AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt Review
Again, we are here with a different brand. This time, we will make a review for an electronic deadbolt which belongs to Amazon’s brand AmazonBasics. Before we got this product we had a feeling as it will be very similar to Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt and Tacklife Keypad Electronic Deadbolt. Now we have the product and we will make detailed review for AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt.
Before we continue our review, we want to remind our readers that this electronic deadbolt is not a smart lock but due to it’s electronic design, we will have a look at it as some of our readers want to have simple locks as these. We hope you will enjoy reading our detailed review for AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt.
Keypad of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt
Design
At the beginning of our review we have stated that AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt made us feel as it will be very similar to Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt and Tacklife Keypad Electronic Deadbolt. As design we can easily say that each these electronic deadbolts have the same design of each other as the order and layout of the keys with a similar designed body.
Usage of the keypad is easy and practical. Buttons are soft and squishy which might be a problem after few months of usage. General structure of this lock made us feel as it will be heavy-duty product as long as you don’t face problems with buttons. Overall, AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt makes you feel as you have a good product on your door.
User Codes
Similarities continue here as well. User code memory is exactly the same as the other 2 locks we have stated above. In this product, you can define 6 user codes and 1 one time usage code. These codes must be between 4 and 10 digits. All of the 6 codes will work till master user deletes them. No possibility to add recurring or temporary codes.
Having one time usage code is a great advantage. You can add this code for every person who needs to enter your home once, but only one code can be programmed. Unless the active code is used, you cannot add new one time code. Despite this restriction, having a one time code made us very happy. You can use this code for dogwalker, gardener, handyman, nurse or whoever you can imagine.
Programming of User Codes
Surprisingly, we see that programming user code is the same. It is a very easy process. To add new user code, you need to enter the programming code first. This code is 0000 by default. At the same time, 1 user code has been added to AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt. User code is 1234 by default. First thing you should do is to change these 2 codes. Especially if you do not change the programming code, you will be almost left with your door open. So please pay attention to this.
Programming manual is included at the installation manual. We will share AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt installation manual at the installation subtitle of our review.
Backlit of the Keypad
Backlit color of the keypad is blue which is exactly same as Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt and Tacklife Keypad Electronic Deadbolt. Even the way light is activated is the same. Just press any key to activate the backlit. You can also activate the backlit by pressing the lock and unlock button at the top of the keypad. This button also allows you to lock the door with a single press.
Auto Lock
If you have read our article so far, you will not be surprised if we say that auto lock timer options are the same as the other 2 locks. If you enable this feature, it will be activated as 30 seconds by default, but you can change this to any time between 10-99 seconds. Your door will be locked automatically after the time you defined passes over the last unlocking operation. We find this feature very useful. Especially large families can sometimes forget to lock the door.
Protection and Security of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt
Security is definitely the most important issue for the lock installed to your door. Nobody wants to install an electronic lock with low reliability to the door. This product has a generally reliable structure. It has BHMA Grade 3 certificate and this already indicates that the product can be used at home doors.
If you want a higher security level but similar alternative products, we suggest you to have a look at our Kwikset 913 Smartcode Electronic Deadbolt Review and Kwikset 909 SmartCode Electronic Deadbolt Review. Both of these locks have BHMA Grade 2 certificate and bump key protection which is a very widely used attacking technique to locks. It is also known as lock bumping.
If there are 5 incorrect code entries in a row, system deactivates itself and alarm starts to sound. After 45 seconds, the system becomes active again. Sound of the alarm is not too loud, but enough to disturb the person who tampers with your door.
Battery Life of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt
To use AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt, you need 4 x AA Alkaline batteries. These batteries do not come out of the box, so we recommend you to buy high quality batteries. Our personal preference is Duracell batteries or Energizer AA Batteries. These batteries provide you the highest efficiency in this kind of electronic deadbolts. If you try to use rechargable batteries, you will get low battery warning.
We did some minor tests to calculate the average battery consumption. According to our tests, AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt should have a battery life of 4 months and above. This period may differ for each user. Due to the condition of the door, quality of the batteries, frequency of use, weather conditions and similar other factors, battery life can be significantly shorter or longer. As battery life, this lock seems to a little better than Tacklife Keypad Electronic Deadbolt but worse than Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt.
There is a low battery warning, to prevent battery suddenly running out. If the red light flashes 10 times and beeps 10 times, time to change the batteries is approaching. Replacing the battery without waitint too much time will prevent you from staying in front of the door with a non working electronic deadbolt. Even if you fail to change the batteries and they drain completely, you can still use your key to unlock the door.
Nothing special to do for changing the batteries. Slide up the cover on the interior unit and change the batteries. No need to remove any screws. 1 mintue will be enough for battery changing of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt.
Installation process of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt
Similarities with Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt continue even at the installation step too. If you have a pre-drilled standard door, AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt most probably will fit to your door without any extra operations needed. You will need a tape measure and a Phillips Head Screwdriver to finish installation. It will be around 15 minutes to finish installation.
If your door is not drilled, you can use the templates inside the box and prepare your door for the installation. Before you buy AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt, please check and confirm that your door has the specs we listed below. We are sharing AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt installation manual at here for you. There is no installation video published by Amazon for this product so we decided to share installation video of Kwikset 264 Contemporary Keypad Deadbolt which has exactly the same installation process asA mazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt.
Please check and confirm that your door meets the following criterias:
Door is either 1-3/8″ or 1-3/4″ (35 mm or 44 mm) thick
Backset is either 2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″ (60 or 70 mm)
Hole in the door is either 1-1/2″ (38 mm) or 2-1/8″ (54 mm)
Hole in the door edge is 1″ (25 mm)
Technical Details Chart
| Item Weight | 2.71 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 7.44 x 3.02 x 1.37 inches |
| Voltage | 1.5 volts |
| Batteries | 4 AA batteries required. ( not included) |
| Style | Contemporary |
| Material | Metal |
| Included Components | Exterior keypad, interior assembly, latch, mounting plate, drive-in sleeve, strike plate, keys, cylinder, screws |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | 1 year limited |
Cons and Pros of AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt
To be clear, AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt is very successful and has a simple design. It has a quality workmanship and material. It is also a great advantage to have a one time usage code that is not usually present in such locks. Although their similarities with both Kwikset and Tacklife are very surprising, this product is definitely the same quality as them. There is not much we can say negatively.
If you are asking if this lock is worth to buy, we can say yes to you without hesitation. If you want to unlock your door using a simple keypad, this product will meet your expectations. We are sharing he pros and cons that we generally found for this lock below. We couldn’t find a very negative thing to say. We hope you found the review we made useful before you decide to buy AmazonBasics Contemporary Electronic Keypad Deadbolt. Thank you for reading our review. Here is the list of cons and pros:
Pros:
Metal and heavy-duty design
Easy installation
Auto lock
6 user codes
One time usage code
Backlit keys
Easy to program
Key usage if battery drains
Battery drain warning
Long battery life
Easy battery changing
Cons:
No smarthpone and smart hub connections
