Normally I recommend people that want electronic keypads for their home get the Schlage Encode, either the deadbolt or the lever. Sometimes they get some other lock like a Kwikset or Yale electronic lock because it has better zwave compatibility or something with their alarm and, hey, that is great, happy to install and nobody ever complained about rekeying Kwikset Smartkey deadbolts.

Sometimes people decide to get something really cheap off of Amazon though and it becomes an expensive mistake. The electronics stop working quickly, the bolt is really flimsy, etc. Yesterday I had the extreme displeasure of rekeying two Zomoss electronic deadbolts. It was a wretched experience, let me count the ways:

• The lock doesn’t use standard diameter pins. The pins are about half the diameter of a conventional pin tumbler lock.
• The lock uses a Kwikset KW1 profile but a Kwikset original key won’t work in this lock without modification of the key. Every copy of the key thereafter would also need to be modified and the minutekey machine won’t do that. Neither will the person at True Value.
• The keys that come with this lock have Schlage heads so when you try to copy them at True Value they will copy it onto the wrong blank.
• The plug has lots of large hollow spaces in it so when you try to disassemble the cylinder without knowing this the top pins and springs will get caught. The springs are smaller than standard so locksmiths won’t have replacement springs.
• The lock will stop working a few months or even a few days after you install it, according to online reviews.
• The batteries apparently come loose in the battery compartment causing lockouts

To start with, disassembly: Locksmiths usually turn the plug ninety degrees to disassemble. If that is done, the top pins will get stuck in the plug. Normally the plug would be solid so this wouldn’t happen but to get an electronic deadbolt below $30 corners must be cut somewhere, and zinc alloys aren’t free. They cut slots in this plug to save money on materials.

Once the plug is pulled out, the locksmith will be shocked to see the smallest diameter lock pins and springs they’ve ever seen. Smaller than Best, probably similar size to National/Compx pins. Don’t dump those pins, if you want to rekey this you will need to reuse these pins in a different configuration!

Once finished putting the pins in to work with a Kw1 key, the locksmith will reassemble the plug carefully to avoid the pins and springs falling out. Then they will screw the cap on and try the key, at which time they will discover that a Kw1 key will bottom out on the screw cap before being inserted all the way. They will then have to cut the end of the key off at an appropriate angle so that the key can still be inserted but be about 1/8″ shorter, and they will have to trim the bottom of the key off as well.

All of this effort is a bit shocking when you look up this model number and realize that it only costs $30, but the time you’ve spent will require charging $60 to rekey it.

So there you have it, the use case for buying this lock is if you have a low security application requiring the lock to work for maybe a few weeks and don’t need the lock rekeyed to match the rest of the house.

If you do want to rekey this lock for some reason bear in mind that you will have to modify a Kwikset key in the way described. In the picture above you have to remove all parts of the key that are visible in the end of the lock. You have to maintain the angle of the tip of the key too. You will want to use the same depths as the current key so that you can reuse the nonstandard pins. When disassembling/reassembling you must turn the key 180 degrees or the top pins and springs will fall into the plug and it will be a bad day for you.