Thinking of putting a digital lock on the Singapore metal gates?

We like to advise our customers to re-assess the need to put a digital lock on the metal gate  (when you have one already on the main door). In the context of Singapore where security cameras are ubiquitious in both private and public housing and that one cannot lock-pick a digital lock, putting an additional digital lock on the gate may be unnecessary.

That said, if you still like the notion of having two locks for extra security or if you like to leave the door open for the wind to come through, then read on...

We custom-mount Gateman rim locks on metal gates. Referencing the picture below, note:

• solid wood mounting board (not plywood or thin metal sheet) for the front
• metal enclosure to block access to the rear of the digital lock
  - and hence the use of a remote controller to unlock (when exiting premise)
• metal enclosure itself can be unlocked for change of batteries or settings

​A broad choice of digital locks (fingerprint or card, pin) and prices for custom mounting on the metal gate can be found on this link on our website.

iRevo, the company that makes the Korea #1 Gateman brand of digital locks claimed as part of their company philosophy that no products are newly introduced into the market without having key differentiators and ensuring consumer value. 

Take for instance, the Gateman Z10 fingerprint digital lock that comes with pin code access. The input number pad is the only digital lock in the market that addresses consumer's worry for traces of fingerprints left on the number pad. Gateman has specially manufactured a brushed matt surface that does not attract finger prints. 

Note: This feature is also found in the A20 series of iRevo Gateman digital lock.

You know iRevo Gateman has what it takes to survive and be # 1 when it pays attention to small details.

Some digital locks are sporting Bluetooth feature but what does it do for you (other than getting you to pay more)? Bluetooth feature means with the correct phone and bluetooth level, you can do (a) unlocking (b) viewing of user entries (c) administration. Let's look at some of the models in the market. We appreciate feedback.

Kwikset Kevo claims "Just touch the smart lock to open for the ultimate in convenience". It is odd that a smartphone with bluetooth turned on is required before you "Just Touch" the lock to unlock. There is no "keyless" solution; either a smartphone or a physical key fob. This looks like jumping from the kettle into the fire: trying to get away from having a physical object (the old key) and one ends up with a bigger (phone) "key" that needs bluetooth switched on. Yes, it does mean you need to bring your smartphone out when you check the letter box or throw your garbage or go for a run. And no, Kwikset has no pin number access, no fingerprint - but a phone or a physical key fob. 

Samsung P728, Samsung P920 does a little better than Kwikset - but comes at a size 20 times bigger (and a price to match). Unlocking is however not smart: one needs to carry the phone, to take out the phone, to unlock your screensaver, to start the sHome application, to wait for lock and app to link, and then to (!) press the unlock button on the app. Obviously this is user interaction/design at it's worse. Why would anyone use Bluetooth to unlock when a swipe of the fingerprint does the job? The ability view users' entries is also badly executed: it only shows unlocking when it is done by the sHome app : which based on the above, many will be using fingerprint/pin/card to access instead of bluetooth.

[ more locks will be commented on over time, and feedback appreciated if above is not the fact! ]

Hummingbird

Over the years, we have customers who wanted to fit digital locks on room doors. 

• Residential premises:
  - a study room where important documents are usually kept
  - a bedroom where privacy is needed
  - a storeroom or a walk-in wardrobe where valuables may be kept (or even a wine cellar)
  
  When the premise is tenanted, or you have a helper or maid, or when friends/relatives frequently stay over, a digital lock is a very effective way to keep things out of view (and access) up front - than to suspect when things are lost or privacy intruded.
  
  Or if you are a tenant, you want to install a digital lock that can be reversed when you vacate.
  
  
• Small businesses or company departmental use:
  - rooms that has to be locked at all the time as they are reserved for special usage and authorised people, houses important equipment or documents for a project, or just for the few VIPs
  
  Customer examples include: storeroom in F&B industries, reserved-used toilets , reservation only meeting rooms and nursing rooms.
  
  

Requirements for these locks may fall under the following:

• simple to use and administer by home owner or the secretary
• fingerprint for more secured applications (where pin code and card access may be inadvertently compromised)
• dust and water resistant (eg. toilets)
• easily reversible (if you rent the premise, the lock can be removed, and the previous mechanical lock re-instated, and leaves no hole on the door)

In addition to our company's manufacturing defect warranty (local), our policy of "Don't pay if it does not fit" is something that is of incredible value to Singapore buyers. This protects the buyer from risk of buying online and pay for it only to find out their door does not allow the lock to be fitted. 

Take the recent cases of customers who are sold a Gateman Z10 variant by sellers based in Korea - only to realise upon receiving the goods and contacting us that the lock will not fit the their door.

These cases arise from the following factors:

• most Korean based sellers sell a variety of products -from hair dryers to cosmetics with digital locks thrown in i.e. they are not digital lock specialists and they have little accountability because they are based overseas and they are not contactable by phone or email 
• the seller made a mistake in sending the product (sometimes we understand they are out of stock on one model and the seller just ship out another look-alike model to fulfil the order on the assumption that you will accept )
  ​
  They have no idea what they are selling, who they are selling to, and the local installation requirements. All risks are shouldered by the buyer. 

If you are the 10% affected by the above, you would have cherished our ""Don't pay if it does not fit" policy but it is too late if you read this after receiving the (wrong) lock (variant).

Going with our company with local presence and expertise on digital locks is a safer approach. 

Copyright 2019 Sherlock Pte Ltd All Rights Reserved

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 requires 12 months cycle change (assumption:   10 entries a day and alkaline batteries). To avoid battery liquid leaks, we suggest a more diligent 8-10 months replacement cycle (never used beyond 1 year) and 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 so the risks of battery liquid leaks rises towards the end. Err on the safe side, change earlier than later]
   
   
2. What batteries type and size to use?
   
   Use AA-size 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 runs out of power 3-4 times faster than alkaline batteries. Battery power will fall fast near the tail end and you may not hear or see the low battery indicators. Eveready Super Heavy Duty is an example. 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 (which may lead to unexpected issues):
   
   - 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 you can try interpreting the dates on the batteries)
   
   - avoid heavily discounted batteries or batteries priced very low 
   
   We think Energizer Max at NTUC supermarket could be decent brand to use. Avoid Eveready , IKEA and GP batteries.
   
   
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 (and requires replacement within the week), the lock will play a melody and there is also a visual indicator. 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.).
   ​

Hummingbird

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