Weiser Smart Lock

[Clever]

I have a Weiser Halo Smart lock for about a year now and it seems like I’m changing the battery every 6 weeks, I was wondering if anyone else has one or something similar. If so, how often do you replace the battery. The lock is installed properly and lined up so i don’t think that’s draining or using up more power.

[TomcoPDR]

Halo and Element have horrible battery life reviews. And especially installed for exterior doors (exposed to cold weather)

My experiences:

- powerbolt2 on a house expose to outside/door gets cold, 8 months
- powerbolt2 in apartment (throughly heated hallway, not a half coldish older apartment) 14-18 months
- smartcode in heated hallway apartment 12 months
- Aura in heated hallway apartment 5 months

[Recca168]

I've had mine for about 2 years now. It feels like I change it every four months or so? It's definitely not often enough that I get annoyed by it. Mines on the door to the attached garage though... so it essentially indoors. Maybe the lower fluctuations give it a longer battery life? I haven't gotten around to getting one for the actual front door yet. If I have to change the batteries that often though, I may not do it.

[Clever]

I’ll check out the powerbolt then, bough mine from Costco so I’m sure I can return it.I thought that maybe the smart feature was causing the drain. Even from June to September, before it got cold, it only lasted about 6 maybe 7 weeks. I had an element lock that did not have the smart feature at my old house and I don’t remember changing the batteries at all.

[TomcoPDR]

Powerbolt2 doesn’t have smart features. But Aura does (just not cloud/remote access)

Schlage Encode has good reviews by Airbnb operators for remote access features. But I don’t like Schlage not have SmartKey self re-key function

[ThePenIsMightier]

The Schlage I have had good battery life and can be re keyed.

[eblend]

Don't know anything about the particular lock in question, but if it uses AA batteries, make sure you run the Lithium ones. Normal batteries don't last at all in smart locks from my experience. I have a fingerprint smart lock, with lithium the batteries last about 1.5 years, with standard, like a month. I found the same with my outdoor temp sensor I use for my thermostat. With lithium...like 5 years...with standard, like 2 month.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Interested, as all my schlage locks are basically useless in the cold. I don't know the model, but the battery only engages/disengages the gears, but in the cold it just spins and I'm locked out of my house.

[ExtraSlow]

That's a good tip. Are lithium better in the cold?

[ThePenIsMightier]

I've never heard this either!
Although, I think I've been using NiM-H in outside thermometers and regular Energizer in my door locks without much issue.
Whatever brand Vivint used to use for locks was unusable. I think it would kill a diesel truck battery.

Wait!
Are we talking about freezing batteries without paging Mar??!?! @Buster get in here!!

[eblend]

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That's a good tip. Are lithium better in the cold?

No idea, but somehow they work. I use the Energizer Lithium ones. In the 12 years I have lived in my current place, the outdoor temp sensor only had batteries changed once. Like 6 years ago when the first set died I went cheap and put in some rechargeable..only for a few months later to be told they are dead. Bought some lithium ones and was back in business, haven't changed them since. The sensor does specifically say "lithium recommended" or something like that. My door lock came with lithium from factory and I had to replace them once in two years. It's an outdoor wall and never have any issues regarding of temps.

[Tik-Tok]

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That's a good tip. Are lithium better in the cold?

Significantly, at least for smaller electronics. I can't speak for smart locks but I know my outdoor temperature sensor ate a battery annually. After I switched it to a AA Lithium one, it's still going strong at 3 years.

[rage2]

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Interested, as all my schlage locks are basically useless in the cold. I don't know the model, but the battery only engages/disengages the gears, but in the cold it just spins and I'm locked out of my house.

I had that when my lock wasn’t aligned properly against the hole. Self install fail. My batteries on it (outside door) lasts almost a year, and I use cheap Amazon rechargeables.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

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I had that when my lock wasn’t aligned properly against the hole. Self install fail. My batteries on it (outside door) lasts almost a year, and I use cheap Amazon rechargeables.

It used to work, but it's been a few years, and if it's anything less than 5*C, it just spins forever, even with fresh batteries. Even with the door open. I can't lock, or unlock the deadbolt. It has a keyhole, but the key gets stuck in it.

One of these: https://www.schlage.com/en/home/prod...365PLYFFF.html

[arcticcat522]

I think ours are Yale. Changed the back door about every year. Front and garage, haven't changed yet. Only the back door is hooked to the alarm/app. Other 2 are just electronic. Best thing I've ever done at the house was getting them.

[rage2]

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It used to work, but it's been a few years, and if it's anything less than 5*C, it just spins forever, even with fresh batteries. Even with the door open. I can't lock, or unlock the deadbolt. It has a keyhole, but the key gets stuck in it.

One of these: https://www.schlage.com/en/home/prod...365PLYFFF.html

Yea weird, I’ve had mine forever too. Basically when it first came out. I noted in the HomeKit thread that lock is by far my most reliable automation in the house.

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Best thing I've ever done at the house was getting them.

Yup. I tied facial recognition to mine so it unlocks for the kids when they walk home. Pure lazy.

[gmc72]

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Interested, as all my schlage locks are basically useless in the cold. I don't know the model, but the battery only engages/disengages the gears, but in the cold it just spins and I'm locked out of my house.

We had that happen on a couple of our locks (same locks). We just went with regular keyed locks after that.

We do have one Weiser lock on the back door that is smart. The motor actually engages the lock, there's nothing to turn. It's been good so far.

[cyra1ax]

Interesting, my Schlage Sense specifically says to NOT use lithium batteries because you won't get low battery warnings.
That being said, the one on my front door is faulty anyways since it chews up batteries within six weeks or so. The replacement I got under warranty has lasted about a year.
Waiting for either the Encode Plus to not be vaporware or for another Homekey compatible lock to show up.

[rage2]

Encode plus isn’t available in Canada till next year. They’re available in the US sporadically but that’s probably a pita for warranty and shit.

[kenny]

Schlage Encode Plus available for pre-order at Home Depot now. Ships Nov 17th.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/sch...key/1001770747