Yale SD-L1000-BL Conexis L1 Smart Keyless Door Handle For
Yale SD-L1000-BL Conexis L1 Smart Keyless Door Handle For Home Security, Remote Lock/Unlock, App Control, Key Card and Phone Tag Included, Black Finish [BSI Approved] [Energy Class A+]
| Weight: | 1 kg |
| Dimensions: | 8 x 3 x 28 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Model: | SD-L1000-BL |
| Part: | SD-L1000- BL |
| Colour: | Black Finish |
| Pack Quantity: | 1 |
| Batteries Required: | Yes |
| Batteries Included: | Alkaline |
| Manufacture: | Yale |
| Dimensions: | 8 x 3 x 28 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Quantity: | 1 |
This was fairly easy to install. There is a good Yale video to take you step-by-step. I made the mistake of not lining up the actuator correctly, so had to dismantle and re-do the process, but got there in the end. The lock is a similar size on the outside to my previous lock, but noticeably bigger on the inside with the extended module and battery sections plus it’s quite chunky.
Setting up the lock wasn’t too bad. However, I did struggle setting up the module and bridge. The app kept failing to connect to the module (even though I was right next to it) but it got there in the end. The biggest problem was connecting the bridge. I followed the instructions and it consistently kept failing to connect to Wi-Fi. I am an IT professional and no matter what I tried, I could not get it to connect.
I eventually realised that the bridge DOES NOT CONNECT TO 5GHz WI-FI. My phone was connected to our home Wi-Fi and the 5GHz signal. I presume the app uses your phone’s connection to configure the bridge. So I disabled the 5GHz Wi-Fi on my home router (so now only the 2.4Ghz was broadcasting) and it worked! I am surprised this issue isn’t more common. Hopefully, if someone else experiences this issue, then disabling 5GHz might resolve it. I re-enabled 5GHz once the setup had completed and all is fine.
So overall, a well made piece of hardware, let down a little by the software. It is great to not have to worry about carrying around or remembering my keys any more.
I decided to replace the traditional door lock with a new one. To match the doorbell, I chose the black version.
It was fairly simple to install, taking about 20 minutes, but the manual did not explain how to register the key fobs. That confused me, and it also kept beeping continuously due to alignment or something. I just moved it around and took the battery out and put them back in to resolve it.
To install, watch the YouTube video and then simply follow the instructions in the box.
Download the Yale Access app after installing the battery and turning on the lock. Enter the serial number or scan the QR code to register the device.
Once registered, you can connect to the lock and register fobs using the app. I registered four. You can do as many as you want and it will not cost you anything.
The Wi-Fi bridge is a game changer because it allows you to remote unlock the door and see which fob has unlocked it (names assigned to fobs).
I also used a magnet called “DoorSense” to determine whether the door was closed locked or open locked. It works, and you can “calibrate” at any time, so do it last.
It’s only been a day but it’s pretty good so far.
I already have a Yale smart alarm and Keyless connected smart lock, so this seemed the obvious choice for a UPVC door. The installation was tricky, but as other reviews have said, watch the utube video all the way through and then watch it again and follow the steps.
The lock fitted the door without any need for modifications which was brilliant – old lock out (following the video) and new lock in.
I played with the app specifically for this lock and as others have said, it’s awful, and I had already purchased the white Yale smart plug in for this (different to the one for the Yale Smart hub and the ZWave) – this one enables you to access the lock from the Yale Smart alarm app and lock, unlock plus you get email notifications when the door is unlocked/locked. You can also link it to disarm the alarm automatically when the lock is unlocked.
As other reviewers have said, register all of your RFID cards/phone tags/etc at the same time as none of the apps seem to work properly for this.
The [generic cheap] batteries which came with the lock lasted about 4 months, roughly 3-5 uses per day – have installed Energiser now which I’m expecting will last up to a year if similar to the Keyless Connected lock.
I am happy to recommend this lock but do take your time with the install!
Before you get something like this you have to ask what you need. I am quite tech savvy , though my friend is not. The bluetooth and wifi functionality would never be used. Used with RFID fobs/cards, this is a good lock with some locking quirks (see other review).
Nevertheless from my own perspective, using bluetooth would serve only as a back up. The Yale app is ok, and why would you want to whip your phone out, hope BT in on, wait for connection and open the app to open the door, when all you need is to have a fob in your pocket. This is slow. Do you want to do that in the rain?
I have not used the wifi ability so cannot comment. It does have a 9V square battery connection on the outside should the internal batteries die and you have not noticed to replace them.
This is a hefty lock, but Installation was extremely simple. Youtube was also helpful in this department. Slight modification to the door was required, in particular the area where the wire protrudes out from the back of the front face section. A rut had to be created so the the wire would not be squashed between the lock and the door.
Assigning fobs and cards to the lock is easy. You do not need the app and can be done from the lock itself. However all the fobs/cards have to be done at the same time. I bought extra fobs and realised it erases all the previous information and you cannot assign another at a later time without erasing the previous keys. Just want to make that clear. You need to do all at the same time in the same process.
I did not try the app for this function as one, I have read it is not great for this, and 2, my friend would not be using this ability.
Once installed, this lock worked great. It is a bit slow and I am not so sure about the longevity of the internal mechanism (just from the noise it makes during its lock activation).
Like I said, I had the Yale keyless one and rate that more than this. Buy this lock on sale, not for full price. If you can do tech, great. Don’t expect much from BT. Tech should fit into normal like and having to wait for something when OLD SKOOL keys are quicker defeats the point. Just because it is modern does not mean it is better. This applies here. There are a lot of good ideas with bad app implementation, which renders the concept of them moot.
Personally, I like the lock (not as much as my previous Yale keyless), and if used as it is without the wireless connectivity, it is fine…so far!
This was installed on the front door (PVC). It was extremely useful regarding having a fob, card and app as I am awaiting MRI results for my lower back and the steps leading to the door are steep. One of my legs can give way at any time.
Also the ability to assign digital keys to people’s phones is handy if I’ve had a slip or fall.
Lifting the handle on exiting will automatically lock it. I think this can be changed in the settings. To exit from inside, push the knob and turn.
This is where problems arose. I was unfortunately locked inside (the mechanism did something it wasn’t supposed to). Had there been a fire. Only heaven knows.
Yale were extremely good in regards my complaint about this issue. I was issued with a replacement after some troubleshooting.
I could still leave via the rear door which is a normal key.
Ultimately I called a locksmith – I could not get the door to open. After providing proof of purchase, a copy of the receipt, along with confirmation from the locksmith that the door mechanism was perfectly fine – it was the lock. I was reimbursed the full cost of the locksmith too by Yale.
I would recommend this lock as I truly believe I unfortunately got one that didn’t pass quality control and slipped through. I would however not have one on every door in the house.
The lock itself is fairly substantial, much bigger and heavier than my previous door handle/lock. It feels very well made and give a good impression when removing from the box that this is a great security lock. The handle and unit are chrome with a plastic RFID reader. On the rear of the lock is a plastic screw cover which takes 4 x AA batteries and a plastic cover for the reset button and additional yale modules (more about them later).
So why would you want a smart lock? It’s technology… and i personally love anything tech related. It’s also great not to have to carry keys around with you. The app boasts unlocking and locking via the conexis app, as well as little plastic RFID fobs and credit card type RFID passes. You get a selection of these in the box.
Fitting – this was fairly straight forward and i had zero issues with this. The lock alignment needs to be perfect though. If you are unsure then ask a local locksmith to fit. However this product is certainly ok for DIY installation. I did it myself in about 20 mins and had no issues. As mentioned before it is a very big and chunky lock so take this into consideration when purchasing.
Locking/Unlocking – to lock the door you must pull up the handle. Although the lock is fully motorised it will not lock the multi-point locking section of the door. It only electronically locks the deadbolt. To unlock you can either use the app, an RFID fob or if inside you must depress the knob and turn. This lock would be no good for an elderly person who has dexterity issues, due to the knobs push in and turn design. My grandmother can not open this lock despite trying her very best. Once the knob is pressed and turned you then can open the lock by pushing down on the handle.
RFID FOBS : These work well – although you have to assign them first within the app. Programming is fairly simple although everytime i update the fobs it does take quite a while for them to actually register correctly in the app, i normally have to do this several times before the conxeis app recognises the fobs. You can assign names to the fobs but this is beyond rubbish as the app does not ever notify you correctly (if at all) on who’s fob has been used. To use the fobs you just tap them on the black plastic at the front of the lock and if accepted you will hear the lock spring to life and open the dead bolt. I find most of my fobs dissapear from the app after adding, but they all seem to still work okay and unlock the door without issue.
Phone unlocking – just does not work via the conexis app! I have reported this to yale several times and have now given up. I have a very early unit so they may have updated the firmware within the latest locks, but my original lock is still rubbish when it comes to the conexis app. (If you have a Yale Smart Hub then use the Yale Alarm app as unlocking works flawlessly within this addional app)
I have locked myself out several times during the initial months after i first installed the lock. This was beyond frustrating. I ended up resorting to ensuring all my family had back door keys in case we couldnt open the front door. Contacting the Yale customer helpline is so frustrating – trying to find/speak to someone who knows anything about the lock became a joke. However i have to say that once i managed to track down a single yale employee who was knowledgeable – he was absoloutely fantastic and kept in regular touch with me to iron out most of the issues in the very early days of me installing the lock. I can’t thank this chap from Yale enough! Eventually though, after many communications via phone and email he also gave up and arranged for me to be sent a Yale smart hub to connect the lock too. I have a Yale alarm system so the smart hub just linked into this. I had to purchase the Yale access module though to get the lock to talk to the Yale Alarm app. This was another 50 at the time. Once i had linked the lock to the Yale Alarm system it just worked brilliantly. I have never had a problem with the lock since – this does however use a different app to the conexis one.
Batteries in the lock last a good few months, however again don’t reply on the conexis app to alert you when the batteries are dying. It just never works at all! You will get to notice the sound the lock makes when it is struggling to draw power. I just replace the batteries when the motor sounds different. If you do link it to the Yale Alarm smart hub then this does notify you correctly when the batteries in the lock are starting to fade, but again this is via the Yale Alarm app not the dedicated conexis app.
Conexis App – RUBBISH beyond belief. Now i have had this lock for 5 years and it still does not work with the dedicated app! I have now just given up using it. The problems i had with it are that it continually logged you out – having to log back into the app every time you want to open your front door was beyond frustrating. Even then on tons of occasions the app said my details were incorrect even though they were not. The twist to unlock feature via your smartphone again hardly ever worked. Touching your smartphone to the lock again just failed miserably most of the time. Notifications never ever work! History of the lock being used never works. It really is the worst app i have ever installed on my phone. I genuinely can’t understand how a company such a Yale would release such a poor app, more importantly why they have failed to sort it out and correct the issues over the last 5 years! Another really frustrating thing about the conexis app is that it uses digital keys. You only get a small amount of these digital keys (5 if i remember correctly) and these get wasted very quickly when the app messes up – which is frequently and at no fault of the user. You have to then purchase additional keys as an in app purchase at 2.99 per key!! This is daylight robbery! If you change your phone you again need a new key. Adding a time limited key again just expires one of your keys never to be used again. The amount of keys i wasted due to the poor app design was ridiculous. My contact at Yale again was super nice and provided me with 10 extra keys at no cost. I now never ever use the conexis app.
So should you buy this lock – You may be surprised to hear me say YES… i do recommend this lock. My only caveat to that recommendation is that you also buy a Yale Smart hub and the access module. I did try the zwave module with smarthings but this again didn’t work great so i went for the access module. I have spent over 300 in addtional tech trying to get the lock to work correctly in the early days. The lock does however integrate great with the Yale Alarm app fantasticly. With the smart hub you can also remotely lock/unlock the door which is an excellent feature. You could not do remote locking/unlocking with the standalone lock and the conxeis app without the modules. This lock combined with the smart yale alarm system is excellent. If you don’t have the yale ecosystem then i would say avoid this lock like the plague especially if you only want to use the digital keys within the conexis app. The lock also has a battery back up feature that we have used twice – if the batteries in the lock fail placing a 9v battery on the contact at the bottom of the lock on the outside will just give it enough power for you to unlock it. This is a very handy backup feature that yale have included.
Hopefully yale may have released updated firmware for the newer conexis locks – if they have then maybe some of the problems i am still experiencing 5 years later may have been fixed. I really do wish they would update my lock as i would love it to work how it is suppost to work, but that is not likely to happen.
Overall i like this lock a lot, it’s just frustrating the lock doesn’t work without the additional items which cost a lot of money – next time i am not so sure i would be one of the early adopters of such new technology. I have certainly had my fingers burnt! Hopefully Yale will have addressed a lot of these issues in thier latest locks.
I hope that you found my review helpful
Things I learnt during my 10 hour ordeal:
1) ENSURE that your multi lock system is housed properly. This lock will not work if your multi locks out out of line.
2) MAKE sure that you do not turn the actuator once you have installed it. The manual tells you to check that it moves slightly left and right, just do not move it, causes alignment issues.
3) make sure that you register your master card before trying to make the yale lock stay locked.
I have to say, hats off to the yale helpline, they were great (was on hold for an hour but that’s fine tbh).
I also now have two holes in my door, from my old Keyfree due to the difference in the models. I’ll fix this with filler and then a metal cover (6 from amazon) once that I’m over this ordeal.
Installation was not easy for me, but it was my own faults and unluckess.
I dont use the app to open my door, it’s slower than using a key, but I do have a remote fob that I can press whilst in the car and the door stays open for 30 seconds.
Points of interest: you will need the z module if you wish to connect to smartthings.
Don’t rely on the app for entry.
Remember you only get 5 FREE virtual keys. The rest you have to pay for.
If you are replacing this with an old keyfree yale, remember you will have two holes in your door. It would be nice if YALE rewarded customer loyalty by some kind of discount if they are replacing one product for a newer one, specially if the old product malfunctioned.
As for reliability, time will tell.
I am an average DIYer and will give things a go. I’d never done anything with locks before so didn’t know anything about the terminology. But I like gadgets. A couple of weeks ago my ‘lift to lock’ UPVC door got stuck locked shut. For no apparent reason it wouldn’t unlock. I took the handle off and managed to get it working again. I now know that the gearbox was likely at fault (I didn’t know that at the time and I didn’t know what that even was).
My door like most UPVC doors has a multipoint lock on it. It was probably from 1985 but the cylinder had been replaced 4 years ago.
This seemed like a great time to change it to a smart lock. So I researched and the L1 seemed perfect. I saw plenty of negative reviews but thought ‘how hard can it be?’ The answer is VERY and NOT AT ALL. I will explain.
NOTE: If your door is having problems locking it might not be the key bit (cylinder) that has the problem but the gearbox and that’s an entirely separate piece and may well need replacing. You should only fit the L1 onto a door that is already working well.
As long as your door is UPVC and the lock has 92mm between the centre of the handle spindle and the centre of the bit where the key goes in (the cylinder) AND your door thickness is between 44-70mm then you are very likely in business. Check the compatibility template here https://help.yale.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Conexis-L1-Compatibility-Guide.pdf
So I carefully followed all the instructions. They aren’t hard. Some of the fixing lugs didn’t perfectly fit my existing door but it’s UPVC so easy enough to file or drill the plastic to make it work. It wasn’t quick the first time due to little adjustments here and there. But eventually it was all on the door and I was happy as Larry to have installed it. I fired it up and carefully followed the procedure. It gave off some chirpy beeps to confirm everything was progressing nicely and then I got to the ‘handing’ section where the lock configures itself and you get to have some fun… except mine made a lot of whirrrrring and then gave off 8 beeps. Oh dear! The instructions tell you to remove it and go back a load of steps as you haven’t aligned it properly. So I did this multiple times. No joy. So I then removed it and factory reset it and reinstalled TWICE. This was making me a tad frustrated. I could operate the lock using the (actuator – in the cylinder so I knew it was working OK) but the L1 would lock it fine but never unlock it. I ran out of time and had to lock the door manually and leave it off the door. The next day I phoned Yale Support. A helpful guy stayed on the phone while I took it apart again, factory reset again, made sure everything was lined up etc (I was getting pretty good at this by now). It did the whirrring and 8 beeps. He said hmmm let me speak to someone else I’ll call you back. He did call me back within the hour and said can we try something else which we did and no joy. He said he’d speak to a supervisor and come back to me by email. I got an email telling me that my locking mechanism was ‘auto-fire’ and that the Yale Lock is not compatible with ‘auto-fire’. For those that don’t know the Yale L1 is basically turning a small device that either permits or blocks the multipoint lock from being opened. So Yale are saying the L1 is not compatible with the locking system on the door. Mine was made by GU. Now they are wrong as it’s not ‘auto-fire’ (this means you lock the door simply by closing it behind you). Mine required a handle lift. I replied to the email asking what I needed to do to get it working… 8 days later and no reply (even though it says you can reply to the email). So while phone support tried to be helpful they never solved the issue and email support never replied (maybe they will one day but it will be too late). Maybe they could help with other issues but if you get a whirrring and 8 beeps don’t hold your breath.
So it was either send it back to Amazon or take the next step….
Your door has the handles, the bit the key goes in (cylinder) and then likely a strip up the side with some little rollers or mushrooms or hooks that can lock into the bit that is attached to the wall side (the multilock which also has a gearbox inside the door where the handles are). So I decided that I wanted to make the L1 work and would replace the whole multilocking piece. I bought the Yale YDM-UNI-PVCU-35 Doormaster Universal Multi-Point Door Lock Replacement, 35 mm Backset, 16 mm Faceplate).
It was very easy to remove the old gearbox and strip from the door (5 mins). Putting on the replacement one was more hassle because I needed to cut out some larger holes in the UPVC to fit the Yale as it was larger than my original GU. But with a drill and pad saw (7) it is very easy to do. Within 2 hours I had it all replaced.
So now back to the L1. I was very very familiar with it having taken it on and off so many times before. Which is why it was now so easy. It took me 10 mins to put on and it worked perfectly first time. I love it and am glad to have gone through the hassle. But to be honest it is questionable as to whether it is really worth it… But I do really like it.
You can set it up to work with card, fobs and via bluetooth on your phone. You can make it connect via Z Wave via the extra module available (49) to hook it up to Ring or Smarterthings.
Also you can send virtual keys to people. This could be great if you have a holiday let or something like that BUT be aware that you get 5 keys included when you register the lock and one of those keys goes on the master phone. So you have 4 spare. If you want more than 5 then you pay for them as an in app purchase (5 keys = 8.99, 3 keys =5.99, 1 key=2.49). I think when paying for an rrp200 smart lock it’s very cheeky to charge extra for keys. Sure pay for physical cards and fobs but for virtual keys that’s just cashing in.
Just a note regarding Z Wave and SmartThings etc. I can’t see why people are buying this except in a few very specific circumstances. It can tell you if your door is locked. You can unlock your door. But you can’t lock the door as the handle has to be cracked up to pull the locks across/up down (the Conexis L1 can’t do that). You could check it from bed to see if you need to go down and lock it…
If you only have one door this is not suitable for you (if it fails there is no physical key backup).
If I had known in advance what a load of hassle this would be I would probably not have bothered. I could have just bought a GU compatible gearbox and in 15 mins replaced the faulty one. But now I’ve done it I’m pretty chuffed with my DIY, I’ve learnt a lot and love the lock….
My wife likes it too… so much so that despite all the hassles I am going to go through the whole experience (with a lot of gained knowledge) and will be changing the whole multi-point and then installing an L1 on one of our other doors too. I’m expecting that to take 2-3 hours for the whole thing and the actual L1 install should be no more than 30 mins if all goes to plan.
This is great with the kids as they can get in without keys going missing etc.. but it would be cheaper to keep replacing the keys/lock rather than do this. But this is much cooler.
So first time round I hated it. It was the worst install ever. Second time round it was pretty much fun as it worked so well in the end.
If you have a compatible multi-lock in the first place then you should be able to get this working no problem at all. If you are able to look up your multi-lock manufacturer and model (often on the side of the strip or gearbox) then you could contact Yale and ask first… could save a lot of hassle. If it’s a modern Yale system then pretty much sure you are going to be fine.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
I’m pleased to announce I’ve had this lock for 2 weeks now and it has worked perfectly with all keys, fobs and Bluetooth devices.
Pros – quick and simple to install, just please read the instructions to the letter, I had to pull off the lock once as I hadn’t aligned correctly which was my own fault for rushing.
Very heavy, feels secure as well as looks it.
Works well with all keys provided, and asigning keys via the app is simple.
Looks beautiful!
Smart locks are a future technology so insurance companies will no doubt look to these for lower house insurance premiums soon.
Cons – the app doesn’t seem to like Android users for some reason, Apple works just fine however a lengthy delay in anyone using the android version of the app on my door.
The connector wire looks and feels flimsy so do take great care feeding it through the door and looping it round when assembling the handle flush against the door.
In conclusion I am so glad I bought this product, its elegant and sturdy and worth every penny so far. additional keys to purchase off Amazon are cheap and it has wowed everyone I know. Very happy with this product.
For fitting there is a handy step by step guide on YouTube if you’re after a more visual tutorial than the attached instructions.
CC:
The Yale Conexis L1 is a smart lock that does away with keys to lock and unlock the door. This was purchased from Amazon on the 11th February 2021 and cost 184.49 at the time of purchasing. Included in the box is the Conexis door handle unit, 4 AA batteries required for powering the unit, 1 fob, 1 card and installation instructions.
The lock is relatively simple to fix to your existing PVC and composite door with just a screwdriver. I was able to fit the lock myself, even with limited handyman skills, using Yale’s instructions and online videos. The installation took approximately 30-40 minutes in total. The only complication I ran into during the install was a screw being too big in diameter to fit through the door. To overcome this I was able to use a drill and make the hole wider which solved the problem. This is unlikely to be an issue for most installations.
For myself, I was able to power on the unit and pair the unit to the Yale Conexis app running on an iPhone 8. So far I have had minimal issues unlocking the door with my phone with it being 9/10 times successful. When it fails to unlock, restarting the app generally gets it to work correctly. Using the app, however, is not the quickest way to unlock the door. Within the back of my phone case is a compartment for cards. I have the card in the back of my phone so when I approach the door I have to wake it by touching the sensor. Then I press the back of my phone to the handle, the light will then go green, the lock will beep and will unlock allowing you to open the door. The process takes approximately 5 seconds. From the internal side of the lock, there is a thumb turn which can be pressed and turned for the handle to unlock.
To lock the door ensure the door is fully closed and pull up the handle. You will hear the lock operating and see the red light on the inside and hear the beep. I always press down on the handle just to double-check. Within the app, you can set an auto-lock timer. If the lock is not used for an amount of time lock will automatically lock. Like a deadlock, you will need to make sure you have a key with you if you pop outside for a few minutes or you’re going to get locked out.
The main selling feature for me was the keyless entry so I only need to take my phone and wireless headphones out with me on dog walks.
The biggest fear of using the lock is the lack of a manual key override. If the lock ever becomes unresponsive there is no easy way of unlocking the door. For me, I have a spare key in a lock box at the back of my house which I am able to enter if this ever becomes an issue. If the batteries were to ever run out there is a connection at the bottom of the external lock to hold a battery in order to power on the unit to gain access.
With all this in mind, I would recommend the lock and give the lock a 4 star. The convenient keyless entry for me is perfect and the handle seems to be working as it should using the card for access. The only thing letting the lock down is the app.
LOCK INSTALLATION:
For complete peace of mind, I opted to have my Conexis L1 installed by a YALE approved locksmith. I just did a quick search on the YALE smart home website for approved Conexis L1 Locksmiths in my area.
The Conexis L1 connects to the existing physical locking mechanism within the door. In my case this mechanism was more than 10 years old. The Yale locksmith checked the mechanism to ensure it would operate trouble free with the Conexis L1. He found the existing mechanism was badly worn internally (probably where the door had been slighly out of alignment for a while and force had been used to lift the door handle upwards to latch into place when closing the door). The locksmith showed me evidence of this wear. He advised replacing the internal mechanism otherwise the Conexis L1 could fail / have issues locking (this is an issue commonly reported in reviews!). I asked the locksmith to replace the mechanism which cost 45. He installed the lock and gave me a demonstration. All worked brilliantly. Total installation price: 145 including VAT including 12 month warranty.
INSTALLATION TIME
The YALE approved locksmith fitted my Conexis L1, changed the internal door locking mechanism and paired the master key within 2 hours.
PAIRING PHONE AND KEY FOBS
The key fobs are really easy to pair one by phone. Do this slowly and take your time.
I have also set my iPhone to unlock the door using the YALE smart living app.
YALE SMART LIVING APP
The app honestly isn’t as bad as some people report but it does have several annoying bugs. For example, if you change the locks beep sound volume loudness it sometimes reverts back to the default setting on its own. Not the end of the world and certainly doesn’t affect the functionality of the Conexis L1 lock itself.
ADD ON CONNECTIVITY MODULES
I was going to install the blue Z wave module so I can connect to Alexa. However, I decided against it for three reasons,
1) it will only allow me to ask Aleza if the door is locked, open or closed. it can’t lock the door for you. But Alexa can be configured to remotely open the lock (see point 3 below for potential security issue).
2) The lock batteries deteriorate far more quickly.
3) The biggest issue is the security risk. I don’t feel comfortable with a burglar shouting through my letterbox “Alexa, open the front door”.
USING THE LOCK:
It’s actually not as noisy as it appears to be when seen on videos on line. I was concerned the whirring sound would annoy me but it’s fine.
To open the lock from outside, just put the yale fob against the yale logo on the lock handle and it will beep, produce a green LED light and you can open the door and enter the house. Once inside, close the door and lift up the handle, you will hear a confirmation beep confirming the lock is now closed.
To open from inside the house, press the thumb wheel inwards while also turning and the door will beep, the green LED light will appear to confirm the lock is open and you can exit.
SUMMARY:
If installed to the right kind of door (the Conexis L1 won’t fit all doors) by a Yale approved locksmith then it’s approved by UK insurance companies, and to the best of my knowledge it is still the only fully insurance approved smart lock in the UK. Check this yourself though with your own insurers.
Don’t take too much notice of the poor reviews as it is a brilliant lock, even if the YALE app does need some further updates. One assumes the majority of these negative reviews are from people who have done a DIY installation without enough DIY knowledge, or people not reading through the instruction thoroughly before starting the installation. I have actually found two online videos where people had issues then later admitted in the video they did not read the instructions before starting!! As long as you have the lock installed by a YALE approved locksmith you will be fine and you will wish you’d fitted the Conexis L1 years ago. Good luck.
A little bit daunting to fit but following the instructions was pretty straight forward . I spent the first few days with it waving the fob around in front ofnrhe lock before realising you need to touch the Yale circle on your fob directly on the Yale circle on the lock with the Yale circle facing you , then it works first time every time . The app and phone unlock via Bluetooth is really only a backup way to get in as you need to open the app and then touch the lock then unlock the door with the phone and in practice it’s just too long . If you add the smartthings module you can use that to open the lock from your car or while walking upto the lock which is much better but at the price point it really should of had this feature built in or at least the module should be heavily subsidised but it’s not it’s another high price at anywhere upto 50 . The feature to power the lock with a battery from outside just incase the batteries run out is good but it does say it will give you plenty of warning when they are getting low (we shall see) I would also prefer that to open the door from the inside was a button that activated the motor rather than a knob that you push and turn . It’s too much for my hands (whole reason for getting it in the first place ) and I have to grab my phone and unlock it with the smartthings app. I would like to see a updated lock in the future that address all these points
The conversation went as follows (names and most pleasantries removed)
Yale: In regards to the Advanits & Coneixs. They are not compatible due to the Advantis locking mechanism being the opposite way around compared to the normal multi point lock. Hope this makes sense.
Me: Hi the locking mechanism still appears to the handle as the standard way round. The internals may be different but the handle is still the same way up. Has anyone actually tried it?
Me: (Pictures sent showing normal door handle is the same way up etc.)
Yale: It is the way the deadbolt is located, as it is above the latch.
Me: (Puzzled) How does that affect it?
Yale: it allows the Handle to lock, but due to mechanism inside the lock can not retract the deadbolt back.
At this point, I am convinced my correspondent does not understand what he is talking about. I took the plunge, and bought one anyway. I was convinced that as far as the door locking mechanism it did no less and no more than any other door handle, and vice versa, The Yale Conexis door handle performed the same tasks in the locking mechanism as any other door handle.
Cut a long story short, I bought it, I installed it, thank heavens for the video, just make sure you tighten the actuator screw before any testing. It worked. It behaved exactly as I expected it to, as it is intended to.
THE YALE CONEXIS L1 IS COMPATIBLE WITH AVANTIS MULTI-POINT LOCKS!
I have only had id a day so far, but I am knocking off a star because of:
(a) The App on my partners phone says she must confirm with the email sent to her, as yet, no email. Hardly the fault of an Avantis Multi-point lock.
(b) [email protected] does not respond.
(c) I have raised the issue with the same person via Facebook, so far, without acknowledging the fact that I successfully installed installed the handle on an “incompatible” lock, so far his response re the non existent email has been: “We’ve noted your issue and a member of our customer support team will get back to you soon ”
We shall see.
If I have other problems, I will update this later.
Instal, what a pig this was, just about everything with my front door required modification, no holes lined up, had to re drill the door, install a new locking mechanism, the wire which passes from one side to the other passes through the same hole as a screw which tends to get a bit of a hard time during fitting. Setting up the unit via instructions is hit and miss, it can be straight forward but if it’s not aligned exactly as Yale state then you will have to dismantle completely and start again the install fitting. Instructions to re perform installations are very hit and miss and the instructions did never suggest having to delete the app and re install it after the mechanical bits had been refitted. Without doing this it was impossible to reset the device to get it to sync and work. Spent hours. Was it worth it?
Well now it’s been in place for around 3months and it’s been very reliable.
I have two small niggles with its operation tho. One is that if the door user does not pull up the handle fully to its stop to lock the door on the way out the door lock will lock then unlock the door as the door user leaves the premises, not helpful when you want to know your house is locked while your out.
A further point is that Yale state that the door can be locked and unlocked remotely, this is not true, the device can only carry out the task of turning what would have been the key, it cannot unlock or lock the door the door user us the only person that can do this manually.
I’d love to see a door lock that can actually lift up the handle then unlock the door and vice versa.
Connection to smart app is a bit rubbish and pointless, unless it can do the whole task of opening and closing the door in my opinion.
For those guys reading this that think I might be a bit inept, I’m a builder of 20yrs and have fitted many front doors, lock, stock and barrel.
It is easy to fit. However, I had an issue removing the original euro cylinder. The manufacturer of my door decided to use Loctite and low quality screws. This was on the main screw on the edge of the door which holds the euro cylinder. The result was the screw became threaded. I got it out using a screw remover tool and my Dewalt 18v drill.
Once the old handle and lock were removed, the install of the new lock was straightforward. Take time at this point to make sure everything is correctly aligned. There is a bit of ‘play’ before you torque the screws, so at this point make sure the lock is turning and not getting snagged. This happened to me but I realised if I loosened the screws and then tried it while loose, it would turn, from there I just tightened the screws and it worked fine.
When programming your fobs and cards, make sure you complete this all in one go. I have heard it is not possible to add more later without removing them all and adding them all back with the new devices. I programmed mine all in one go and have never had a problem.
The lock has performed admirably for more than a year now. Recently after the install, we would occasionally get the lock spinning sound when it was trying to engage the lock. This was our fault for not quite engaging the locking mechanism on our door. This is easily rectified by pushing the door handle up with a little bit more force.
The Yale app is not that good. However, it did get a large update around the middle of 2018 and was a large improvement. It removed the ridiculous ‘turn the phone’ to unlock the door feature. Now you just press the unlock button (Genius!).
I bought the lock to integrate with Samsung Smartthings. Why would I want to do this? When integrated with ST you have total control of the lock. I had to buy the Smartthing Module 2
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yale-Smart-Door-Z-Wave-Module/dp/B07965NDRN/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=yale+smartthings+module&qid=1554798195&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull
It is about 42 but well worth the investment for the benefit which become available. I have set the lock up so that it will automatically unlock the door when one of the ST presence sensor is detected.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-SmartThings-F-ARR-UK-2-Presence-Sensor/dp/B01LZK6ANK/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=smartthings+presence+sensor&qid=1554798319&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull
This works very well. When arriving home, the door is unlocked automatically and I do not have to mess around with keys. This is particularly useful when carrying objects like shopping bags and not having to put them on the wet floor to find my keys in my pocket.
I have also integrated the lock with Phillips Hue lights. I have set some of them to a red colour when the door is unlocked. This has warned us a few times that the door is unlocked. I can unlock the door remotely to let in family and friends if we are not home.
There are so many negative reviews about this product — I have my own thoughts as to why. Firstly, I believe that if the mechanism is not aligned correctly, it is going to cause problems later down the road. From batteries not lasting long and to the unit prematurely failing; this more than likely down to increased friction. Secondly, several users of the Z Wave module have also been highly critical. One aspect about Z Wave devices which needs to be appreciated is Z Wave does not use the existing Wi-Fi signal, it uses its own network and a different frequency. Therefore, in order for the device to work optimally, the lock has to have access to a strong Z Wave signal. Most Z Wave devices which are mains powered repeat the signal and improve the strength and range of the network. If the signal is weak, it will have a negative impact on the battery life.
I use rechargeable batteries for the lock. The instructions tell you not to, however, I have found not ill effect for not following their instructions.
Overall, the lock has work out great for us over for over a year. It is more convenient, feels high quality and looks good too. I ignored the numerous bad reviews and thought it was down to a bad installs, which created the bad experiences. I am glad I ignored the negative reviews.
Installation was very easy and although the lock does look quite big, its not overwhelming.
The lock has solved all the issues with the door being left insecure and the whole family has got into the habit of locking it after leaving/entering the house.
Wife also used to lose her keys on a regular basis, so having a credit card sized card to keep with her mobile (which she loses less regularly) has proven to be useful. Although we have both downloaded the app to unlock the door from our phones using bluetooth (or however it works), we have found this to be a bit temperamental. So I use the fob to access the lock which I keep with my car keys and it is still going strong after being in my pocket with the keys for the last three months with no signs of wear.
Another bonus is the kids can open the door from the inside in the event of an emergency without having to hunt for the keys as it is essentially a thumb lock on the inside. If the kids were younger I would have concerns about them allowing themselves out the house unsupervised – something to consider for younger households.
I haven’t connected mine to the yale alarm system as this seems to be putting all my eggs into one basket. Happy for it to be standalone. After I couldn’t switch off my house alarm when the internet went down, I have fallen out of love with the Yale smart alarm system at the moment.
After three months of use the 9v battery is now running low and needs replacing. Hoping this is because it was in storage a while and had lots of use from family getting use to it. If I have to replace the battery every three months, this will be a big negative.
All in all, very pleased with it and appears to be wearing well and to be a good, secure system and user friendly.
Would recommend.
Update 1:
Received product at around 7:30pm on Tuesday 11th. Being extremely impatient I began the installation process straightaway.
The written enclosed instructions were awesome. Very clear. However I preferred the online video which was very easy to follow.
Taking off the old lock was a small easy task. I applied wd40 to all screws I was going to undo as the lock had been in place for over 25years!
I took this opportunity to check gearing inside the door was greased and made sure all points were working correctly. I applied wd40 anyway.
Taking out the old barrel was easy. A screw on face of door where the locks and hinges are, holds it in place.
You may need to put your key in the barrel and turn it while pulling it out.
IT WILL BE A GOOD IDEA AT THIS STAGE TO PLACE SOMETHING BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME SO IT DOESNT CLOSE.
(I thought I’d be clever and pushed the lock up to engage the lock and hooks so it wouldn’t close, this was a mistake. As I’ll explain later)
Next step was to fit the new barrel. This was probably the hardest bit as I couldn’t line it up with the screw from the outside. A little fiddling and it was done.
It’s a god idea not to tighten the screws. Leave em loose. For now.
I ran in to a slight hiccup where the bottom lug of the outside handle wouldn’t go through the original hole of the door as it was higher up.
Out came the drill and bit and I drilled a new hole. Sorted!
Inside door, I fitted the bracket, screwed it in. Left the screws loose for now. Used the lineup gadget and tightened all the screws. Including one for the barrel.
Attached the cable and fitted inside handle. Inserted batteries.
Did the appropriate testing. But door wouldn’t lock. Gutted.
I did everything, Checked everything again. Still no joy. Was thinking of handing back.
Till I realised, maybe the barrel needs to come out and door locks and hooks need to be unengaged.
Voila!
Worked a treat!
Next step was to pair the fob. No problem. Few seconds. All done.
Finally installed app. And to be honest, I have no idea what the issue is. Worked straight away.
Lay out could be better, but it works fine. (Then again I’m only on day 3, lol)
Not happy that I have to buy sharing keys.
And just 1 fob and 1 key card is def not enough.
Then again at about 5 for a pair isn’t bad.
I’ll be buying the z wave module 2 and smart things hub to configure with homebridge and Siri.
I’ll update again.
Update 2:
I have now added the Z Wave Module 2 with the SmartThings hub both purchased from Amazon.
Works out of the box with very little config via the SmartThings apps.
I can now lock and unlock the door remotely.
I went one step further and used Homebridge to incorporate SmartThings with my iPhone Home App. Now Siri can unlock and lock my door.
Very happy with my purchase.
Then came the Yale L1. I had been watching this lock for a while on the various sites but the mixed reviews always pointed me to buying from somewhere I can get warranty/support/returns and Amazon is great for this.
Once arrived, I was shocked how big it is. But how many times do you see a door handle in your hand and off the door -it turned out it’s actually only slightly bigger than the existing one I had – about the same as removing the battery module on this handle.
Fitting SHOULD have been easy but took almost 6 hours. This will not be the same for everyone buying as in my case, my existing lock screw was rounded off and so we spent ages trying to hack it off, going off to buy screw removers and so on as by then, we could not put the old handle back on.
Once this was removed, everything went on fine but the door just would not lock.
The lock engaged however not fully.
After numerous attempts at refitting, we pulled the locking mechanism put by one notch despite measuring up to what the manual stated it should be based on our door size and voila, everything started to work perfectly.
So the advice would be – Go slow with the existing lock screw to start with. The problem is these screws bond with uPVC doors and is a known issue so after years of not budging, it aint gonna budge!
And on fitting the L1, check check and double check sizing and alignment.
There is also an issue with certain Z-wave modules for this lock where the battery drains very quickly – Yale support has been excellent regarding this and where I was getting 9 days battery life, I’m on day 12 now so I think it is resolved.
I’m still not entirely happy with the way the App works for this lock but maybe thats just my understanding – as I use the home automation app more, the Yale app itself rarely gets used and is not of any importance at this stage.
Also with pairing up to HA, remember the lock has to be included in secure mode and be practically touching the HA hub/controller otherwise it will not pair properly.
Looking at the lower end reviews:
For those where you have to lift to the top – remember this lock unlocks the “key” part you would have. But you still have to raise the handle to engage the manual locks built into the door. This is by design and has no other way around it.
To be honest, this is good in terms of safety too or should you get locked out.
If your lock does not engage fully, check the handle is fully up. Again, this is no different to the manual way of locking …you would not be able to turn the thumb screw fully to lock the door until the handle was engaged up fully.
Yale Conexis L1 Pros
Remotely See the status of lock/unlock
Z-wave Compatible (With a Samsung Smartthings devices handler)
Keyless entry (Fob, Card, Mobile Device)
Advertised as easy to install without a professional
Can be unlocked internally manually.
Can have emergency charge through 9v Battery
In the event of losing a fob, it’s easier to lock it out than to replace the entire lock
Easily Available
Cons
I’m sure it can be hacked
It requires power to operate
It doesn’t have a fallback manual lock (Fobs, Cards, Bluetooth and Z-wave only)
Requires the handle to be pulled up to lock after opened (Same as if you already have to do this on a manual door)
Expensive
Will it fit my door?
Most Likely, The Kit has the largest array of movable parts and spares that I’ve seen in a very long time. But if you’re unsure and want to check ahead of time then Yale Provide a Compatability Guide found here
Remote Use
The Conexis L1 Smart lock doesn’t yet officially support the Z-Wave Module and It’s obvious why later but unofficially it works as well as any other Yale Z-Wave enabled device.
It’s also possible to use the more officially supported ‘Yale Module’, Allowing you to use the Yale Smart Living console and apps to remotely access and control the lock.
Out of the box (no additional module needed), the Lock supports Bluetooth to allow it to activate and pair with your phone to unlock.
Installation
Now I foolishly forgot to take photos during the install process, But then again it took less than 15 minutes to remove the old lock and to fit the new. I cannot stress enough how easy this lock was to install.
Yales own video shows the process perfectly and it really is as easy as they show.
Integrating into a Smart Home
Now I’m still a paranoid person when it comes to locks and while I did add the lock into my Z-Wave network I do not have any (at this time) automated rules in place that will lock or unlock the door.
The device adds happily into the Samsung Smartthings controller and with the Rboy App and Device handler works without issue.
You could however in both passive and active ways;
Get Alerts when a particular fob unlocks the door
Get Alerts when the door is unlocked and everyone has left the house
Get Alerts if someone tries to unlock it but no one is detected at home
Get Alerts if it failed to lock.
Trigger Lights, Sound and Camera actions if the door is opened.
Trigger the door to lock when you leave the house (assuming the handle has been pulled up)
Trigger the door to unlock when you come home.
8 Weeks Later
Let’s cover the negatives first;
So Why do I think that the Conexis L1 Smart Lock isn’t officially supported with the Z-Wave module. Battery Life — Dear God does it chew through Batteries with the Z-Wave module installed. After 8 weeks after the install, I’ve been through at least 4 complete battery changes (and remember it takes 4 AA batteries).
The Bluetooth part and the Offical Yale App — The worst App I’ve ever used. Crashes, Popups randomly to try and unlock the door. Overall just unreliable, Even adding tags after the initial install is just a pain. The Yale Hardware and install team get a pat on the back but the Software UX and UI team need to rethink and retest.
The Positives
Unlocking using a Fob, Card or through Smartthings is very easy. As a cyclist, I don’t have to dig out my keys anymore when I leave the house in the morning nor when I get home again. If I were to go out late at night I don’t have to carry keys with me at all. This one positive by itself is nothing but a godsend and easily makes up for the poor battery life.
It locks when it’s meant to, and Unlocks as well — No hardware jams and the internal unlocker is a great feature. I’m glad they didn’t require you to use a fob or key to unlock from the inside.
So is it worth it?
If you have the cash to burn, and can provide alternative security (e.g. Cameras, Alarms etc) then Yes.
Make sure you open the back door, or leave an accessible window open, just in case, Do this before you do anything else, as you may get overconfident, (we are ridiculous apes after all), and end up locking yourself out.
Use the YouTube video to install, not the manual, (search Conexis L1 on YT and pick the Yale video). Make sure you follow it exactly. Do not mess with the thumb turn, line the arrows up exactly, do not mess with the actuator etc. If you do you’re knackered and will have to start again, most probably after you’ve put it all together, (which will hurt your heart). Just take your time.
Order more key tags/cards/phone stickers with the lock. When you go through the registration of the first tag, ignore the video which tells you to register one tag and use the app for the rest. The app appears to have been developed on a school dinner budget, don’t trust it. Register all the fobs, cards etc at the same time. So, you press R once as guided in the video, and hold up each tag/card/phone sticker thing in turn, do not press R after each one, just hold them all up in turn; be quick as it does time out after 30 seconds or so, (red lights and beeps). Once you have registered all your tags etc, then press R. (Each one you hold up should be greeted with a beep and a green light, just keep holding each one up and registering. Register like your life depends on it!)
Test each tag/card etc, with the door open, just pull up the handle, wait for it to churn and lock, then use the each fob to unlock, and so on. Now you have a bunch of registered things you can give to people, hide in your socks or whatever. Next; download the app and go through the directed motions. It worked okay for me, but your mileage may vary. The key here is you’re not too bothered if the app doesn’t work because you have a whole load of tag/card things that do work so you can take your time with the app.
Troubleshooting Tip:
If the handles are misaligned when you’ve finished, and you decide to remove the inner plate to realign the screws etc, take the actuator out and reset it, otherwise, when you put it all back together you could find it churns away and no longer locks properly. I did this and was thoroughly disgruntled until I worked out the problem, You have to treat this thing with kid gloves. Each mess around you do, be prepared to reset from the beginning, which is why it’s good to get it right first time. Check and double check handle alignment.
Don’t lose heart with it. If it isn’t working, I would say that it is because it needs resetting from the start. The actuator is sensitive, if it’s not all aligned properly it will not lock properly.
It’s a good product, you just have to follow the video instructions to the word, until you get to the fob registering, ignore what she says on the video and register all your fob things at once, as I have said above. I would have given 5 stars but this thing is new, so I’m holding out to see if there are more horrors it presents.
In short. If you have a composite door with multi-locks, it’s your only option in the UK. But don’t be put off, you can make it work for you if you don’t get sloppy and follow the instructions on the video to the letter, word, whatever.
EDIT: I’ve had the lock for getting on a year and it’s still going strong. I have had no issues with it apart from occasionally it keeps spinning after locking, you just lift the handle again and it stops. The lock has been incredibly useful, my kids have a tag stuck to their phones so they no longer lose or forget keys, because, as every parent of teenagers know, they never, EVER forget their phone.
Excited and a bit disappointed at the same time. The lock was delivered on the day promised, looks really sturdy and of good quality. Installation was straightforward. I’m definitely not a DIY person and I managed it with the instruction manual. Worked straight after battery inserted. So far so good.
The disappointed bit started when I tried to pair/add tags. As everyone else has already noted, the app is horrible. Now if you interpret all “lock” in the app as “key” it’ll make a lot of sense. But it is still incredibly unclear in some aspects. The master card/fob was paired with no problem (note you can pair either the card OR the fob but not both). Now going to the app for additional pairing. At first it didn’t work at all. No matter how I pressed the Bluetooth button on the lock it does not turn purple. googled but didn’t find any answer so I just deleted the lock (as it appears in the app but really it means deleting the key) and added another one. Then I can pair additional tags/cards but I was one virtual key down!! Surely deleted keys should be restored as available ones??? Also it is terribly confusing about “users” of the keys. As soon as I paired one additional tag in the app a “User 1” was added. I used another virtual key and paired the first card with it, then Users 1, 2 and 3 were added. They don’t seem to be associated with any keys/cards/fobs etc, so what are they?? Once a key (or “lock” as the app chose to call it” is set up, I cant transfer it to a new user/owner without creating another key (thus using my “precious” virtual key allowance – doesn’t seem logical? I have enough spare cards/fobs that I don’t really need to pair but after reading some reviews I was deeply concerned that they would have to be paired all in one go otherwise future pairing may remove previously paired cards so I paired them all. Another confusion comes from notification. I was experimenting with the lock for quite a while last night but in the history it only recorded three door opening event. Also it is very confusing as to which events you would like to be notified.
In summary the lock is working fine but the app is absolutely hopeless. A bit surprised as card operated doors are in almost every hotel so at least key paring and customising authorisation for a key (eg for a limited time only) should not be anything too new to configure. I really hope they could update or, even better, completely rewrite the app so that this lock gets the reputation it deserves.
Oh and, is there a forum or anything (apart from Yale customer service)? Unlike any other things I’ve bought in my life which I’m generally OK using, with this one I expect I’ll encounter loads of issues later. Is there anywhere I could go for help or search someone else’s solution?
You’ll need to use some common sense – my lock, for instance, uses a screw with an allen head to keep the lock barrel in place, because it has to be beneath the level of the frame – so I had to re-use the old one (not use the new supplied screws). Other than that, everything is provided to fit many combinations of frame thickness and position of lock.
Next – pairing new keycards. Yale should make it MUCH more clear in the booklet – but to avoid doubt: when installing the lock, you pair ONE fob/card as part of the install. Just one. No more. Then you load the app onto your smartphone, create an account, and pair the lock with your smartphone. THEN you use the app to activate every other fob/card. If you try to paid another card/fob using the button on the lock, you’ll erase all the others, and have to start from scratch.
The lock works well, although the locking/unlocking motor does make a noise like it’s really struggling (does on mine, anyway) – but internally everything seems of very high quality.
Overall this is an excellent lock – so why have I only given it 4 stars?
(1) For such an expensive lock, the stingy so-and-sos only give you one card and one fob.
(2) For such an expensive lock it only has a 2-year guarantee – I think it should be far longer than this. Reading other reviews about their “service” department, I’ve kept my old lock!
And finally – yes, the app (Android) is dreadful. I think I’ve finally found the way to turn off the notification to tell me that I’ve just opened the door (fairly obvious), but it still keeps coming up with other spurious notifications. The app works as a way to open the lock, and it works as a way to activate keyfobs but otherwise it’s rubbish.
Personally I wouldn’t use the cards – put a card in your wallet with your personal identification/address – get that stolen and you’ve just given someone your address and the key!
Installation – First thing to say is, when It comes to DIY Im like Mr Muscle was in the TV adverts – useless!! however the installation (with the exception of Z-wave pairing) took me less than 20 minutes. I ignored the printed instructions, yale have a fantastic installation video (search youtube), it was very easy to follow and I was surprised how easy it was. Its fits a variety of doors and works perfectly.
Pairing (tags) – In the pack you get one smart card and one tag, pairing process is easy (take off the cover, press the button, touch the tag then press the button again). However I noticed you can only pair one or the other (unless Im doing something wrong) I hope that issue is only one type and not one single device! I have two more tags en-rounte so will find out.
Update – Speaking to Yale turns out you can pair multiple tags (phew) but it all has to be done at once during a single pairing process.
App – I have to agree with most people here, the app sucks big time! Yale need to sack the developers and start again, twist to unlock??? seriously annoying. I don’t plan to use the app and use Smartthings intergration and whilst running Homebridge I can ask Siri to unlock the door and voila the door unlocks.
Z-wave – This things doesn’t officially support the z-wave module, however I had no issues installing it and did get it working but it is very fiddly (See my review of the Z-wave device for instructions on how to get this thing working).
With the ST integration I like that I see its locked, and the battery also.
Top tip – Keep a 9V battery in the garden or in the car incase the battery dies.
Positives –
Easy to fit – anyone can really do it
works well
Feels very sturdy
Addition of Z-Wave module makes it work with Smart Home Automation Hubs (note no official SmartThings Support)
I can Ask Alexa to Lock the door!
The Mechanism means mine 4 year old can’t just open it
Downsides-
App – Is Awful!
Batteries will run out when I least expect it
Pairing Tags all has to be done at once
Overall I think this is a great addition to any Smart home, as long as you accept that the phone App needs work, the good news is software can be fixed, hardware on the other hand is different.
Now on to the bright side, Amazon were excellent and sent me a replacement unit the very next day. This unit litterally took 15 mins to fit and it fired up, paired phone and 2 tags, 2 cards without issue. This is a seriously good lock, amazing features and despite all the app related issues i read on here, i have had none what so ever. I use Android not sure if that makes a difference. To anyone thinking of getting one of these i highly recommend it. Its easy to install ” i have two left hands and no lock expierience” and even i did it. Yes i had a faulty unit but the replacement is of a superb standard and i think i was just unlucky with the first.
Measure your door before you buy !! There is a thickness limit of between 44mm and 70mm. If your door is not between those measurements it will not work ..
Just a few of the things that worried me before buying….
Can i fit it? Yes its properly easy to fit.
Will it be ok with my upvc door? Yes fine.
Will the app work? Yes no problem for me.
Is the build quality sturdy? Very solid indeed.
Is it easy to pair tags and keys and things? Very
Will it be worth the spend? Yes i really think so.
Has it got that blokey gadget appeal? Shed Loads…
Few months into ownership now so i thought i would do a quick update.
Battery life is excellent, i ditched the batteries that came with it from day one and replaced with Duracell. I havnt even lost one battery bar so far. The twist to unlock phone feature is frankly aweful with my s7 edge but i dont use that anyway.
The lock however is ace and im still very happy with this purchase. My wife uses a card, daughter has a tag stuck to the back of her phone and i have a fob, all 3 work a treat. I love the fob though tbh as i can unlock as i pull up on the drive and take stuff straight into the house without fumbling for keys.
Long story short, i am very glad i purchased it. The app is a bit crap but once its setup everything is fine.
Be prepared to answer questions though from visitors as everyone wants to know how it works :))