I purchased 5 of these locks and four of them broke within 2 years. Even if you call the company that makes the lock "Anaconda" (I got their phone number off the internet) they will admit that their lock wasn't made to last. The problem is not the electrical part, it's the mechanical part. So in other words "wear and tear" should make the lock break. All four of my locks broke from the same part.
However, they are really good as in giving you a replacement during the warranty period. (You still have to pay for shipping.) However, what use is a replacement when it will break again soon anyway. The good thing about this lock is even if the keyless feature breaks, you can still use keys and it will work like a normal lock. The guy at Anaconda did try to sell me a whole different lock that doesn't use batteries. He stated the newer, no battery lock they have was made to last a very long time. Electronic Keyless Deadbolt System - Antique Brass #419
I purchased this item for its low price; however, the quality is also below average. I'm a instruction-following type of guy, but I eventually had to put them down and wing it because the instructions were so vague and unhelpful. The construction of the unit was semi-irritating. The mounting bracket would not go flush with the door causing the bolt motor to not function right, so I had to screw in an extra piece of metal to wedge it out. The instructions say you don't need a power drill unless its a new door, but this is false, you will definitely need a power drill for installation. In short, if you have the extra $50, I'd recommend buying a better quality unit.
If it wasn't for the fact that 3 keys are included which can be used without the electronics, this would be a complete throw-away item. We purchased two of these, one for the front and one for the back. The first one had the left/right lead reversed so when I switched it according to the instructions, it actually worked in the opposite way, causing a strain on the electric motor. Noticing the factory mistake immediately, I switched the lead back to the other position. The lock worked 3 times and that was that. The second lock never worked at all ... in any direction ... with the door open and four brand new energizer AA batteries.
Another problem is that these locks aren't very friendly with standard metal entry doors. What I'm getting at is this ... On a wood door you have the ability to tighten down on the screws tight enough so that part of the lock gently bites into the wood which helps to prevent things from loosening up later on. But if you have a standard metal door with hollow areas where the screws would go, you have no recourse but to drill the holes too small, add some liquid nails to the screw, tighten the screws down just enough but without overturning them ... and then let everything sit overnight. That's not in the instructions though. There are no instructions nor hardware for hollow areas.
Be careful with the screws when you tighten the deadbolt down because on standard metal doors too tight means that the bolt may not move easily and freely anymore. That's imperative because if movement isn't smooth and easy, you'll end up with excessive pressure on the already cheaply manufactured motor. All in all, for this price it was a total waste of our money, nothing but a garbage product that should be taken off the market.
I installed the lock a month ago.
After purchasing it i read the reviews.
So far so good. My 80 Year old mother was having trouble turning keys and being locked out. So now she has two options. If she has difficulty with the key she uses the code which is also great if there are any medical situations. If it fails any time soon i will replace it. - Dead Bolts - Keyless Entry - Keyless - Electronic Lock'
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