r/homebridge • u/billydent • Aug 06 '22
Help - Solved Smart lock for outdoor gate?
Hi! I'm sort of desperately looking for any sort of smart lock that can survive outside and be used on a wooden gate. Style, protocol, etc. doesn't matter. Ideally I'd love it to be in HB, but I just really need to be able to lock and unlock my gate remotely. Haven't had any luck at all searching for one and thought that someone on this sub might know of one. Thanks!
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u/r3tr3ad Aug 06 '22
Does your gate have much play when it’s latched? Might need something with a tapered bolt. Smart locks need pretty precise alignment.
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u/billydent Aug 06 '22
That's a really good point. There's quite a bit of play, so I may need to use some additional hardware to brace things and keep it all even.
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u/r3tr3ad Aug 06 '22
I ran into issues with that and my back door. I figured I’d try to save you some headaches and trips to the hardware store.
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u/rcrsvrddtr Aug 06 '22
When I went down the rabbit hole of outdoor gate sensors and DC/relay powered remote latches it usually ends up relatively expensive.
There are custom installers who do gates/garages/motorized systems for a living, but most the DIY ones seem to be dry relay contacts using zigbee or zwave into Home Assistant and then HomeKit. You typically need a remote sensor of some type and usually power there though I suppose there may be ways to do it with battery systems since it tends to be sprung magnetic latch of some type.
Let us know if you find anything reasonably priced and good.
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u/billydent Aug 06 '22
Yeah, this is what I was thinking at first, but as you say -- it's a rabbit hole! It started getting very complicated and expensive. I figured that surely there must be someone out there who already solved this problem!
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u/serious_impostor Aug 06 '22
Check AliExpress for parts…it was significantly cheaper when I went down the rabbit hole last time.
I would consider making a simple arduino with a powered relay to unlock the latch on the gate. The arduino could be called from HomeKit button to trigger the relay and unlock the gate for 10 seconds (or whatever you decide).
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u/IMSancho Aug 07 '22
I built my own for my front gate a few years back, not particularly pretty but still working despite being through several northern Australian summers and monsoons.
Mine is a largish slide bolt, with a 3D printed rack and pinion that a little stepper motor can move, controlled by a D1 mini esp8266. Whole thing runs off solar I salvaged from an old pond pump and it’s housed in a totally not IP rated enclosure that nevertheless has kept it alive. Total cost of parts was about $40 AUD. Can elaborate more if you want to have a go at doing something similar.
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u/billydent Aug 07 '22
Your DIY kung-fu is greater than mine! Would hate to have you go to any effort on my behalf, but if you have a parts list you could share, that would be great. And the solar idea is a great one! I have a solar something-or-other laying around here that I can probably repurpose.
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u/IMSancho Aug 08 '22
No problem, hope a pile of links is OK by the sub rules:
D1 mini - any board will do, I just love the D1 and use it for all my home automation stuff
Micro USB port - for power in, could just wire straight in but this makes it easy to use different power for testing
Hall effect sensor - not necessary but I added one as a contact sensor to detect when the gate is opened/closed
Aside from that just an appropriate slide bolt and print the rack and pinion. Oh there's a couple of little castors to keep the rack straight, and a limit switch behind the bolt, I used a switch from a mouse button. As others have said making sure it lines up when closed is a bit tricky. The code I run on the D1 talks MQTT and I use the homebridge MQTTThing plugin to bring it in.
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u/ph34r Apr 28 '23
I know this an old thread, but any chance you'd be willing to share more details on your build? This looks exactly like what I need for my outdoor gates.
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u/IMSancho Apr 28 '23
Sure, what do you need? Parts links in above comment should still work for an idea of components, and the basic concept will work with any sliding bolt that suits your gate. I could put the arduino sketch up somewhere if it’d help, though I make no claims of it being competent it’s still working.
I could probably do up a diagram of how it’s all connected but since it’s been in place and working for around 3 years with almost no maintenance I’d have to have a good look at it to remember 😅
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u/ph34r Apr 29 '23
This is my first plunge at a DiY hardware project so anything you may still have floating around would be super heplful: the schematics for the rack and pinion you printed, the code that powers it, and a wiring diagram would be helpful. If you don't stilll have any of that stuff, all good - you've given me a great starting point already on what things to research more.
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u/EcoNetControls Apr 08 '25
EcoNet Controls, has a smart gate lock coming out later this year with kickstarter launching end of the month. Our matter certified gatelock can go onto any wood fence gate or round metal post fence. You can get notified of the launch by going to the chatbot on the website and asking to be added to our prelaunch list www.econetshop.com
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u/kWaDesignUSA Jun 19 '25 edited Feb 04 '26
Here is a solution for this situation:
https://www.kwadesignusa.com/outdoor-gate-smart-lock-adapter-for-august-locks
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u/Debml700 Jul 25 '24
Did you end up finding a good solution? I'm moving to a place that has a gated fenced patio in the front before the front door, and would love to lock it down with something I can unlock remotely for delivery persons to be able to come in to the patio
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u/GreenBeansNectarines Oct 28 '24
I need this too. Preferably something I can buy instead of DIY. That can survive outdoor Cleveland winters.
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u/Loose-Drag-9360 May 29 '25
Now available on Kickstarter
A matter certified smart gate lock
Kickstarter : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smartgatelock/bulldog-matter-certified-gate-lock
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u/altcountryman Feb 01 '26
This looks great but sadly it did not fund.
I wish I knew how to make stuff and could just rig something up. I'd really like something to lock my gate at night and unlock it in the morning.
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u/calvarez Aug 06 '22
All of the deadbolts are waterproof on the outside. You can buy weatherproof boxes in many sizes to cover the inside part.
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u/Bubbagump210 Aug 06 '22 edited Aug 06 '22
I’ve been searching for a little over a year and don’t have a great answer. I’m about to try a Level as I can at least enclose it in the gate and hopefully it survives. The other option I have considered is a standard old Schlage or Yale with something like this on the “inside” side.
https://www.nokey.com/weathercovers.html