Knowledge Center - an information portal from Allegion

The expected battery life for the Schlage Encode Series (BE489, BE499, and FE789) is 6 months. If your batteries are not lasting 6 months before requiring a change, this is considered poor battery life.

Common Causes for Poor Battery Life in the Encode Series

• Using Lithium or Low-Quality Batteries: These types of batteries may not provide optimal performance for the lock.
• No Wi-Fi Connection or Weak Wi-Fi Signal: A lack of connection or a poor signal causes the lock to continuously search for a network, draining the battery.
• Excessive Lock Usage: Less than 10-15 lock unlock cycles​a day is acceptable. Higher usage than​that could cause higher battery drain.
• Dual Pairing with Schlage Home App and Apple HomeKit (Exclusive to Encode Plus): While the Encode Plus can pair with both the Schlage Home app and Apple HomeKit, doing so means the lock communicates with both the Schlage Cloud and Apple Home. This dual communication significantly increases battery consumption.

Thankfully, there are solutions for each of these issues to help optimize battery life and ensure smooth operation.

Improving Battery Life 

1. Replace Batteries

• If you are using lithium or low-quality alkaline batteries, replace them with name-brand alkaline batteries. This change should significantly increase your lock's battery life.

2. Check Your Lock's Wi-Fi Connection

A weak or missing Wi-Fi connection can cause the lock to continuously search for a network, draining the battery.

• Check your Wi-Fi signal strength
  If you have a fair or weak Wi-Fi  signal, please view: How to Improve Wi-Fi Signal in Your Home
• If you have a good or excellent Wi-Fi Signal, please attempt a soft reset to restore the lock's connection to the cloud.

Perform a Soft Reset:

1. Retract the Bolt.

2. Remove the Battery Cover.

3. Remove the Battery Tray.

4. Keep the battery tray removed for 10 seconds. 

5. Reinsert the battery tray back into the compartment, ensuring it is securely seated and connected.
    

6. Extend the bolt to the "locked" position.

7. Retract it back to the "unlocked" position. 

8. If your lock is paired to the Schlage Home app or any other 3rd party app logout from the app and then log back in; the lock's data is stored in the cloud and will not be lost.

By restoring the Wi-Fi settings, the lock will stop continuously searching for a network, conserving battery life.

3. Resolving Dual Connection Battery Drain Issues

When the lock is paired with both Apple HomeKit and the Schlage Home app, it communicates with both the Schlage Cloud and Apple Home, leading to faster battery depletion. To optimize battery performance, it is best recommended to delete the lock from both applications, perform a factory reset on the lock, and then pair it with only one app—either the Schlage Home app or Apple HomeKit.

Remove the Lock from Apple HomeKit:

• Open the Apple Home app and navigate to the lock.
• Follow Apple Support instructions for removing a device from HomeKit.

Remove the Lock from the Schlage Home App:

How to Delete a Lock from the Schlage Home App

 

Factory Reset the Lock:

Factory Reset a Schlage Encode Lock

After the reset, pair the lock with only one app.

• To Pair with Apple HomeKit: Follow HomeKit Pairing Instructions for pairing the lock to HomeKit.
• To Pair with the Schlage Home App: Follow Schlage Home App Pairing Instructions to complete the setup. 

By ensuring the lock is connected to only one app, unnecessary communication will be eliminated, significantly extending battery life.

If you are still experiencing rapid battery drain after preforming these steps, please submit a ticket.

The Schlage Home App provides a streamlined way to manage your smart locks, offering both a whole-home view and individual lock management.

Here's a clearer breakdown of the differences between "Unassociated Locks" and locks that are associated with a Home:

Locks Associated with a Home:

Consolidated Management: Locks that are associated with a Home are grouped together, allowing for centralized management. You can control all locks within a Home simultaneously, making it easier to lock or unlock multiple doors with a single command.

Whole-Home View: This setup provides a comprehensive view of all locks within the Home, allowing you to monitor and manage them collectively.
Automations and Scenes: Locks associated with a Home can be included in automations and scenes, enabling you to integrate them with other smart home devices for enhanced functionality.

Quick-View Icons: These icons give you a snapshot of each lock’s battery life, WiFi signal strength, and built-in alarm status. The menu can be accessed directly from the quick-view icon, allowing you to manage each lock efficiently.

"Unassociated Locks":

Individual Access: Unassociated locks are not grouped into a Home and are managed individually. This is ideal for users who prefer to handle each lock separately or have locks in different locations that don't need to be controlled together.

Displayed Separately: These locks are listed under the "Unassociated Locks" section in the app, below any Homes you have set up. If no Homes are configured, only the "Unassociated Locks" section will be visible.

Quick-View Icons: Just like associated locks, unassociated locks feature quick-view icons that provide information on battery life, WiFi signal strength, and alarm status. The lock menu can be accessed directly from the quick-view icon, ensuring easy management.

By understanding these differences, you can choose the setup that best fits your needs, whether it's managing locks individually or taking advantage of the comprehensive features of a Home setup.

For more information on the Schlage home, please visit our Schlage App page.

You can only program the CTE for fail secure with a battery backup connected to the CTE.

The standard Von Duprin Chexit device and DE5300 Delayed Egress System does not have an automatic reset option because most of the codes that apply to a Chexit device do not allow that feature..

The Chexit device or DE5300 can be reset locally using a key or remotely using an access control system depending on local code requirements.

For example, California requires that the key switch built into the device be used to reset an alarmed Chexit device or DE5300.

There is an uncommon BOCA building code that required a slightly different operation.

Please click here for the Engage user guide.

Go to page 64

Video: How to program a pass through credential: Schlage CO-200, AD-200 - Manually Program a Pass-Through Credential - YouTube

The Falcon MA series can be ordered for a door thickness up to a 2 1/2" thick door, this would need to be specified at the time of ordering, and how the lock is centered within the thickness.

Thumbturn Functions can only be ordered for Equally Extended or Extended Outside. 

Please click here for information on Understanding door Thickness.

Steelcraft does not have a maintenance guide for their doors and frames. Steelcraft follows the guidelines recommended by SDI (Steel Door Institute) in document 124-22. This guide can be found on the SDI website under Technical Data Series- see here.