What smart lock for external gates?

Hey guys, just after a couple of recommendations to secure two grate style doors/gates with the smartest style of lock that will both fit and suit the position of the gates. The first gate is our external pedestrian entry onto our property. It is the thicker of the two at around four cm thick so really it is about what lock is weatherproof enough whilst being the smartest possible. The gate is 100% in the open, although it is somewhat sheltered from super heavy winds or rain. Both sides of the gate regularly get wet in the rain.

The second is a gate at the end of a breezeway that divides the house from the garage. It is undercover, but both sides will still get wet in heavy rainfall with lots of wind, but it's not in the direct rain. this gate is slightly thinner at about 2.3 cm thick.

Do you have suggestions on lock types? Ideally they would be the smart lock style as opposed to the push pin coded style, as I have a 10 and a 12-year-old who are likely to either give the code away or allow it to be seen by friends and others in the neighborhood. I don't particularly want a key as the primary unlocking method.

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Repairing

Lighting and Electrical

Doors and Windows

Comments

MitchellMc

Hi @owen2,

The main challenge you’ll face with smart locks, or any lock for that matter, on your gates isn’t so much the style of lock, but the actual mounting surface. Most standard locks are designed to be fixed onto a solid, flat area that’s at least 60mm wide. The gates you’ve shown don’t provide enough flat surface to securely mount a lock as-is. The rail thickness itself isn’t the issue; it’s the limited width that prevents proper installation.

To use a lock on these gates, you would likely need to modify them first. That could involve welding on a metal plate or attaching a timber spacer to create a wider mounting surface. Once that’s done, you can consider a variety of exterior-grade, weatherproof locks that suit your preferred unlocking method. However, you'll find most exterior locks can be undone from the inside, and once again, your style of gate poses an issue, as anyone could simply reach through the gate and unlock the lock by hand.

Are the current keyed locks not functioning, or is your preference just having better ease of access?

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

owen2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/60453#Comment_60453

My main concern is the outer gate, and main objective is dissuading kids from opening the gate.

We are getting a new dog, and neighbours young kids may want to play with it without our consent. Next thing: dog on the loose.

I might get a perspex guard to prevent the inner being opened from outside, though im aware this might not look awesome, but that's ok until we get another solution sorted.

Main thing now is a solution to the lock.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/92694#Comment_92694

I am not aware of any smart locks that would suit an exposed situation, as they are designed for sheltered front doors @owen2. The exterior component can take some weather, but the internal side is typically not weather-proof. However, even a Delf Matte Black Push Button Digital Gate Lock Entrance Set only suits standard door thicknesses such as between 33 and 60mm. So you would need the thinner frame to increase its thickness and also make both frames wider, so you have an appropriate surface to mount to. It's quite difficult to mount standard locks to a steel gate frame without quite a bit of adjustment to them.

Mitchell

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/112484#Comment_112484

Hi @owen2

I think you may be approaching this from the wrong angle. The lock is problematic for fitting a smart solution so leave that as is and install a wall mounted keypad and electric release lock keeper, The beauty with this is also that you can get them with a fob access or swipe card. This could be the way of letting the kids in without them being able to give away the code.

An example of a cheap stand alone keypad, note there is also a PSU advertised on the same page.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006575121132.html?src=google&pdp_npi=4%40dis!AUD!66.64!29.75!!!!!%40!12000037710750444!ppc!!!&snps=y&snpsid=1&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=752-015-9270&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=_oDeeeiG&gclsrc=aw.ds&&albagn=888888&&ds_e_adid=775662337193&ds_e_matchtype=search&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=g&ds_e_product_group_id=2442123901331&ds_e_product_id=en1005006575121132&ds_e_product_merchant_id=5551326180&ds_e_product_country=AU&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=23045097018&albag=186908086218&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23045097018&gbraid=0AAAAA_eFwRDlBLjE30Ddlch_aKYS_2w0L&gclid=CjwKCAiAl-_JBhBjEiwAn3rN7QpscA5O14VMxUiKMFUSTWsgsLXWpTWYBppfARMI8XpN3gnsuXaN0RoCbFAQAvD_BwE

And you would need the key holder/strike aswell

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006255118178.html?src=google&pdp_npi=4%40dis!AUD!49.25!24.39!!!!!%40!12000036494746966!ppc!!!&snps=y&snpsid=1&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=752-015-9270&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=_oDeeeiG&gclsrc=aw.ds&&albagn=888888&&ds_e_adid=775662337193&ds_e_matchtype=search&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=g&ds_e_product_group_id=2442123901331&ds_e_product_id=en1005006255118178&ds_e_product_merchant_id=5551326180&ds_e_product_country=AU&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=23045097018&albag=186908086218&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23045097018&gbraid=0AAAAA_eFwRDlBLjE30Ddlch_aKYS_2w0L&gclid=CjwKCAiAl-_JBhBjEiwAn3rN7Ul41fjrF_KbDGi0aRN8VXzasKNpcWRIteM1p2GvCL5vEUo24TpMhRoCImoQAvD_BwE

You may be able to get them all as a kit.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/123771#Comment_123771

Hello @owen2

Using Perspex to prevent access to the opening lock is a good idea. I recommend using it for the rest of your gate to prevent small hands from getting through the gate bars.

Eric

owen2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/123771#Comment_123771

Great idea, but i was trying g to get away without having to play with a power source!

R4addZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131234#Comment_131234

@owen2

Most of this is low voltage and so DIYable the only 240Vac bit is from the PSU to the socket and if you buy the right PSU that is preconfigured (or has a modular replaceable lead like a kettle plug) and the big advantage is you don't have to worry about batteries going flat at inconvenient times. There are no segregation rules for the voltage levels in use here (I have even seen one lazy installer connect through the same cable as the telephone service) and dropping cables down inside the cavity is simple with a short length of chain on the end of a length of builders twine and a magnet on the end of a stick! It is possible to go sideways if you know what you are doing (to get to the lock release) but if you can't, just go up across and back down, it's a bit more cable expense but so much easier.

And if this still doesn't appeal to you, you may be able to use a battery pack instead of a psu to power this type of solution.

However there may be a complete battery solution but I don't know if this will be compatible with the current hardware.

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005004605468385.html

On Amazon there is this unit

https://www.amazon.com.au/ReaIOKbii-Fingerprint-Controller-Waterproof-Compatible/dp/B0FQBRJGYG/ref=sr_1_26?crid=3BCOPSZQYGPC4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JtLFnMSPHIv7yG9eUwrrWQOgNjSMzh-ctftmqwhX85oTr98oAoouBoV0CAzK7paPGI1dw980SYpjybSbycfAW3C8Er7c-4DhF6mN6nEcf88C4sZ1lyfcq6hNd6FH31YedLfh10ATaRN457QcPEJIPk1cxHmTMMsT1wJvAZZPdyOpAkK7IfHK5Dbm2qbLVitzSq3KI8XpSWxCvv1oh089NLr2u1yTEyKgujwhsRKUK8V7jFxDP32kroI3jY3iIQiDLh52NvnpD9NfZJ9jSd8TR4oEsauROY1l8oPVHQbis2I.YgLEFSXZ6EX28z3Fd97Wl-z6b6qG3Mc_v6si33gR1rQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery%2Bpowered%2Baccess%2Bcontrol%2Bfor%2Bdoor&qid=1765765944&sprefix=battery%2Bpowered%2Baccess%2Bcontrol%2Bfor%2Bdoor%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-26&th=1

Which you may be able to use with this

https://www.nexkey.com/hardware

But I'm not sure about the compatibility of the protocols.

There may be others out there, have a search.

Child Item