random question #316523

[buhrger]

why is it that, with electronic car door locks becoming so ubiquitous, electronic house door locks are still comparatively rare?

Comments

[sinthrex]

Battery maintenance.

[buhrger]

?
a house lock could run off the main power, just like a doorbell.

[sinthrex]

It could, but it's a PITA to wire, so the vast majority (in fact all that I've ever seen) of the electronic door locks are all battery powered.

[buhrger]

ah hmn.
i suppose also running off the mains would make it tough to fail safe in the case of a power outage....

[sinthrex]

Yup. So you're into battery backup at the least.

[buhrger]

although electronic car locks also allow entry using a physical key generally, yes? so as long as a powered house door locked failed to "locked" and also allowed a physical key, a battery backup wouldn't be essential.

[sinthrex]

Concur. We're starting to run into real estate issues though. How big can a residential door lock be and still have ppl want it on their front door?

[buhrger]

would it be possible to house most of the locking mechanism in the wall and jamb instead of in the door?

[sinthrex]

Possible, but significantly more install time. You'd probably also want to replace the door or the new lock would have to find something to do with the old keyset hole that would provide structural integrity and be middlin' attractive.

The wall install would also makes it more permanent, which might be a plus or minus for resale value depending on the buyers.

[buhrger]

yeah, the "lock in the jamb" scenario would require a different door as well. and i see i'm veering into the territory marked "needlessly complicated" on most maps :-)