The castle was built as part of a larger contract for burglar alarm bought by a specialist company, assembled and programmed basis. But I think, with minimal technical skills can be relatively easy to install yourself, too.
In preliminary told us the head of the operation, that he had always had good experiences with this castle, but about 5% of the installed locks aufträten at the outset problems that one would then be solved by exchange, and then should also rest. Well, not exactly speaks for the quality assurance at Burg Wächter, but ultimately we were lucky and are at the 95%, where it ran decently from the very beginning.
We, that is myself, my wife and our 9-year-old daughter, only use the access via fingerprint. Of course I have also programmed a code, if the times partout does not work with the fingerprints, but so far that's never happened before. All components work very reliable (even at -15 ° C, as we had in December). We have never been in front of a non-opening door lock (which is also a real no-go would be). Also on the stability of the operating unit software we can not say anything negative: similar crashes / reboots have not yet come across us.
The gain in comfort is in any case enormous: One needs to have more fear never be shut out by mistake (which is typically then happens if the neighbors where you have deposited a Schlüsel, just are not there also). You have to carry around, could the misplace or lose you no longer key. Our daughter is at all times (even when my wife things are not in front of her just from work to home) to the house, without having to fear that they will lose a key, and without the need to constantly run to the door, if they playing outside and constantly want something new (food, drink, toys). Neighbors, pouring flowers prolonged absence and care of the animals, you need to set only a code (or, when it comes, before fingerprint scan), after delete, and finished (Alternatively, you can the neighbors also a - separately to be purchased - E -Key itemizing).
All this is very practical and convenient.
The neighbors were sometimes a bit skeptical as we initially but also:
- "What is it, when suddenly the batteries are dead?"
- "What if someone steals the keypad or break something?"
Well, a set of batteries keeps the first place, according to the manufacturer up to 30,000 deaths (ie even with daily 25 closings loose three years), and alkaline cells are never suddenly empty (batteries or lithium cells is therefore due to their completely different discharge characteristic - which are namely typically from now on equal empty - not recommended). The display permanently shows the battery status of the weaker unit (operating unit or cylinder) and calls on time to replace the batteries. Even then a number of closing operations are still possible. Practically, you need no special batteries but ordinary dog AA- (AA-size) alkaline cells, which are known to get on every corner for little money.
That's right, a vandal could theoretically get the idea to steal the operating unit or to make otherwise unusable. Then you would only times as stupid. But there is still the mechanical emergency key (which at us the emergency lock is concealed by the door fitting) or E-Keys (which no longer need to device the operating unit, but communicate directly with the cylinder). So it is only a look, provided the emergency or E-Key is not in the house, but otherwise safe but accessible landfilled. Is more annoying that the operating unit is hardly seem to have as a spare part (or is so expensive that the best new buys equal to a full 5012-Set).
It is also true that the outside knob can be easily dismantled, if you have the appropriate Allen key in the process. But you get the shaft is rotated without the knob, and this is to get at mail-order companies for less than 20 euros as a spare part.
So the vandalism risk must evaluate each for its own residential area. We (village-development area) I appreciate it as very low. That being said: Even a conventional cylinder lock is not immune to vandalism - you inject an unpopular neighbor nevertheless times superglue etc. not meant in the cylinder ... seriously, ;-) understands.
Anyway, we now put our initial skepticism, are very happy and rejoice in the comfort gain.
Negative experiences there, but are actually not worth mentioning:
- The manual is actually failed a little short, leaving the one or other question open, but in all honesty: If you want we easily scan a few fingerprints, deposit codes and teach E-Keys, that's really not rocket science and with medium technical talent quickly done.
- At the very beginning the supplied batteries were already nearly empty, although the set of a "fresh" supply came to the operation. Because the installer did not spare them, we have a new set of our "stock" donated ... Something like this should not happen and certainly not exactly speaks for the quality assurance of Burg Wächter, but I want to at a 400 Euro article on a upset battery pack for 5 euros? no I do not want to. Is crucial: With us the castle works as it should, and well.
- As user name from the system are simply numbered and not - at least not without the optional software - can be edited, you have to note separately that fingerprint or code or E-Key is behind what number, especially when you want to delete later temporary access permissions for visitors, neighbors, etc. A little awkward, but the private sector also no big deal.
I forgive despite the little "quirks" and occasional quality problems five stars because this simple door lock offers a fantastic price / performance ratio. Other solutions are quickly 3-4x as expensive without offering a higher utility value.
