looking for a cooker with a pin code facility?

mr_stripey

prowla said:

PHK said:

I’m quite shocked at how prying and nosey some posters have been. The OP has clearly stated their requirements yet people continue to badger them for information. Which can only be to offer a different solution than the one they need. 

I have a relative with Alzheimer’s and found the only similar solutions available are for Gas Cookers. All suppliers will fit a lockdown valve to prevent use. And there are systems which automatically turn the gas off after a while. 

But for electric there doesn’t seem to be anything available. A child lock is no use, and a PIN would have been perfect. In the end we fitted a device to the distribution board. 

Well, I think some folks might have useful suggestions if they knew the context.

I've not asked questions myself and only suggested a switch, which would be considerably more money-saving than a new cooker (not sure if it's a separate hob and oven, eg.); however, the OP looks to have that option via a smart MCB.

However, a smart MCB could be circumvented by simply unplugging it and putting in a normal one, so again the context is relevant: if it's for child or dementia then that might well work, but if it's for unauthorised use then it can be circumvented.

The idea of a cooker with a PIN is fundamentally flawed in that were the person(s) being prevented in the kitchen at the same time and saw it being entered, then they'd have it: again the context is relevant; a person with dementia might not remember that, whereas a child or unauthorised user very much may do.

The idea of remote control is also flawed, for example a BB outage or WiFi issue could prevent meals being cooked.

Or perhaps if the requirement is to ensure the cooker is turned off after a time to prevent pots boiling dry if left; I once stayed with relatives and was woken up by the smell of burning: a pot had boiled dry and the house was full of smoke; there was someone sleeping downstairs who was in the thick of it and things could have been much worse were it not for my sensitive nose.

So, I think the requests for more information could be relevant and helpful rather than prying.

exactly. Context is key to offering a solution, however OP seems reluctant to give it

Neil_Jones

I don't think we're being "nosey" at all.

The OP has said they want a cooker with a PIN function on it.  Which pretty much doesn't exist.

If they'd said I want it because my great aunt keeps burning the bacon, and setting a smoke alarm off and I don't want her to use it on her own, then the advice would have been totally different. 

If the reasoning was "it keeps being used, being forgotten about, as I found the kitchen on fire and had to call the fire brigade - and that's because Uncle Fred has the onset of dementia <or similar> so I don't want this to happen again what can I do", again the advice would have been different.

However if you don't get any information you can't really advise accordingly - if you want advice you don't need to tell the whole story, you just need to provide key information.  All we wanted to know in the first place some context on why there was a need for a cooker with a PIN on it.  We don't need to know the full back story.

HillStreetBlues

Neil_Jones said:

I don't think we're being "nosey" at all.

The OP has said they want a cooker with a PIN function on it.  Which pretty much doesn't exist.

If they'd said I want it because my great aunt keeps burning the bacon, and setting a smoke alarm off and I don't want her to use it on her own, then the advice would have been totally different. 

If the reasoning was "it keeps being used, being forgotten about, as I found the kitchen on fire and had to call the fire brigade - and that's because Uncle Fred has the onset of dementia <or similar> so I don't want this to happen again what can I do", again the advice would have been different.

However if you don't get any information you can't really advise accordingly - if you want advice you don't need to tell the whole story, you just need to provide key information.  All we wanted to know in the first place some context on why there was a need for a cooker with a PIN on it.  We don't need to know the full back story.

After being told they can't get a cooker with pin, has the OP asked for any further advice?

prowla

chilswelluk said:

prowla said:

However, a smart MCB could be circumvented by simply unplugging it and putting in a normal one.

The idea of a cooker with a PIN is fundamentally flawed in that were the person(s) being prevented in the kitchen at the same time and saw it being entered, then they'd have it

Regarding the MCB, the consumer unit is in a locked attic space, so thats not so much of a concern.

Regarding the PIN being fundamentally flawed, I don't follow that logic.  The weaknesses of a pin apply to any devices with a pin / password and not just a cooker.  As long as the pin can be changed by administrator then thats not so much of an issue. Taking the example of my smart home door lock, I can change the pin as many times as I want, have multiple expiring pins etc.

(Apologies for the Q&A. BTW; I personally can learn things from the responses I get, so I hope they are of use!)

OK, so the MCB is secured and the person wouldn't have access.

Yes, a PIN has that inherent weakness; its security is how carefully you guard/obscure it. It's just that a cooker in a shared kitchen would (I guess) be more likely to be seen than (eg.) a door lock with you in front of it. OTOH, I've been to sites with a PIN-activated gate and the residents have texted the number to their visitors.

I've got PINs/passwords on things (plus MFA) and it's a right headache when you've got to change them.

Teapot55

MattMattMattUK said:

… I cannot see a need for a smart washing machine …

I routinely put the ‘child-lock’ on on my washing-machine because it’s so easy to accidentally lean on the buttons when making a cup of tea … (kettle/ teapot/ toaster/ microwave are directly above our washing machine) and change the wash temperature. 

chilswelluk

prowla said:

Ia cooker in a shared kitchen would (I guess) be more likely to be seen than (eg.) a door lock with you in front of it. OTOH, I've been to sites with a PIN-activated gate and the residents have texted the number to their visitors.

Nothing is perfect, but if you can reset the pin then it mitigates some of those concerns.  In any case, I take the view that its better to have the security of a pin than no security at all!

victor2

chilswelluk said:

prowla said:

However, a smart MCB could be circumvented by simply unplugging it and putting in a normal one.

The idea of a cooker with a PIN is fundamentally flawed in that were the person(s) being prevented in the kitchen at the same time and saw it being entered, then they'd have it

Regarding the MCB, the consumer unit is in a locked attic space, so thats not so much of a concern.

Regarding the PIN being fundamentally flawed, I don't follow that logic.  The weaknesses of a pin apply to any devices with a pin / password and not just a cooker.  As long as the pin can be changed by administrator then thats not so much of an issue. Taking the example of my smart home door lock, I can change the pin as many times as I want, have multiple expiring pins etc.

How do you remember all of these PINs? I'd be a tad frustrated if I came home from a night out and couldn't open my door because I couldn't remember the pin or hit the right mumbershh in the right ooorder.

HillStreetBlues

victor2 said:

How do you remember all of these PINs? I'd be a tad frustrated if I came home from a night out and couldn't open my door because I couldn't remember the pin or hit the right mumbershh in the right ooorder.

The backup is "open sesame"