The One Electronic Deadbolt Used by Locksmiths

Electronic Deadbolts. Whether you love them or hate them, they are here to stay. Electronic deadbolts come in a variety of shapes and styles, but one thing remains constant – they are getting more expensive. Along with the mind boggling price increases, they are getting more heavily laden with new tech features. Features that no one really needs. Who really needs AI powered electronic locks? 

Here’s a secret. Most professional Vancouver locksmiths will only use one electronic deadbolt on their own doors. This article will explore which model I personally use, and why you should too.

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at alex@locksmithvancouver.com. My Downtown Vancouver Key Store is located at 555 West Hastings St, on the bottom floor of the SFU/Habour Centre. Our Port Moody location at 95 Moody St is not open to the public.

New Deadbolt Features that You Don’t Need

First I should reinforce the idea that all electronic deadbolts are made for the Residential Market. There is currently no electronic deadbolt that is made specifically for the Commercial Market. It’s not that it’s impossible to make one, it’s more like there is little demand for one. On the Commercial side, electronic access systems using FOBS are much more prevalent. If you need the strength of a deadbolt, there are electronic mortise locks available. 

So most of the new features for electronic deadbolts are tailored primarily for single dwelling homeowners. Probably like you!

Some of the recent “upgrades” I’ve seen include:

• IR powered locks where power is sent wireless via an IR emitter
• AI driven locks with apps that learn your preferences
• Fingerprint locks
• Integration with a host of different systems and AI tools
• Concealed motion detectors and heat senors
• Built in spy cameras
• Multi-factor biometrics
• Modular deadbolts with interchangeable parts

Lastly, a feature I think is particularly useless is a hollow deadbolt with the battery inside.

Layered on top of all of this is the standard Bluetooth and Wifi connectivity that allows you to program the lock with your phone or operate it from the other side of the world. Even this is a gimmick that loses its lustre fairly quickly for most homeowners.

The Secret Lock Companies Don’t Want You to Know

Here’s the secret that locksmiths and lock companies do not want you to know. All of these new features make your lock more expensive and more prone to failure.

The mechanical deadbolt market is very price sensitive and the margins are fairly slim. A gold standard like the Schlage B560 has not changed in over 10 years. There are minor changes here and there, but it’s essentially the same lock as when I started in this business.

Electronic deadbolts and locks is where the real profit margins are for lock companies. By incorporating features that most of their clients will never use, lock companies can charge more for a product that will last a fraction as long compared to their mechanical locks.

Even a Defiant deadbolt from Home Depot has a better value proposition than the Defiant Electronic Deadbolt. With higher quality brands, the difference becomes even more readily evident. 

Take for example the venerable Schlage B660 deadbolt. The gold standard of the Grade 1 Commercial Grade deadbolts. Its current retail price is $340. At that price, you are getting the best deadbolt you can buy before you get into the ultra premium high security brands like Medeco and Abloy.

In comparison, the most expensive Schlage electronic deadbolt is the Schlage Sense Pro for $549. Its primary feature is the series of sensors that pair with your Apple Home App to identify your presence, calculate your proximity to the lock, and to unlock the door at the “right” moment. It is classified as a Grade 2 lock.

So ask yourself. Do you want a cheaper lock that will outlast the door it’s mounted on? Or do you prefer to pay more for a fancy lock that will probably break just as the warranty period expires?

Most locksmiths will choose the Schlage B660 deadbolt. I personally prefer the B660 with an Everest Key Way. These thicker keys provide additional anti-picking and anti-bumping protection. The keys also have lifetime warranties, and the lock provides me with a piece of mind no electronic lock can. 

 

The One Electronic Deadbolt to Rule Them All

After installing electronic deadbolts for over a decade, I have noticed an interesting way clients use their fancy electronic locks. They will play around with the special features for a while. After they get used to the lock, they will begin to simply use the key pad for manual code entry.

As you approach the door, it’s easier and faster just to punch in the 4 to 6 digit code than to get your phone out of your pocket, open the app, and press-hold the unlock button. The only way faster to unlock your door is if the lock unlocks itself, which is what the sensors in new locks like the Scholage Sense Pro are trying to do. 

I have even seen customers use their manual override keys like it’s not an electronic lock at all. What was the point of an electronic lock in the first place?

The other thing I have noted is that new electronic deadbolts with newer features tend to have very short battery lives. Due to the limited form factor of most deadbolts, there is also a limit on the number of batteries that will fit into an electronic deadbolt. 4.5V to 9V seems to be the limit. 

As a result, when you have more and more electronic features cramped into a deadbolt, it will use more and more power. More power leads to more heat. More heat leads to excess wear and tear. Finally, excess wear and tear results in a shortened product life.

For newer deadbolts, you should change out the alkaline batteries once or twice a year.

The Schlage BE365 Electronic Deadbolt

So here is the one electronic deadbolt that I use on my door and most Vancouver locksmiths do as well. It is also the cheapest electronic deadbolt in Schlage’s product lineup. The BE365.

You may have seen this model somewhere in your life so far. It’s a classic that has been around for a very long time.

So here are some reasons why locksmiths prefer the Schlage BE365:

• It uses a simple mechanical operation that is time tested and has proven durability.
• It’s easy to repair. It’s also fairly cheap to replace.
• Clutched manual key cylinder that makes lockpicking very difficult.
• The battery lasts years. Some clients forget that there even is a battery inside.

Even in heavy traffic areas in commercial worksites, the battery will last a long time without the need to power Bluetooth, Wifi, or the host of other power hungry applications. 

Now there are a few weaknesses to the Schlage BE365. I will not mention its security vulnerabilities online. If you are curious or want to know more, you can contact me directly. But for most clients, the downsides are not significant because you don’t get an electronic deadbolt for its high level of security. You get one because you want the convenience of going keyless.

Conclusion

 

I generally do not supply electronic deadbolts to my clients besides the Schlage BE365. If you want a fancier electronic deadbolt, I recommend you buy it yourself and I will be happy to install it for you. The main reason is because fancy electronic deadbolts break all the time. 

In the end, they are consumer grade electronics. They will fail eventually. As a result, it’s better you buy it yourself for warranty issues. This is why I also recommend clients not to throw out the packaging and the box your electronic deadbolt came in for at least a year. Some brands will refuse returns or warranties without the original packaging.

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please call/text me at 604-363-2760 or email me at alex@locksmithvancouver.com. My Downtown Vancouver Key Store is located at 555 West Hastings St, on the bottom floor of the SFU/Habour Centre. Our Port Moody location at 95 Moody St is not open to the public.