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RFID door lock

dmcky

Nov 3, 2012
5
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Nov 3, 2012
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Crazy right? Well not really. I've been forgetting to lock my front door as of late and Ive been bored so I figured why not. So honestly, Im just trying to decide on logistics before I do anything. Ideas below.

Way I see it, there's 4 main components. Reader, motor of some sort, a micro controller, and a power supply.

Reader: Best thing I can find is the ID-20 on sparkfun
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8628
Small problem though. Range isnt quite there. I'd ideally like to have the ID card in my wallet and jsut walk up to my door. Having to take out my wallet and putting it up to the door kinda takes the magic. I was thinking of making an antenna for it, but I frankly dont have the knowhow and google hasnt given me much. Maybe something besides RFID?

Motor- I am completely lost on the motor. Frankly, I figure Ill jsut need a torque-y DC motor to operate the deadbolt. Anyone see any holes in this plan?

uC and micro controller I have no issue with.

So, anyone care to poke holes in my plan? Any ideas, hints, warnings?
 

CocaCola

Apr 7, 2012
3,635
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Crazy right? Well not really. I've been forgetting to lock my front door as of late and Ive been bored so I figured why not. So honestly, Im just trying to decide on logistics before I do anything. Ideas below.

Why not use a commercially available unit?

Reader: Best thing I can find is the ID-20 on sparkfun
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8628
You can purchase the entire control module for about 1/4 that cost commercially...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RFID-Proxim...315?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c3272613

Motor- I am completely lost on the motor. Frankly, I figure Ill jsut need a torque-y DC motor to operate the deadbolt. Anyone see any holes in this plan?

uC and micro controller I have no issue with.

So, anyone care to poke holes in my plan? Any ideas, hints, warnings?
Any 'electronic' door lock should work with the module I linked, but than again why not just get the complete package if that is what you are after?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-RF...917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item22f1b2bd05

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RFID-Access..._Security_Fire_Protection&hash=item43ae4fc1e5

Or the hotel style all in one unit...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weatherproo...046?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23058a6426

How about one with fingerprint scanning ability as well? Kinda hard to leave that guy at home :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Biometric-F...Intercoms_Access_Controls&hash=item20cc826b63

I'm not knocking a DIY project, but sometimes it's just not cost effective and/or the hassle to get a 'reliable' and 'cleanly' installed working unit, is just way too high for most people to bother with...
 
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dmcky

Nov 3, 2012
5
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
5
Why not use a commercially available unit?

You can purchase the entire control module for about 1/4 that cost commercially...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RFID-Proxim...315?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c3272613

Any 'electronic' door lock should work with the module I linked, but than again why not just get the complete package if that is what you are after?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-RF...917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item22f1b2bd05

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RFID-Access..._Security_Fire_Protection&hash=item43ae4fc1e5

Or the hotel style all in one unit...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weatherproo...046?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item23058a6426

How about one with fingerprint scanning ability as well? Kinda hard to leave that guy at home :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Biometric-F...Intercoms_Access_Controls&hash=item20cc826b63

I'm not knocking a DIY project, but sometimes it's just not cost effective and/or the hassle to get a 'reliable' and 'cleanly' installed working unit, is just way too high for most people to bother with...

Well half of it is for the fun and the pride of doing it yourself. Let me look over some of the stuff youve linked anyways

Edit: Yeah, not what im looking for. Im sure with some work I can get something Id be proud of making. Honestly, motor and range are what Ive yet to figure out
 
Last edited:

CocaCola

Apr 7, 2012
3,635
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Apr 7, 2012
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Edit: Yeah, not what im looking for

I though you were looking for an RFID door lock? The ones I linked were just quick Ebay hits, there are 100s of others out there all shapes and sizes...

If you want to go at it yourself look at a solenoid instead of a motor... Any micro will be able to do the job assuming you write the code to communicate with the RFID reader you choose...

As for distance they are designed for short distance, antenna size (most don't have 'antennas' you can modify) isn't going to help much... It's mostly a limit of the tech used... The new UHF ones have greater distance but being in your pocket is likely going to negate any distance advantage in the end...

Read this page for a quick overview...

http://www.sagedata.com/learning_centre/RFID-overview.html
 

dmcky

Nov 3, 2012
5
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
5
I though you were looking for an RFID door lock? The ones I linked were just quick Ebay hits, there are 100s of others out there all shapes and sizes...

If you want to go at it yourself look at a solenoid instead of a motor... Any micro will be able to do the job assuming you write the code to communicate with the RFID reader you choose...

As for distance they are designed for short distance, antenna size (most don't have 'antennas' you can modify) isn't going to help much... It's mostly a limit of the tech used... The new UHF ones have greater distance but being in your pocket is likely going to negate any distance advantage in the end...

Read this page for a quick overview...

http://www.sagedata.com/learning_centre/RFID-overview.html

Solenoid...will look into it.

As far as UHF, will look. Range, I need a foot, maybe two. Let me do some more reading
 
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