Yale PBS1/2

[arris]

Ok so im getting one of these to fit to my dads place.

Look good an are bs rated pretty much one of very few night latches that are,

anyone got any tips for fitting etc.. as i havent actually fitted one yet..

reason for getting as he wanted to keep a night latch as on the door there is also a warded rim lock, wich i refurbished an made 2 keys for wich we lock when being left vacant... mainly because the key is bulky to carry about..

any thaughts an opinions would be good

rick

[mhole]

If you want to save a few quid, look into the Era 1930 series of BS nightlatches - very similar to the PBS in operation and appearance but much cheaper. Not really of the same quality, but more bang for your buck IMO.

If you fit the PBS, follow the instructions included, it's not a difficult lock to fit. You will need good woodworking skills, since it involves a good deal more chisel work than most nightlatches, keep your chisels sharp!

Make sure you don't have too large a gap bewteen the lock and the strikeplate, or the autodeadlocking function won't work (I've slipped open quite a few auto-deadlocking locks because of this fitting error). Also, check your strike plate isn't too tight - the bolt should throw an extra amount when the lock is closed, and a tight fit in the strike plate can interfere with this and impede the auto-deadlocking.

[NickBristol]

Try to get the newer XBS rather than the PBS if you can. The ERA 1930/1830 are very good too as mhole says.

Fitting wise, be careful with measuring the tail. The ERA, and I think the Yale too from memory, is very sensitive to having too long a tail on the cylinder. Leave it too long, even by a few mm, then the either the auto-deadlock doesn't function or the bolt doesn't throw it's extra amount.

The grey finish is tough but dead ugly, brasslux doesnt seem to last for some reason.

If budget allows get a Chubb 4L67E - one fine lock

[mhole]

The era is much more prone to tail trouble - and can appear to work perfectly if you don't check it carefully. I allow 3 sections of tail to protrude beyond the surface of the door, this seems just right. The design of the Yale makes it much harder to get the tail too long.

Another caution with the PBS - be sure to mark the cylinder mounting screws carefully - the holes are very near the edges of the area the cowl covers, so you can't get away with getting them wonky or oversize without it showing.

The chubb 4L67 is a nice lock, but I don't like the plastic handle on the back - it feels punky, and I've seen them come off entirely (accompanied by an impressive explosion of levers and springs in all directions) on locks which are otherwise still in good shape.

If you're feeling really spendy, the new Banham L2000 is a really nice lock, and very nice to fit. Still, for almost twice the price of a 4L67 it should be....!

[Simon Payne]

Even though the Yale PBS1 is British Standard most insurance companies specify that all external doors need to have British Standard Mortice locks fitted. Check your household insurance documents before you do anything as most likely you will need to fit a mortice lock.

[mhole]

I think 'most' is a bit wide of the mark.

'Most' insurance companies specifiy that all final exit doors should be fitted with either:

-A 5 lever mortice lock
-A lock which conforms to BS 3621
-A multipoint system with at least 3 locking points.

Certainly, some insurors may specify more demandingly, but the above is pretty standard. It is, of course, worth looking into *exactly* what your insurance company specify if you're in any doubt.

That said, I think a 5 lever is always a good addition to a wooden door, since only having 2 lock leaves a lot of flex in the door, which can provide extra purchase for forced entry. IMO the conventional arrangement of a nightlatch 1/3rd of the way from the top, and deadlock 1/3rd from the bottom is the way to go. If bulk of keys is a problem, you could get a cylinder deadlock and key it alike to the PBS.

[arris]

yeah i see what your saying,

the problem is the existing old style rim lock.

maybe ill end up taking that off an fitting a mortice lock.

if i go the cylinder route anyone got any good idea's? altho i know the pbs1 doesnt use YA1E blank, so i would have to specificaly order something in to suit.

maybe something like a assa compact? or just union? would be good for the lock-case?