Better front door lock!
No more jamming lock mechanism at the Hacklab front door, we now have new perfect electromechanical locking mechanism in place! General flow is still the same, monthly paying member calls the same number as usual and lock opens. Biggest difference from old system is that now there is solenoid latching handle, so after the call one then pushes the handle down normally.
For getting out there is now an green button right next to door and pressing the button it indicates green light and handle can be pressed. For both directions lock stays open for 10 seconds.
Also as new mechanism enables the use of handle, now any possible accident triggering doesn’t physically make door to be left open.
Markku did much of the required woodworking (and some metal too) for the door, Jarmo and Penjami spent their time tweaking the actual mechanism perfecting it, while Mikael and I tweaked to Raspberry Pi program to make it work with new mechanism.
While new mechanism is in place and working now, there is still room for some improvements: we are thinking of putting indicator light also at outside, and until all the required electronic control parts arrives there is still possibility of door not opening for first call, then just repeat the call and done.
General instructions with demonstration video at manuals page: Front door
