5 ms·

Completely unrelated to the article but at least related to home automation: is there something that can be used to detect if a door is locked or not? I am sure

by mongol 2y ago

Completely unrelated to the article but at least related to home automation: is there something that can be used to detect if a door is locked or not? I am sure there is something that replaces the entire lock to allow automation, but I am thinking of some kind of sensor to attach close to an existing lock. But it seems like a complicated problem to solve easily. There are many kinds of locks and so on...

tgamma 2y ago
There are key turners, such as Nuki, that piggyback on the actual lock/key and sense the lock’s state.
TheBicPen 2y ago
You could probably glue a flat magnet to the end of deadbolt and place a reed switch inside the box. Though you'd have to be careful to never apply force to the door as you're unlatching the deadbolt to avoid detaching the magnet. And you'd need to run wires to the reed switch, which means drilling holes in the door frame.
alias_neo 2y ago
This is a "problem" that's on my list of things to solve; The solution I've come up with but haven't yet put into action is to use an ESP device, with some sort of contact switch which sits _in_ the hole where the lock goes and detects whether the lock (bolt?) is physically present. This solution isn't likely to be pretty, unless it could be shrunk down to fit within the "hole", but I imagine some sort of ribbon coming from the "device" which should ideally look/be sized similar to a door/window sensor, and goes into the opening in the frame; Main concerns for a DIY solution are battery life and longevity of the switch/contact being smashed into by the lock/bolt each time. EDIT: A sibling comment mentioned reed switches and magnets, which I had considered, but felt would be either too bulky (reed switch plus magnet) or too fragile (do reed switches come in non-glass form?).
- Mister_Snuggles 2y ago
  > The solution I've come up with but haven't yet put into action is to use an ESP device, with some sort of contact switch which sits _in_ the hole where the lock goes and detects whether the lock (bolt?) is physically present. Another option is to disassemble a door/window sensor and replace its reed switch with a contact switch, much like you want to do with the ESP.
  - alias_neo 2y ago
    Heh, I don't know how that didn't occur to me. I guess I'm susceptible to overcomplicating things by trying to build it rather than just use something that's already 90% there. I'll have to give this a try now you've suggested it, I've got a few spare Zigbee doors sensors, Ring and IKEA so will be interesting to see which is better suited. Thanks for the suggestion!
timc3 2y ago
Things that control the lock or replace it are easier to buy. But you could DIY

by mongol 2y ago

tgamma 2y ago

There are key turners, such as Nuki, that piggyback on the actual lock/key and sense the lock’s state.

TheBicPen 2y ago

You could probably glue a flat magnet to the end of deadbolt and place a reed switch inside the box. Though you'd have to be careful to never apply force to the door as you're unlatching the deadbolt to avoid detaching the magnet. And you'd need to run wires to the reed switch, which means drilling holes in the door frame.

alias_neo 2y ago

This is a "problem" that's on my list of things to solve; The solution I've come up with but haven't yet put into action is to use an ESP device, with some sort of contact switch which sits _in_ the hole where the lock goes and detects whether the lock (bolt?) is physically present. This solution isn't likely to be pretty, unless it could be shrunk down to fit within the "hole", but I imagine some sort of ribbon coming from the "device" which should ideally look/be sized similar to a door/window sensor, and goes into the opening in the frame; Main concerns for a DIY solution are battery life and longevity of the switch/contact being smashed into by the lock/bolt each time. EDIT: A sibling comment mentioned reed switches and magnets, which I had considered, but felt would be either too bulky (reed switch plus magnet) or too fragile (do reed switches come in non-glass form?).

Mister_Snuggles 2y ago
> The solution I've come up with but haven't yet put into action is to use an ESP device, with some sort of contact switch which sits _in_ the hole where the lock goes and detects whether the lock (bolt?) is physically present. Another option is to disassemble a door/window sensor and replace its reed switch with a contact switch, much like you want to do with the ESP.
- alias_neo 2y ago
  Heh, I don't know how that didn't occur to me. I guess I'm susceptible to overcomplicating things by trying to build it rather than just use something that's already 90% there. I'll have to give this a try now you've suggested it, I've got a few spare Zigbee doors sensors, Ring and IKEA so will be interesting to see which is better suited. Thanks for the suggestion!

timc3 2y ago

Things that control the lock or replace it are easier to buy. But you could DIY