entrance keypads

Larry:

You don't want a "stand-alone" keypad like the one you've pointed to in the link you provided. All someone has to do is pull the sucker from the wall and manually complete the circuit to pop the electric lock on your door. The "cheap" way to do this would be to use a security panel like the Elk M-1 Gold which can interface with a card reader or keypad (or a combination unit).

Hi Larry,

There are several companies that make stand alone (low security) and 2-part (higher security) keypads for this purpose. One model, Securitron's DK-26SS is a weatherproof 2-part design. Following is a link (my website) to a collection of digital keypads which can do what you want.

Try

Thanks for pointing that out. I thought all of the outdoor keypads I was looking at were two part packages. I didn't realize that was an all-in-one unit.

That doesn't look particularly cheap. It might be interesting to do something with it down the road. It's definitely overkill for what I want right now, but I suppose future planning isn't such a bad idea. I'm going to read more about it before I decide if that's the right answer. My initial reading has me rather confused. Thanks for the pointer though. It'll keep me busy for a bit.

No problem. I'm familiar with the unit your link pointed to and have used it on several "low security" type applications. I didn't think using this for your home's front door was a good idea.

Heh... The M-1 Gold isn't, but it's what I would recommend you carefully consider going with. You'll notice I did put "cheap" in quotations... The service manager at Chubb (when I first started in the trade 22 years ago) had a saying that's appropriate in this instance:

"Do it once and do it right."

Besides which I think you'll find that Elk recently dropped the suggested retail price for this product. Now that it's proven itself to be everything they advertised, I don't have any problem recommending it.

"Future planning"... Exactly my point.

If you need help sourcing product, I know of several online Dealers that can provide you with information and competitive pricing. There are several online resources the regulars here recommend using on a frequent basis as well. I'd stick with them. Feel free to email me if you need more info. I have no interest in selling product to you even if you happen to be local to Vancouver, B. C. (my market isn't residential) and no affiliation with any online Dealer. Good luck...

Looks like in order to do the logging, I'd want the DK-26SSXB. Is that right? Now this is getting pricey enough that maybe the suggestion of going with an Elk isn't so far off. Any reasons to go with one or the other aside from price? Obviously the Elk looks like it would give me greater future expansion, but just based on what I want currently, is there something I'd be leaving out if I went with the DK-26?

I'd love to just be able to network whatever I install and talk to it like any of my other devices. I'd rather enter/delete access codes from a computer than the keypad, but that's not all that important. However, I would very much like to collect the data from it rather than just print it. (The printer interface on it is serial, so I shouldn't have any trouble setting something up to just capture it.)

I just looked at their site. it doesn't look like they have any two part exterior keypads. am I missing something.

Thanks for all the help.

The ELK M1Gold does cost a bit more but it's also a powerful home automation controler. You'll still need an electric strike and a reader or keypad. ELK's keypads are not waterproof and should not be installed in an exterior area, even if it's protected from rain. The LCD will not be readable when it's cold and functionality / life expectancy of the keypad may be impaired if it's exposed to temperature or humidity extremes.

BTW, another individual commented that my link URL to a 1-piece unit. The link actually points to a collection of different keypad systems. Some are stand-alone and some are 2-part systems. The latter provide sufficient security for most normal applications. I wouldn't use any automated locking system without some form of alarm on the door though, and that brings us back to the considering the ELK system or perhaps some less pricey alarm plus the keyless entry system.

I haven't asked ELK if they log user identification when a Wiegand reader is connected. User activation and deletion should be no problem using their software but I'd want to verify that first.

Oops. You're right.

That's why the OP should consider using a keypad that provides a 26 bit weigand output that's compatible with the Elk system like the series manufactured by Essex ( http://216.46.170.82/K1SeriesMain.htm).

Agreed... but then I never said to mount an ELK keypad outside, did I??