I use 2 Aqara U-100 door locks in my house. They work great and I am using the finger print 90% of the time. The locks are connected with Zigbee to a M2 hub that is connected to Apple HomeKit.
I am having 2 metal gate installed and I plan to use 2 U-100 locks on the gates. I 3d printed a cover that will slide over the “indoor” lock to protect it from rain. I need to access the manual open knob, so I don’t want to cover the inside lock completely.
The metal gates have a soft close hinge, and the door lock portion is the same as a normal door to match deadbolt locks.
Has anyone also done this? Anything I should be concerned about?
The U-100 in the gate is there for the convenience of a finger print lock, with a keypad for guests without needing a key for everyday use. I am not installing this as a high security measure.
1 Like
@thorpefaa It’s wonderful to hear that you’re enjoying the Aqara U-100 door locks in your home! Your plan to use the U-100 locks on your metal gates sounds innovative, especially with the added convenience of fingerprint access and a keypad for guests. Based on the reference information, here are a few things to consider:
-
Weather Protection: The front panel of the Aqara Smart Door Lock U100 is IP65 waterproof, which means it should handle outdoor conditions reasonably well. However, the indoor panel is not designed for outdoor use, so your 3D-printed cover is a smart move to protect it from rain. Just ensure that the cover doesn’t impede the functionality of the lock, especially the manual open knob.
-
Temperature and Humidity: The lock operates in temperatures from -35℃ to 66℃ and humidity levels of 0% RH to 93% RH. Ensure that your gate’s location doesn’t exceed these conditions to maintain optimal functionality.
-
Installation Considerations: Make sure that the installation of your lock on the gate allows for proper alignment and operation. The soft close hinge on your gate should help with smooth operation, but it’s crucial to ensure that the lock and deadbolt align correctly each time the gate closes.
-
Security and Accessibility: Since you’re not using the lock for high security, the convenience features like fingerprint and keypad access should serve you well. However, always consider having a mechanical key or another form of backup in case of electronic failure.
Your project sounds exciting, and it’s great to see such creativity in adapting the technology to your needs. If anyone in the community has tried something similar, their insights would be invaluable, so I encourage engaging further in the forum. Happy smart home enhancing!
I’ll have to look into these U-100 door locks. Can they be used for normal exterior doors to my house? I have not yet made that leap to automating door locks as I just haven’t found anything that allows me to keep the existing “look” of a non automated door but has the features and integrates within Home Assistant.
I have had no issues with the U100 on 2 doors in the house. One is the front door covered by an overhang, the other is a side door to the garage.
I have a M2 hub and use Zigbee for range and battery battery life. The M2 hub is linked to Apple HomeKit so I can see the status there too.
We tried the Apple key and it does work but the finger print has been the primary way we open the door because it’s fast and the simplest method. Maybe the winter we will switch to apple Key if wearing gloves or have wet fingers.
I wanted a Zigbee and finger print reader so I didn’t look at the other Aqara locks.
These socks have been working so well that I’m adding them to the gates for full outdoor use, following the the idea I saw on Reddit.
I saw that you also asked about HA. I just started with HA. My plan is to connect all of the Aqara devices to the M2 hub, then add the M2 hub to HA. I see that it can be done, but I’m so new to HA that I haven’t been able to do this yet. This lock can be set up as Zigbee so the direct connection to HA should be possible, but I am the wrong guy to advise on that topic.