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operated, and the real beauty is
that power is only used when the
lock is engaging/disengaging. This
equates to a potential three-year
battery life in domestic use. These
euro profile cylinders come in many
configurations, however, as is the
case with every lock, there are of
course some flaws.
For the purposes of this article,
I was able to test ISEO’s offering.
The lock comes in two main
configurations: with the electronics
on only one side and a thumbturn
on the other, or with electronics on
both sides.
The addition of a thumbturn on
the internal side makes this lock
completely useless for an installation
near a letterbox, i.e. on a front
door. We’re therefore left with the
prospect of using the electronics
on both sides at a whopping cost of
£750!
A better proposition would be
to have electronics on the outside
and a regular keyed operation
on the inside, yet ISEO does not
appear to have seen fit to offer this
as an option at the time of writing.
Installing the electronics on both
sides doesn’t necessarily rule this
out as a viable option though.
As a side note regarding cost,
it has been my experience that
clients able to afford this lock
usually don’t have PVCu doors,
and readers of one of my articles
last year will understand why MPLs
are unsuitable for wooden doors.
But I digress – we’re not looking at
selling to affluent customers here,
we’re looking at trying to solve a
genuine issue, without resorting to
more expensive, large-scale access
control systems.
The second problem is that of
battery operation. I can hear you
thinking of your clients making
worried comments about the battery
going flat, but these are not an
issue. ISEO has included a battery
monitor in their app, and you will
receive many warnings to replace
the battery before the lock actually
stops working. The battery can be
changed at any time, regardless of
the position of the lock.
A third issue, is the distance that
the lock protrudes from the door, but
again, this shouldn’t pose too much
of a problem. The lock features
breakaway sections, and doesn’t
stick out any further than the doorhandle. But if you’re considering
installing in high-traffic areas where
door-handles get damaged as
large deliveries come through,
then you may wish to think again,
as accidental damage won’t be
covered by any warranty.
The app that comes with it, whilst
in it’s infancy, is set to bring some
new functions in the near future.
ISEO is currently working on an
update that will allow you to ‘text’
a key over to someone’s phone,
and they are also looking at the
possibility of connecting phone and
lock via a bridge – this will make
it possible to view the state of the
lock and also to operate it over the
internet. Of course, all locks have
vulnerabilities, and the possibility
of a cyber-attack on ISEO would
definitely become a risk factor if
opened up to Internet Protocol.
SO IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
In my opinion, definitely yes. I
personally receive stock deliveries
and tools on a daily basis. By
combining these two mechanisms, I
can relax in the knowledge that:
• My parcels will definitely be
delivered, and not returned to
the depot
• They will be left safely locked
inside my house
• The door will automatically lock
after the driver closes it
• I can erase any key in an instant
if necessary
• I can restrict access on days
when I’m not expecting
deliveries
• I can give new delivery drivers
the key in seconds
• I can view the log at any time
and see if unauthorised access
has been attempted, and by
who
• This is a standalone system
without having wires, cables,
electricity supplies, computers
etc.
‘ISEO is
currently
working on
an update
that will
allow you
to ‘text’ a
key over to
someone’s
phone’
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | SEP/OCT 2016
AND OF THE DRAWBACKS?
• Cost. These locks are
considerably beyond the
purchasing power of the
majority of domestic clients,
but they definitely appear to
be cheaper and better value
for your money than any other
access control system. As
with all new technology, one
can presumably expect that
the price will eventually drop
in the future as they become
more commonplace.
• The battery will need
replacing every few years, but
you get plenty of warnings
when it is due.
• If anything were to fail, the
costs of replacing the cylinder
will of course be extortionate,
so this is a set-up that will
require fastidious servicing.
Given the value of stock that
I receive on a weekly basis,
spending £850 to keep it secure
seems like a relatively small
price to pay, especially when we
consider the cost of a standard
access control system and the
work involved in the installation
thereof.
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