Build a remote control deadbolt

If you're into keeping that shed or garage side door under 'lock and key' (no pun intended), you'll love this hack. Using a cheap X10 remote key fob, a power source, and a simple solenoid, you too can create a remote-controlled deadbolt for that door that needs opening quite often, but also finds its key lost or misplaced frequently.

Building solenoids into things is pretty easy, as long as you have battery power or electricity nearby. These are the same devices that automatically pop that trunk or car door open from your keyfob, so why not use them from inside a garage or shed door so that you can have access to the door from outside while leaving no lock mechanism visible from the exterior, which can sometimes invite tampering?

For an estimated $30 or so, you can get a solenoid, a remote transmitter, a power source (hopefully, free), and an actual deadbolt, and have that shed pretty well secure from outside intrusion. Check out the video below to see the finished product in action.If you've got thousands of dollars in tools inside that shed, this one is calling your name.



[via Lifehacker]

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