Smart Door Lock: 7 Tips on Installation and 6 Features to Know

When it comes to entry-level smart home products, smart door locks are definitely one of them. In Hong Kong, many new private buildings have directly adopted electronic door locks as basic move-in configurations. Therefore, Hong Kong people are no strangers to smart door locks. However, ordinary electronic door locks are not the same as smart door locks. Ordinary electronic locks only have two functions that traditional door locks do not have: fingerprint unlocking and anti-theft alarm. However, real smart door locks can have up to 6 functions. This Moorgenzine article will give you a deeper understanding of smart door locks.

Topics to be discussed in this article:

• Advantages and 6 functions of smart door locks
  • Function 1: Smart door lock: multiple unlocking methods
  • Function 2: Anti-theft alarm: no fear of lock explosion
  • Function 3: High-definition camera: real-time monitoring of the situation outside the door
  • Function 4: Child lock mode: prevent children from accidentally opening the door
  • Function 5: Unlock with mobile phone App: remote door opening
  • Function 6: Home/Away Mode: Easy entry and exit
• Smart door lock - things to note when choosing
• Smart door lock - different control methods
• Smart door lock - 7 things to know about installation
• Installing a smart door lock - restrictions on the type of door
• Smart door lock installation steps

Advantages and 6 functions of smart door locks

Smart door locks are much safer than ordinary mechanical locks. Ordinary electronic door locks only have two functions: fingerprint unlocking and anti-theft alarm. However, smart door locks with built-in chips, cameras and network functions can be transformed into 6 functions, greatly improving home security!

Function 1: Smart door lock: multiple unlocking methods

Ordinary electronic door locks have at least 4 ways to lock the door, including fingerprints, pincodes, smart cards or spare keys. However, since smart door locks have built-in chips, cameras and network functions, they can provide more ways to unlock the door, up to 7.

Face recognition

Advanced smart door locks can already provide face recognition unlocking, which is theoretically more secure than fingerprint recognition. Just look at Apple iPhone or Hong Kong Airport Customs Departure Machine, both of which have switched from fingerprint recognition to face recognition. A good smart door lock does not require users to cater to the camera. For example, Moorgen's smart door lock uses a wide-angle lens for face recognition, so the elderly do not need to bend over and children do not need to jump high to automatically recognize faces, which is very convenient.

Finger vein

Finger vein is not the same as fingerprint. Fingerprints are judged according to the texture of the fingers, but the unlocking method of finger veins uses infrared technology to make the second section of the finger transparent, and then uses a camera to analyze and identify the identity. In addition to being more secure than fingerprints (because fingerprints can be maliciously collected or imitated), this method also allows users with dry hands, unclear fingerprints or blurred fingerprints to use it.

Temporary PIN Code

The operation of the temporary PIN code to unlock is the same as that of a normal PIN code door lock. The difference is that the householder can set a temporary PIN code for others to use and unlock once, and then the temporary PIN code will become invalid. For example, if your friend visits but you are unable to return home on time due to business, you can set a temporary PIN code to allow your friend to open the smart door lock and enter the house by himself.

Function 2: Anti-theft alarm: no fear of lock explosion

If any door lock is violently burst open, it will immediately lose its function. If the smart door lock is damaged, all the built-in electronic functions will also fail immediately. In order to prevent violent lock bursting, smart door locks generally have safety measures, that is, anti-theft alarm. When the smart door lock is maliciously damaged, the smart door lock will immediately emit a harsh alarm sound, which will immediately deter criminals and attract the attention of neighbors. In addition, the anti-theft alarm function will also immediately issue an alarm on the relevant mobile phone App. Advanced smart door locks can also immediately block any physical unlocking methods to prevent criminals from trying again and again.

Function 3: High-definition camera: real-time monitoring of the situation outside the door

One of the major differences between a smart door lock and an electronic door lock is whether a camera is installed. The smart door lock is equipped with a high-definition camera, and users can monitor the situation outside the door anytime, anywhere through the mobile phone App. Some smart door locks also have a high-definition screen on the indoor side of the door lock. You can clearly see the situation on the other side of the door without using the mobile phone App, which perfectly replaces the traditional anti-theft eye.

Function 4: Child lock mode: prevent children from accidentally opening the door

Child lock mode is not common in smart door locks. Only advanced smart door locks such as Moorgen's smart door locks have this function. The child lock mode is actually a very intimate function, because children are generally more curious. Seeing adults opening the door, they will want to imitate. The child lock mode can prevent children or pets from accidentally opening the door of the house.

The principle of the child lock mode is that there is a touch sensor inside the door handle. Only when an adult is holding the door handle, all four fingers are on the touch sensor inside the door handle, and the thumb is placed on the front of the door handle at the same time, the door can be opened. First, children do not know how to operate, and second, children may not be that big; pets' hands and feet are even less likely to open the door.

Function 5: Unlock with mobile phone App: remote door opening

Ordinary electronic door locks do not have a mobile phone App to set or control the door lock. Ordinary smart door locks are equipped with a mobile phone App, which can not only set the door lock, such as changing the PIN code, deleting the user's fingerprint record, or remotely monitoring the situation outside the door, but also directly open the door lock with the mobile phone App. For example, when your friend visits and you are lazily watching TV and don't want to walk to the door to open the door, you can use the mobile phone App to open the door lock and ask your friend to come in by himself, which is definitely a must-have function for lazy people.

Function 6: Home/Away Mode: Easy entry and exit

Home/Away Mode is also a function that electronic door locks lack, but smart door locks have. Home/Away Mode generally needs to be used together with a one-stop smart home system. Simply put, when you leave home and lock the smart door lock, the system will turn off all the smart appliances and devices in the home, or switch them to the default settings; when you come home and unlock the door lock, the home mode will automatically start, and all the appliances and devices that have been preset to be turned on will be turned on. With this function, you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn off the lights or appliances when you leave home, and you can relax and go straight to the sofa when you come home.

Smart door lock - 7 things to note when choosing

As the first line of defense in the home, there are actually many things to consider when choosing a smart door lock.

1. Is there a physical key / spare key

Although smart door locks are smart, since they are all electronic products, it is necessary to consider what methods can be used to open the house door in case of power failure or malfunction. The physical key is very useful in these situations. With the physical key, there is no need to replace the entire door lock; secondly, the smart door lock can also be temporarily used with the physical key until the technical problem is resolved, and then switch back to the smart unlocking method.

2. Remind to replace the battery

Don't underestimate the function of reminding to replace the battery, it is actually very important, because the "intelligence" of the smart door lock depends on the operation of the chip, and the chip depends on electricity to operate, so without electricity, the entire smart door lock is disabled. Therefore, a simple reminder to replace the battery is a must, whether it is a reminder on the door lock itself or a reminder on the mobile phone App.

3. Can it be operated with pen core battery

Operation with pen core battery is not a must-have function for smart door locks, but it will be more assured if there is one. Some smart door locks are powered by lithium batteries, and lithium batteries can be recharged and come with two lithium batteries for replacement. If, in addition to lithium batteries, pen core batteries can be used as a substitute, it would be even better. Because lithium batteries will depreciate. If a smart door lock is used for ten years, the life of the lithium battery may not keep up. At that time, the pen core battery can continue to be used. In addition, if you forget to charge the lithium battery and the smart door lock runs out of power, you can buy pen core batteries anywhere to keep the smart door lock working.

Some other smart door locks rely only on pen core batteries. The advantage is that you can always buy pen core batteries. The disadvantage is that pen core batteries are not cheap, and due to the chip, smart door locks have to use more or less ten or eight pen core batteries, so the cost is more expensive and not very environmentally friendly.

4. Unlocking method

As mentioned in "Function 1: Smart door lock: multiple unlocking methods", smart door locks can have up to 7 unlocking methods, while ordinary electronic locks have only 4 - fingerprint, PIN code, smart card and spare key. The unlocking method depends on the needs of the user, and it is up to the user to decide which smart door lock to buy. Of course, the more unlocking methods the better, but the most basic should have biometric recognition such as fingerprint, finger vein or face recognition, reducing the need to carry a door key, and "bringing a person" can go home. And the spare key is basically indispensable, because if there is any electronic problem, you can open the door physically. Finally, the mobile phone App as a remote control interface is not necessary, but it is better to have it than not.

5. PIN code mechanism

Smart door locks that unlock with PIN codes are very common, but PIN code locks can actually have more advanced settings.

Temporary PIN code

The householder can set a temporary PIN code as a one-time use unlocking PIN code. Temporary PIN codes can have many uses, depending on the needs of the user. For details, please refer to "Function 1: Smart door lock: multiple unlocking methods" above.

Virtual Passcode / Fake PIN Code

The virtual passcode is more important. The emergence of virtual passcode is to prevent people from peeping, or trying to steal PIN codes by other means. The working principle of the virtual passcode / Fake PIN Code is that you can enter the numbers before and after the set PIN code at will, as long as the string you enter has the PIN code you set in the middle, you can open the door lock, which improves the security of PIN code unlocking.

6. Anti-pry alarm

As mentioned in "Function 1: Smart door lock: multiple unlocking methods", the anti-pry alarm can sound an alarm when the smart door lock is forcibly damaged, preventing the door lock from being damaged and allowing criminals to force their way into the house. As a smart door lock, anti-pry alarm is basically necessary, because once the electronic components inside the smart door lock are damaged, even if there is a mobile phone App, it will not be able to connect, and it will be useless.

7. Customer service

The customer service of the smart door lock brand is definitely a plus. Because once the smart door lock is broken, or the door is locked and there is no spare key, if you don't want the smart door lock to be forcibly burst open by the locksmith, a contactable customer service is definitely your savior. High-end smart door lock brands will have good after-sales service to ensure that you use the smart door lock with peace of mind.

Smart door lock - different control methods

Smart door locks are generally independent smart home devices, which can be used immediately after purchase and can be installed independently without the need to forcibly connect the entire smart home system. The control methods of smart door locks are divided into the following categories.

1. Dedicated mobile phone App
   Most smart door locks come with a dedicated mobile phone App, allowing you to control the settings of the smart door lock and even monitor the situation outside the door in real time through the smart phone App. These mobile phone Apps generally allow you to have more in-depth settings, such as setting a one-time temporary PIN code or remotely unlocking the door lock. However, since it is an independent mobile phone App, it needs to be downloaded additionally, and it may not be the most convenient to use.
   
   
2. Smart home platform App
   Some smart door locks support mainstream smart home platforms such as Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa. You can use the mobile phone App of these smart home platforms to control the settings of the smart door lock, such as the door lock PIN code, user profile, etc.
   
   
3. One-stop smart home system
   One-stop smart home systems generally integrate smart appliances or devices with various smart home product companies, such as doorbells, light bulbs, and air conditioners, in advance. Smart home systems usually have their own integrated smart controller and mobile phone App, which centrally control the smart home in the whole house.

Smart door locks with sufficient supporting functions, such as Moorgen's advanced smart door locks, can be connected to a one-stop smart home system. You can use a mobile phone App to control all the smart home products and appliances in the whole house, and at the same time control the smart door lock, which is very convenient.

Smart door lock - 7 things to know about installation

Most home doors can be fitted with smart door locks, whether they are wooden, stainless steel, copper sulfide, aluminum or carved. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Door lock style

If the front door of the home is already using a smart door lock, there will generally be no problem. If a traditional door lock is used at home, it must be a new type of anti-theft door. If the house uses a tiger lock or a three-open lock, it means it is an old-fashioned anti-theft door. There is a good chance that it cannot be installed. If you want to install it, you may need to replace the front door of the house. The following door lock styles will generally not have problems:

1. Horizontal lock / horizontal separation lock
2. Horn lock
3. Heaven and earth lock
4. Conjoined lock
5. Auxiliary lock

2. Door depth

The door depth refers to the space between the inner and outer door panels of the door, which is used to place the lock cylinder. It is generally recommended to reserve at least 12cm. If the depth of the middle part of the house door is less than 12cm, or the glass design, you may have to consider replacing the house door or giving up using the smart door lock.

3. Door thickness

The door thickness refers to the thickness of the two door panels. Because the lock cylinder has a length limit, the thickness requirement of the smart door lock for iron doors, steel doors or wooden doors is 45mm-60mm. If the door lock thickness is different, the lock cylinder of the door lock, the length of the lock fixing screws and the drilling requirements will also be different. Before purchasing a smart door lock, it is recommended to measure the thickness of the home door first.

4. Lock cylinder position

Generally, smart door locks have length limits, so you also need to pay attention to the distance between the lock cylinder and the door edge. Before installing a smart door lock, it is generally recommended to ensure that the distance between the lock cylinder and the door edge is within 70mm.

5. Load-bearing capacity

Since smart door locks have more chips, electronic devices, and even camera lenses, the weight of the entire smart door lock is heavier than that of ordinary door locks. Even smart door locks made mainly of plastic generally weigh at least 3.5 kg, which is definitely not light. If the material of the home door is poor or the steel plate is too thin, the screws used for fixing during installation may pull the door and deform it.

6. Door opening direction

The way or direction of opening doors in everyone's home is different, so it is necessary to confirm the direction of opening the door. The easiest way is to face the door from the interior, and see if the door lock is on the left or right side of the door. You can then choose the smart door lock and related accessories that match the door according to this criterion. If the front door of the home is pushed outward, it is necessary to pay attention to the fire regulations, because opening the front door may block the space of the fire escape passage. For this reason, the front door of the home is generally opened inward, ensuring that it does not violate the "Building Regulations", which stipulates that the fire escape passage must be 41 inches wide.

7. Lock escutcheon accessories

If there is a door lock on the front door of the house, or if a smart door lock has never been installed, a lock escutcheon must be purchased. The purpose of the lock escutcheon is to ensure the smooth operation of the bevel tongue, lock tongue, and anti-lock tongue. If it is not installed properly, it may damage the motor built into the smart door lock and lock you out of the house. If you have ever used a smart door lock, you do not need to purchase a lock escutcheon accessory.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the opening of the lock escutcheon, which mainly has 4 types - single head and single hole, single head and double hole, round head and single hole, and round head and double hole.

Installing a smart door lock - Restrictions on door types

Although most doors can be fitted with smart door locks, the following restrictions must be observed when installing smart door locks on the following doors.

Wooden door: If there is no lock hole, a carpenter must be invited to open the hole before it can be installed

Glass door: You need to purchase a smart door lock專用for glass doors

Internal and external doors: Pay attention to the spacing between the two doors. If it is too small, an electronic auxiliary lock can be installed

Uneven door surface: A door pad may be required during installation

Smart door lock installation steps

The installation steps of smart door locks are relatively complicated. It is generally not recommended to install them by yourself, so as to avoid damage to the door body due to errors, or malfunction of the smart door lock due to improper installation, or even the front door being locked.

1. Dismantle the old door lock
2. The opening positions of different smart door locks are different. The opening diagram of the corresponding model should be followed to ensure that the hole position is correct
3. Drill holes according to the drawn opening position
4. In the drilled holes, insert the lock clip of the smart door lock into the door leaf
5. Measure the thickness of the door and use screws and accessories of the corresponding length
6. Fix the accessories to the smart door lock
7. Align the holes and install the outdoor and indoor parts of the smart door lock; remember to pass the wiring through the door hole and tighten the screws
8. Adjust the proper fit for each door panel
9. After the installation is complete, test whether the customized unlocking method is working properly; test whether the door can be opened and locked smoothly both indoors and outdoors

After reading this Moorgenzine article, I believe that you will have a deeper understanding of smart door locks and know what to look for when choosing a smart door lock. If you have any questions about smart door locks, please feel free to contact Moorgen at any time. In addition, if you want to personally experience the life enhancement brought to you by smart door locks, you can visit Moorgen's showroom in North Point, Hong Kong, to experience "real smart home".