Remote control padlock

[Anne]

We know the timed padlocks from AliExpress that are total crap because the battery wears out within a month and the lock can be forced open with little force.

I have found something better:


remotecontrollpadlock.mp4 (Size: 7.31 MB )

Update: Video of test run here

[Anne]

I charged it when I got it on the 7th, I have opened it dozens of times and have been doing tests with the timer app for two days, and it reports a battery level of 92% now. It's BLE, so it goes into some kind of sleep mode, and it takes a few seconds to wake it up. It claims a stand by time of 3 months. Checking the charge before a session or doing a quick recharge is just common sense. It does not open when the battery dies, it's not internet connected, but you can get a Bluetooth - Wi-Fi bridge for it.

It's a smart lock, works with Tuya, but there are bridges for it, so it can work with Google or Alexa. I have one ordered to play around with and maybe control more than one lock. The build quality of this thing looks really good. It's heavy, the unlocking is reliable even with some force on it.

I'm ordering at least one more, so I can use them in addition to a big ice lock. Ice locks are hard to time, so with this padlock I can get accurate timings and have a long ice release in case it fails. Having multiple locks also lowers the risk. Now I try to time the ice release, and it often loosens a bit before releasing and that often gives enough slack to escape, this should make it more reliable. I did a quick 30 min test run this afternoon, video is converting as I type this.

It's a big lock, so it doesn't fit my leather cuffs, that's a shame

[Anne]

Do you have a source, where to buy these pulleys? They look very versatile.

You want some like these, make sure to get the ones that match the rope you are using (or use the ropes they come with): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dcv2ii9

I got mine from a local hardware store, mine have metal gear inside, some on Ali have plastic. I mainly use bigger ones for 6mm nylon rope and it will definitely not slip no matter how hard you pull. I also have a 3D printed sleeve for it so I can't use the release lever, in case I need to have one close to my hands.

Sometimes i secure my hands to the legs with a lock in a hogtie. So there is some pressure from the rope on it in a tight hogtie. Can it be used for this. Does it open and not break in such a situation?

It depends, when there is a lot of pressure it doesn't open but it doesn't break it. That's why my program repeatedly opens it. That being said, there is a way to secure your hands to your legs in a way that does not put pressure on the lock. If you use 2 rings on one side and 1 ring on the other, interweave the rings and put the lock through them it will not put any strain on the locking mechanism. I'll try to remember posting a picture to make this more clear...

And the choice is wide! https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDL46SH

It's a smart lock, works with Tuya, but there are bridges for it, so it can work with Google or Alexa.

Recently I've started looking at Tuya devices. Quite interesting indeed.

This is the lock I got: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdCjzxF

I have also ordered this one: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl3HZsH
and two of these: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004781468949.html

Also this hub to have a second device that unlocks them: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004781468949.html

[Anne]

Sometimes i secure my hands to the legs with a lock in a hogtie. So there is some pressure from the rope on it in a tight hogtie. Can it be used for this. Does it open and not break in such a situation?

If you interlock rings like this there is never any stress on the locking mechanism.

   

I should find somebody to weld me two rings together with a space in between that fits another but then I'll have to find an excuse for what I need it for.

the above is all via bluetooth, and not really remote by controlling someone else for example, i once found the following which works safely and well, and yes stuff has a high price, but better buy something good than money on ali and be disappointed

https://selfbondage-shop.com/en/3-magnetic-lock

It's bluetooth if you use your phone or it can be anything if you use the bridge. The locks are around 30€ and the bridges for home automation around 15€. I only have it for a few days but they are way better quality than the other locks from Ali, those were just toys. I would actually trust these to lock my garden shed or a locker at the gym for example. I actually ordered one for the garden shed as you can give people permission to open them with their phone restricted to a single time or to certain time slots. My family members will have their finger prints registered and can open it any time. Failed attempts are logged and show up in the app.

It's a smart lock, works with Tuya, but there are bridges for it

As it uses Bluetooth, is it possible to add it as a device in the Home Automation System Home Assistant? Or how is it controlled if you do not want to use the App? Maybe I have to do some research about it or try one in this setting.

It shows up in the app, you can assign it to a room. By default it does not have any automations you can assign but I'm hoping that will be solved when the bridge arrives, then it should be like any other smart device. It should be possible to have it unlock on certain triggers like you coming home, or every day at 8pm,... and it should work with digital assistants so "Alexa open lock" should also work. But I'm waiting for the bridge to arrive to test these things.

For now I automated actions on my phone to open the app, go to the lock and hold the button to unlock it.

[Anne]

@Anne - could you please post links to the padlock and the software? For a quick reference?

And, if possible, how you feel this type of padlock compares to the 'digital timer' types - maybe some pro's and con's?
MJ

Aight, a quick compare first.

On the low end, around 10€, we have these:

   
   

These are absolute crap, don't buy. Battery will die after a few recharge cycles, a small force on the wire will prevent them from opening and a moderate force will break them completely. Even to lock cuffs, gags or masks these suck.

One step up, around 15€ there is this:

   

These are toys, not locks. Won't open if there is any force applied but with some careful consideration they can be used. There are techniques you can use where there won't be any force on the lock, I have used these in a few of my videos, and the locks can also be used to lock cuffs, gaggs, masks, ... 

The main advantage of this type: easy to set timer
Disadvantage: build quality not very good, battery not good quality, takes a while to fully charge and doesn't hold charge very well after a few recharge cycles. The internal beeper broke on both my locks so I'll have to listen for motor noise if I lock them blindfolded, it does not spark confidence so make sure you don't rely on these alone.

I usually use 2 of these in series so I still get out if one fails, with another backup release of course.

On to class number 3:

   

These are proper locks that are meant to be used where you would use a real life padlock. Ranging from around 25€ to 50€ and beyond depending on waterproofing and features. These are smart locks that work with Tuya, you can unlock them with an app on your phone. They require bluetooth but I also bought a Tuya hub for 20€ that bridges to wifi. The bridge appears to give me a more reliable connection as the bluetooth connection to my phone kept dropping and reconnecting every time was a pain for the script, the hub keeps the connection alive. You don't actually need the hub, I wanted it to experiment, you could use it to control a lock with Alexa but I didn't try that.

These are the ones I have:

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004781468949.html
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDhYcgt
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddun3C5

the hub (you don't need this):
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dd4ndXF

Unfortunately the designers/programmers didn't see the need for any automations for the padlocks so they can't be controlled like you would control lights or power sockets, ie turning them on and off with a simple home automation script. That would have made my life really easy. In stead you can only unlock the padlocks by holding a button in the app.

To automate opening the padlocks I wrote an automation script in an app called Automate by LlamaLab:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/detai...b.automate

A few warnings before I continue with the script:

- I wrote this script for my phone and it's only tested on my phone
- I scripted tap and hold events, nothing smart so a popup or incoming call on the wrong moment will mess up script execution
- You can't put your phone in airplane mode to get around this because you'll need bluetooth, which will need wifi also for some reason
- IF you use the hub you can disable 4g, bluetooth and only keep wifi enabled, put your phone on no disturb and chances are nothing will pop up
- the Automate app requires a lot of permissions
- I use a spare phone with no sim card for this
- if your phone has a different screen size it will not work
- everytime Tuya updates the app this script will possibly break
- commercials in the Tuya app can mess with this script, I have pi-hole running on my network but if I'm on 4g a large add can mess with the script
- I test this script every time at least twice before every session
- you will get stuck if you rely on this script

Ok so this is what I got:

   

WARNING: There are many ways in how this script can be improved, mostly in how to handle unexpected situations.

I am not going to explain this script, not because I don't want to but because if you don't understand what this does you have no business using it for something as risky as self bondage.

What's next?

Yesterday I made good progress on a Python script that uses Android Debug Bridge (adb) to control an Android phone. There I have much more control on checking what is actually on screen and opening the exact activities to get to the unlock screens for the padlocks. Also a lot more options for handling unforeseen situations. A first proof of concept is actually running so I have good hopes in getting this to work.

Because it's Python it opens up almost unlimited possibilities. Hand control over to a website? Only open the locks once you reach a certain location in the room? You need to solve a puzzle first? Stand in a certain position for 10 minutes?

[Anne]

Great post @Anne! If you do not mind, I will move it to the electro-padlock thread - https://www.likera.com/forum/mybb/showth...p?tid=3805
Also, we have a kinky home automation thread: https://www.likera.com/forum/mybb/showth...p?tid=3808
I have a ZigBee hub, I think, it's Tuya compatible. Out of curiosity, have you seen any Zigbee locks, as I haven't?

You can move it, no problem.

It's useless for home automation as it can't be controlled by automation, only manually in the app.

I only looked at Tuya but the Tuya hub bridges multiple brands including Zigbee so it should be possible to control Tuya power plugs, lamps, shades, ... with Zigbee if you have the bridge I have.