I have to admit that the company WeLock and asked if I was interested in testing the Touch41 or Touch41mini locking cylinder, I was skeptical at first.
Because with the Touch41/Touch41mini locking cylinder system, it is possible to convert your own house or apartment door by simply replacing the locking cylinder so that only a suitable (pre-registered) fingerprint is required to lock and unlock it.
Especially as a German (“Hello German Angst") it's somehow a tradition to be skeptical at first when new technology tries to find its way into the good old everyday life. Especially when this technology could also be security-critical and access to property, data, people or anything else is at stake.
So for me there were a few points at stake that I wanted to clarify during the test phase
- Do only registered users have access?
- Are authorized fingerprints really reliably recognized?
- Is the power supply reliable?
- Do I feel good about not having “the key” to my home in my pocket but storing it digitally instead?
You can find the answers in the conclusion at the end of the article. 🙂
Of course, before the test phase could begin, the locking cylinder first had to be installed. I have described the individual steps in the following article.
Safety instructions
I know the following tips are always somehow annoying and seem unnecessary. But unfortunately, many people who knew "better" have already lost eyes, fingers or other things or injured themselves due to carelessness. In comparison, a data loss is almost not worth mentioning, but even these can be really annoying. Therefore, please take five minutes to read the safety instructions. Because even the coolest project is not worth an injury or other trouble.
https://www.nerdiy.de/sicherheitshinweise/
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Requirements
Installing the Touch41 system is really easy. Even if you don't regularly carry out manual work, this can be done within about 15 minutes. 🙂
Required tools:
No additional tools are required for installation. All required tools were supplied with both locking cylinder systems.
Material needed:
Depending on the thickness of your door leaf, you need either the Touch41(50-100mm) or the Touch41mini(30-70mm) system. You can find more information about the dimensions of the locking cylinders in the next section.
There is also a coupon code that you can use. This gives you a price reduction of 53€.
The code is: CNHD53
Simply enter this during the ordering process and the discount will be deducted automatically.
| Number | Link |
|---|---|
| 1x | WeLock Touch41 lock cylinder |
| 1x | WeLock Touch41mini lock cylinder |
| 3x | AAA battery Buy at Amazon |
The Touch41 or Touch 41mini locking cylinder system
The Touch41 and Touch41mini locking cylinder systems are identical in terms of technical capabilities. Only the dimensions of the lock cylinders vary as follows.
- The Touch41 System is suitable for door thicknesses of 50-100mm.
- The Touch41mini System is suitable for door thicknesses of 30-70mm.
Both systems can be registered via Fingerprint, RFID transponder or via Bluetooth unlock.
Touch41mini
It is in the photos below Touch41mini locking cylinder system shown. In addition to the locking cylinder, the scope of delivery also includes three RFID transponders, replacement screws, sealing caps and the tools required for installation (a Phillips screwdriver and an Allen key).
I have taken the following photos so that you can better assess the dimensions of the locking cylinder (in particular the distances between the threaded holes for the forend screw).
The overall length of the cylinder (see photo) is:
- 55mm
The distance from the left (door outside) to the threaded hole for the forend screw amounts to:
- 27mm
The distance from the right (door inside) to the threaded hole for the forend screw is (also):
- 27mm
Touch41
It is in the photos below Touch41 locking cylinder system shown. In addition to the locking cylinder, the scope of delivery also includes three RFID transponders, replacement screws, sealing caps and the tools required for installation (a Phillips screwdriver and an Allen key).
I have taken the following photos so that you can better assess the dimensions of the locking cylinder (in particular the distances between the threaded holes for the forend screw).
The overall length of the cylinder (see photo) is:
- 69.5mm
The distance from the left (door outside) to the threaded hole for the forend screw amounts to:
- 40mm
The distance from the right (door inside) to the threaded hole for the forend screw is (also):
- 29.5mm
Remove the old lock cylinder
Before you can start installing the Touch41/Touch41mini lock cylinder, you first have to remove the old lock cylinder (of course).
You need a Phillips screwdriver (eg the supplied one) and the key to the cylinder lock that you want to remove.
Now open the door and locate the forend screw (marked with the red arrow in the picture).
You now have to unscrew this until...
...you can take them out completely.
Now put the key in the lock cylinder and pull the lock cylinder including the key out of the door leaf.
To do this, the key must be turned approx. 30° (in relation to the vertical alignment) to the left or right (depending on which side of the door leaf the key is inserted from). The locking cylinder can only be pulled out of the door leaf in this position.
After removing the cylinder you should be able to look through the hole in the door leaf as shown in the picture.
Install the Touch41/Touch41mini lock cylinder
Now you can start installing the Touch41 or Touch41mini locking cylinder. I show the installation here on the Touch41mini. The installation of the Touch41 system is identical and just as easy. The only difference here is the dimensions of the locking cylinder.
In order to be able to insert the locking cylinder into the door leaf, you must first remove the knob – which will later be visible on the inside of the door.
To do this, loosen the grub screw shown until...
... you can completely remove the knob from the square bar.
Now push the locking cylinder prepared in this way from the outside through the door leaf to...
... the square bar is visible on the inside.
Now fasten the lock cylinder in the door leaf using the previously removed forend screw.
Make sure the stud screw is tight and flush. But also make sure that you don't overtighten the screw or damage the thread with too much force.
If you - like me - use a cordless screwdriver for "screwdriving work", you can easily observe this by correctly setting the torque limiter integrated in many cordless screwdrivers.
After installation, you can push the knob back onto the square bar on the inside.
Leave enough space for the fixed parts of the door leaf.
I left about enough space between the knob and the door leaf for the supplied Allen key to just fit between the knob and the door leaf.
Overall, installing the Touch41 locking cylinder system is really easy. Even if you don't have a screwdriver in your hand every day, you should be able to do it within 15 minutes.
The power supply of the Welock Touch41 locking cylinder system
The system is powered by three AAA cells or micro cells. Of course you can also use rechargeable batteries here. However, the battery display is then incorrect (due to the different cell voltage of batteries). Personally, I would use AAA cells, as recommended by Welock.
In an emergency (i.e. if the inserted battery should be empty), you can also supply the system with power via a USB port accessible in the front.
In order to be able to insert the batteries into the system's control panel, you must first remove the stainless steel cover.
Using the supplied Allen key, you must completely unscrew the grub screw shown.
You can then pull the stainless steel cover forwards off the control panel.
To open the battery compartment, you must now remove the Phillips screw shown.
This is located under the front cover and can be unscrewed with the supplied screwdriver.
Now you can insert the three AAA batteries as shown.
Then you can reattach the front cover and the stainless steel cover.
Another view of the inserted AAA batteries.
Emergency power supply via the USB port behind the front cover
In the event that the inserted AAA batteries should be empty, the system can also be supplied with power via a USB port (e.g. using a power bank).
The USB port is located in the area marked in red behind the front cover.
The front cover can be folded back without tools.
Conclusion
As I said, I was initially skeptical as to whether the Touch41 locking cylinder system would deliver what it promised. After almost four weeks of testing, I am certain that I will leave it installed permanently.
Only after installing the Touch41 system did I realize that I had the same initial skepticism about unlocking the smartphone with a fingerprint.
Similar to the smartphone, I quickly realized that you don't have to make any compromises in terms of security. The system has always reliably recognized the fingerprints of authorized persons. At the same time, fingerprints from unauthorized persons were always correctly rejected. These important basic functions work for me without any problems and have always been reliable.
At the same time, I find the increased comfort so pleasant that I no longer want to do without it in everyday life.
Just rush to the mailbox or car without taking the key with you? No problem. Sport or jogging is also much more fun if you don't have to carry a clattering bunch of keys in your test pocket.
Overall, I see the following advantages and disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
- You have to overcome trust in technology
Advantages:
- My "key" can no longer be stolen or "just" copied
- I can't forget my key anymore
- It is no longer possible to lock yourself out, for example because the door is slammed shut by a draft
- "Copying a key" is faster and cheaper (simply register the authorized user in the lock)
So for me that means that my good old apartment key has had its day for the time being.
If you have any further questions about the system, please leave me a comment. I then try to answer this directly or, if necessary, have it answered by the manufacturer. 🙂
Have fun with the project
I hope everything worked as described for you. If not or you have questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments. I will then add this to the article if necessary.
Ideas for new projects are also always welcome 🙂 .
P.S. Many of these projects - especially the hardware projects - cost a lot of time and money. Of course I do it because I enjoy it, but if you think it's cool that I share the info about it with you, I'd appreciate a small donation to the coffee fund 🙂 .
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