A Geek Goes Flying

Dead Kwikset smart lock At least, that would be my recommendation, based on my experiences with my Kēvo locks. I bought the first one in 2014. While it worked it was great. I could grant, e.g., dog walkers, access to my place remotely, I could issue automatically expiring “guest” keys, etc. But, I had to replace that lock in 2019. I went with the same thing, now upgraded to “generation 2.” The Gen 2 had battery issues . Wouldn’t really work with NiMH rechargeables, ate through quality alkaline AAs (Energizer, Duracell) in a matter of weeks. When 1.5V rechargeable LiIon batteries hit the market, I swapped to those, and life with the Kēvo Gen 2 was fine ... Until two days ago. I noticed the lock’s motor wasn’t making the same sounds. It was working okay, but when you hear a noise at least twice a day every day, you quickly notice when it gets slightly off. This was slightly off, and the ring would oh so quickly flash red while cycling orange. Seemed like a battery issue, though I’d c...

Until very recently, if you wanted rechargeable AAs you were stuck with NiMH batteries, which topped out at around 1.2V ( Rechargeable Batteries — compared and explained in detail ). Off the shelf alkaline AAs, though, at least started life as (at least) 1.5V cells: New Energizer alkaline AA battery, 1.5V As the battery was used, the voltage decreases over time. In 2014 I installed the first generation Kēvo smart deadbolt , and loved it. I got a set of rechargeable AAs and recharged them every few months or so and life was good. Until life happened and in 2019 I had to replace that lock; the only one available was the Kwikset Kēvo 2nd Gen . That lock is much more finicky. It would work on NiMH rechargeable AAs, but only for a short time (a matter of days), and immediately started complaining the batteries were low. Meanwhile, e.g., a set of (4) Energizer MAX batteries, packaged in November 2021 and bought and installed in mid-December 2021, lasted about 2 months. When I tested them wit...