Re: Automated front door lock?

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Dave Houston" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:42efa376.15308768@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >"E. Lee Dickinson" <lee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >
> >> In the case of fire, I think there's a fuzzier line. It might be nice
for
> >> the HA system to unlock the doors if the system has detected a fire, in
> >> order that firemen may get in, or that someone could let my pets out.
> >
> >That's a good point.  I'd definitely check the local firecodes before
> >installing something like this.  If someone is injured even tangentially
> >because of the lock, and it's against the building code, there may be
> >serious legal repercussions.
>
> So what do your existing deadbolts do in event of a fire?

I said "tangentially" :-)  Sadly we're in a very litigious country and if
some worker was injured because they couldn't find the lock (remember, they
probably *didn't* have to work with it or locate it to get into the house)
or had some other trouble, it could end up badly for the home owner.  I'll
bet there have been cases where a burglar has been injured while burgling a
house and sued.  Look at the Michael Jackson trial.  His accuser's mother
turned a shoplifting arrest into a big payout from JC Penney's.  It just
makes plain old good sense to contact the local inspectors and find out if
there are any code restrictions on automated locking devices.

> Most of these locks open from inside with the same type mechanism as a
> standard lock. Most also can be opened from outside with a key.

Most doesn't equal ALL.  I've seen electrical door strikes and automatic
locks come in all flavors and sizes.  I know in commercial establishments
automatic locks must often have a large panic bar or emergency exit panel.
People just don't think clearly in a panic.  They may not even have realized
the door had locked behind them when they came in, especially if they are
baby sitters or tradesmen.

> I used an IR operated deadbolt which, aside from a battery housing looked
> like a standard deadbolt from inside and aside from an IR target and LED
> looked like a standard deadbolt from the outside.

Yes - and many do operate that way and appear that way.  But not all.

> I would be leery of RFID. They can be read from 75-100 feet with the right
> antenna so they are insecure unless coupled with rolling codes (hard to do
> with RFID and multiple cards).

I would be leary of that and biometric devices.  There was a recent article
about the big hacker convention that talked about the hackability of
biometric devices.  Close proximity, like the I-buttons offer, seems to be
the best choice for entrance/exit protection.  I do sympathize with the OP
in wanting something smart enough to open the door when my arms are full.
Maybe some sort of voice and visual recognition: "Open the f__king door you
sonofabitch house or I'll take you apart with a crowbar" or some such
detailed "opening" phrase might work.  :-)

> iButtons require contact so are not much more convenient than a key.
>
> I would probably go with an IR deadbolt and use video cameras to identify
> the entrants.
> I would not rely on

On what? :-)  I'd love my frontdoor cam to be smart enough to recognize me
coming to the door with some packages, but it's gonna be a while!

--
Bobby G.