetooth or smartphone NFC enabled digital locks? Or the add-ons that makes these locks accessible over the internet? We believe NFC and bluetooth enabled digital locks are mostly specific to certain use cases and generally does not apply to most home owners. In other words, you are paying more than what you (really need). Those features are there to allow a smaller footprint (but passing on the footprint so to speak to your phone which you must not carry with you). We believe pin number access is the most important and to require a phone to unlock is all too impractical in real life. On the internet-enabled locks, you must be an early adopter because you are subjecting yourself to any security holes that is always present in early implementations (ie now) that allows hackers to (very) simple unlock from a non-trusted source. 

Ultimately, for the majority of us, not paying for what we don't need is a practical approach to choosing the right digital lock that delivers maximum value at the lowest price point. 

You can't go wrong with Gateman A20-FD digital lock because it simply (and consistently) works and it looks great with a ultra slim front profile and time-tested matt black front touch panel surface. More importantly, it comes at an affordable price for a very well built digital lock and with great attention to details from a double action Open button for added security and a hidden (slide out) 9V battery terminals for that elegant zen-like look. It is not your budget range cheaply built lock. This one exudes quality in both feel and looks.  

The Gateman A20-FD digital lock is a pin and card access digital lock - we like it that way while some may have strong preference for a fingerprint enabled lock (see Gateman Z10 in an earlier blog post). While fingerprint model such as Gateman Z10 digital lock is preferred by many, not all our fingerprints can be scanned well especially when we pass a certain age (~ 60 years of age) or when our fingerprints are just not great with fingerprint scanning ( too dry or too fine fingerprint lines, ~ 5% of the population). If you have an elderly staying at the premise, any difficulty with remembering pin number (or the regular changes of pin number) and fignerprint scanning difficulty means one should forego a fingerprint model. The cards option (or in the various form factors such as stickers, stringed tags, key chain rings) may provide a more familiar proxy for the physical keys they are familiar with. Going with a pin/card model like the Gateman A20 digital lock is a practical no-nonsense approach of creating value for digital access convenience for all members of the family.

RFID form factors can be stringed RFID tags, wallet / credit card size, key chain ring and sticker formats. We have an interesting use case of an 'uncle' who never locks the rear exit door and would never use pin number.  But a Gateman A20 that automatic locks when the door closes after him and an RFID sticker pasted on his cigarette lighter (that is always with him) addresses the situation well.

Check Products --> Accessories page for various RFID form factors. 

Our customer engagements are short and sweet, and also characterized by professionalism and accuracy. We have been using Xero Accounting software for a while now and we find it a pleasure to use. What we like about Xero is the simplicity in setup (in the cloud which means no server software is needed), ease in access by our staffs no matter where they are and what they use - be it a desktop, a mobile or a tablet. Our interaction with our Singapore digital door lock customers has been professional and prompt using Xero's quote and invoice sales tool. Xero has also just announced availability of integration with UOB bank for bank reconciliation purpose - which we look eagerly to use. [Update Aug 31, 2016: The integration is in effect!]

We believe our Singapore digital door lock customers will find it easier than ever to engage us for digital door lock deployments!

HummingBird@Interlock