I’ve been looking at the Yale Assure Lock 2.
I like this lock because it has Z-Wave, but I also noticed a model with a fingerprint sensor.
Has anyone used the fingerprint sensor with Z-Wave? Does it work via Home Assistant and Z-Wave JS or is it something that requires the Yale app? How would you even use the Yale app when you’re connecting Z-Wave to Home Assistant?
I’d prefer this device to be 100% Home Assistant with no Yale app, so that’s why I’m asking.
According to the manual You must have Bluetooth connection with the lock to create or manage fingerprints. https://products.z-wavealliance.org/ProductManual/File?folder=&filename=cert_portal/certs/876/YRD430_ZW3_MNL.pdf. Once you connect the lock to Home Assistant via Z-Wave you can then manage your pin codes in home assistant.
The Yale app uses Bluetooth and home assistant uses Z-Wave so you can control the lock using both methods at the same time.
Unlocking the door via fingerprints is handled by the lock itself. The only thing the lock does via Z-Wave is report updates to the controller about which user unlocked the door and which method they used to unlock or lock the door. You can send Z-Wave commands to lock and unlock that way as well.
Do I need the Yale app or can Home Assistant work with a Bluetooth proxy directly to the device?
I’m assuming the programming of fingerprints is specific to their app.
I’m asking because this is one of those things that if anything happens to Yale, or they start charging for a subscription, I can no longer maintain fingerprints. My goal is to put that processing into Home Assistant, so I don’t have to use their app to maintain those devices.
Wondering if you found out definitively on this. I was also looking at this lock so I reached out to Yale and got this response (which is just vague enough to have me here searching the forum):
"Thank you for reaching out to Yale Support
In order to add fingerprints to the lock It would have to be through the Yale Access app, however, if you already have Z-wave or Home Assistant. We recommend getting in contact with them to confirm that you are able to add the fingerprints through there platform and not have to use the yale access app.
If you have any further questions, please let us know.
Have a nice day!"
I find this response very curious. I specifically stated in my question that I wanted to avoid returning a product if it required them having access to any personal information (phone number, wi-fi credentials, etc) but they gave a pretty non-answer answer. Did you pull the trigger on this? I also want Z-wave and fingerprint reader with no cloud, but the HA choices are few and far between. I actually ordered and received an ULTRALOQ Z-wave with fingerprint ID but returned it unopened when I saw complaints that you cannot pair this product with your Z-wave hub without installing the app and creating an account (which includes a verifiable phone number). There were also lots of complaints about reliability which I didn’t catch before my order.
I got the Yale Assure Lock 2 Z-Wave, I tried Bluetooth in Home Assistant. It connects, but none of the controls work.
I ended up just using their app for now to set up fingerprints (which are stored on the device only), and use Z-Wave for the rest.