Yale locks

[chadgadget]

I am looking for advice/thoughts on my lock situation.

I currently have been using schlage z-wave + locks for the front and side garage doors. The locks are paired to a Ring alarm base via z-wave and can be controlled within the Ring app.

The keypad on the garage door quit lighting up one day last year. So, I got in touch with schlage and they replaced the entire lock. Now the new lock has done the same thing AND the front door keypad backlight quit as well.

So, I disassemble to inspect the old lock that they did not want back to see if something is going on. I found that the wire connector between the control and the keypad has some blue tracking on it. Blue tracking is DC voltage and water not playing well together. I believe that warm air from inside the room is moving through the lock area and creating condensation on the keypad wire connection. The condensation at the wire connection is causing minor shorts and breaking some of the keypad functionality. I want to move away from the schlage brand and try something new.

I am not too concerned if I have to move away from Ring control functionality if I have to. Meaning, going to wifi instead of z-wave.

I have been looking at Yale products all day and trying to figure out if I want to stay z-wave and control through either ring base or through C8 hub, OR just go wifi and add another app to my phone.

There are 6 of us. Myself, wife, and 4 kids (16 to 9). So, simplicity is a plus, but security/reliability is the ultimate goal.

What are my options using Yale and/or my 2 hub devices (Ring, C8 hub) or just going wifi?

I like the new Yale biometric pad idea for kids to use instead of a code.

[tivomaniac]

A warning on Yale. Probably will not apply to you but if you aren’t in the USA of Canada their app will not work with their lock. I have a place in Mexico and didn’t find that out till I installed it. Ended up going with the Schlage 499 as it unlocks with my iPhone and Apple Watch in addition to a code or key. I use the HomeKit app and a virtual lock to mirror it into by C8.

[jtp10181]

Any new Yale z-wave device should pair to any zwave controller (Ring or Hubitat C8). I have a Yale on my front door and two Schalge on side doors, all Z-wave paired to C8. No issues with either for me. Not sure why you would want to use Wifi for a lock over z-wave? Having them on Hubitat allows you to create things like a goodnight rule you can activate with a button, that checks and locks all the doors, etc...

What lock you select is greatly going to be determined by the features you find important. Like if you want auto-unlock it needs to have BLE ability (some z-wave models do not have BLE like the one I have for example). Some come with an open/close door sensor, etc...