Hotel Door Lock Teardown -- The EIectronics Inside 31

element14 Presents | About David | Project Videos | The Electronics Inside

Something completely different, a security application. The electronics and the mechanical design of these two door locks are so dependent on each other, but very different. Is there a better design? Which would be more secure?

Top Comments

DAB over 4 years ago in reply to a531016 +2

Might be to keep guests and or bad guys from pouring liquid into the lock to short it out. DAB
baldengineer over 4 years ago +1

Being someone who, up until a few months ago, traveled quite a bit, I was very interested to see the inside of these locks! Thanks David. I was really shocked to see so much conformal coat. Environmental…
a531016 over 4 years ago in reply to baldengineer +1

I wonder if it's potentially protection from conductive dusts? When a lock is in situ and used regularly, the metal surfaces could wear if not properly lubricated creating steel and brass dusts? Maybe…

airbornesurfer over 4 years ago

If only they had those keyed-backup door locks in Jurassic Park! Apparently Mr. Hammond did, in fact, spare some expense!
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
a531016 over 4 years ago in reply to DAB

Good suggestion! Certainly could be?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
a531016 over 4 years ago in reply to DAB

Thanks DAB!
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
a531016 over 4 years ago in reply to baldengineer

There was definately grease on them! However I suspect the grease started clear / brown and had dust in it to make it black?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
DAB over 4 years ago in reply to a531016

Might be to keep guests and or bad guys from pouring liquid into the lock to short it out.

DAB
- Cancel
- Vote Up +2 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
DAB over 4 years ago

Good teardown.
I have used many of these hotel cards and did not think anything about what was inside, so it is nice to know how some of them were put together.

DAB
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
baldengineer over 4 years ago

When you mentioned washing your hands at the end, is that what you thought was on them? Metallic dust, or something else?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
baldengineer over 4 years ago in reply to a531016

That's certainly more plausible than what I was thinking.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
a531016 over 4 years ago in reply to baldengineer

I wonder if it's potentially protection from conductive dusts? When a lock is in situ and used regularly, the metal surfaces could wear if not properly lubricated creating steel and brass dusts?

Maybe?
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
baldengineer over 4 years ago

Being someone who, up until a few months ago, traveled quite a bit, I was very interested to see the inside of these locks! Thanks David.

I was really shocked to see so much conformal coat. Environmental protection on doors that face outside would be an obvious reason for it. But I wonder if there any other reasons for so much coating? I was thinking toward security, but that would just slow someone down--not stop them from modifying the board.

Just a curiosity that I thought others might have ideas about.
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel