Hello openHAB community! I wanted to share my experience with the Schlage Connect keypad, as I’ve encountered an interesting issue that might be helpful for others to know about.
I’ve been using the Schlage Connect electronic deadbolt with keypad for a while now, and it’s been a reliable addition to my smart home setup. However, I recently noticed that the keypad would occasionally stop working—no illumination, no code entry, nothing. Interestingly, the deadbolt itself could still be controlled remotely via the SmartThings Hub, and the app indicated that the battery level was at 99%.
At first glance, this seemed puzzling. How could there be enough battery power to operate the deadbolt but not the keypad? I decided to dig deeper.
I replaced the batteries, and as expected, the keypad sprang back to life. But this wasn’t a one-time occurrence; it happened several times over the course of a few weeks. Each time, replacing the batteries resolved the issue temporarily.
After some research and reaching out to Schlage support, I discovered that this behavior might be due to how the keypad and deadbolt handle power consumption differently. The keypad, being more power-intensive, might drain the battery faster, even if the app indicated high battery levels.
To address this, I implemented a few proactive steps:
- Regular Battery Replacement: I now replace the batteries every 6 months, regardless of the app’s indication. This has significantly reduced the frequency of keypad failures.
- Monitoring Battery Levels: I created a rule in openHAB to send me a notification when the battery level drops below 80%. This gives me ample time to replace the batteries before the keypad stops working.
- Using High-Quality Batteries: I switched to using only high-quality, long-lasting batteries. This has improved the overall performance and longevity of the keypad.
While Schlage’s response was somewhat generic, suggesting battery replacement or a device reset, the combination of these proactive measures has been effective in mitigating the issue.
I hope this experience helps others who might be facing similar issues with their Schlage Connect keypads. It’s a great device once you work out the quirks!
Happy smart home tinkering! 