Vault Arena Smart Access Control for Electric Strike Doors
At A Glance
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The Vault Arena Smart Access Control (Vault_Arena) is a wired smart access control unit designed for doors fitted with an electric strike. It is intended for openings where controlled, managed entry is required but a conventional standalone smart mortice lock is not the right solution - see the door-type compatibility matrix.
Rather than replacing the door lock body, the Arena works as an external access controller that releases a compatible electric strike on a valid credential. This makes it suitable for apartment entry doors, shared entry points, offices, and other doors that need managed access control rather than a single-user lock. It is a wired 12V system with an onboard relay, exit-button and doorbell terminals and a backup-power input.
Entry is managed through fingerprint, PIN code, RFID card or fob, Bluetooth and the Vault Smart Locks app, with room for 100 fingerprints and 1000 cards. Optional remote access and voice control are available when the unit is paired with the Vault G5 Wi-Fi Gateway. For the full access-control line-up, see the Vault Smart Lock Range guide; for the same format with 3D face recognition, see the Vault Pulse.
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The Vault Arena is a wired system and should be installed by a suitably licensed installer. A compatible electric strike is required and is sold separately. Any 240V mains connection for the power supply must be completed by a licensed electrician.
The Arena controller is rated IP66 for dust and water-jet resistance, suitable for sheltered external entry points. The power supply, strike, and any connected accessories must be housed and protected appropriately for their own location.
Key Features
- Wired smart access control unit for doors using an electric strike - it releases the strike, it does not replace the door lock body.
- Multi-credential entry: fingerprint, PIN code, RFID card or fob, Bluetooth, and the Vault Smart Locks app.
- Bluetooth 5.0 for local setup and app-based user management.
- Onboard relay output (normally open, common, normally closed) to trigger a compatible electric strike.
- Exit-button input, doorbell output, and a backup power (UPS) input on the controller terminals.
- Up to 100 fingerprints and up to 1000 cards or fobs.
- Optional remote access and voice-assistant control via the Vault G5 Wi-Fi Gateway - browse the gateway and bridge accessories range.
- Slim, surface-mounted aluminium-frame controller with an IP66 weather rating.
- Managed through the Vault Smart Locks app - timed and one-time passcodes, app eKeys and the unlock log over Bluetooth.
Access Methods
Compare credential types in the access methods comparison.
What's in the Box
- Vault Arena access controller x1
- Mounting plate x1
- Mounting screws (4 + 1)
- Hex screwdriver x1
The Vault Arena is designed to operate a compatible electric strike through its onboard relay. The strike is not supplied and must be selected to suit the door, frame, power supply, and application.
Installation and System Arrangement
The Arena is wired into a small system: a 12V power source feeds the controller, which releases the electric strike on a valid credential. An exit button releases the door from the secure side, an optional doorbell can be wired in, and an optional Bluetooth remote can trigger entry from a reception desk or similar point. The controller surface-mounts on its plate in the manual's four steps - cable hole, mounting plate, wiring to the power supply, then hook the unit on and secure the screw.
Because the Arena is a wired 12V system driving a strike, it should be installed by a licensed installer. On the Gold Coast we offer a site survey and installation service - start at our Advice and Installation page. Weighing up doing it yourself? Read when DIY is reasonable first.
Power, Wiring and System Requirements
- Powered by a 12V wired power supply (operating current 1A; standby current approximately 15mA).
- Onboard relay output (normally open, common, normally closed) to drive a compatible electric strike or magnetic lock.
- Dedicated terminals for an exit button, a doorbell, and a backup power (UPS) input.
- Bluetooth 5.0 for local setup and app control.
- Unlocking time approximately 1.5 seconds, per the manual.
- This is a hardwired access controller, not a battery-powered standalone smart lock - read what happens in a power outage and use the UPS input where the door must keep working.


Vault Smart Locks App
The Arena is set up and managed through the Vault Smart Locks app, available for iOS and Android ![]()
(Android 4.3 and above, iOS 7.0 and above).
The app is used to add and revoke credentials, issue timed and one-time passcodes, send app eKeys, and review the unlock log over Bluetooth. Remote management from outside Bluetooth range requires the Vault G5 Gateway. Vault runs its own Vault Smart Locks app platform; how the app ecosystems compare is in Chapter 15 - choosing a platform and which smart lock platform is right for you.
Suitable Uses
- Apartment entry doors using an electric strike system - run the Buyer's Guide strata checks first
- Office and staff access doors
- Shared residential entry points that benefit from an audit trail of who came through
- Commercial doors requiring controlled entry
- Gates and openings where a wired access controller is preferred over a standalone smart lock - see the door-type compatibility matrix and the wider smart lock range
Available Finish Options
Silver
(This Product)
STK Vault_Arena
Finish selection does not affect functionality, compliance, or performance.
Vault Access-Control Range
All three are wired 12V controllers on the Vault Smart Locks app with optional G5 remote access. The Vault range guide covers the access-control trio alongside the door locks.
Full Specifications
Dimensions
Wi-Fi Remote Access (Optional)
The Arena operates via Bluetooth as standard. Remote access and internet-based management are available only when the unit is paired with a compatible Vault Wi-Fi gateway.
With a gateway connected, users can remotely trigger entry, manage credentials, review activity, and add voice control through compatible smart-home platforms.
For remote functionality, see the Vault G5 Gateway, the Buyer's Guide on the G5 and what a gateway does, the note on band steering, and the blog on whether you need a gateway at all. Every Wi-Fi capable smart lock we stock is in one category.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Arena is an access controller that operates a compatible electric strike. It does not replace the door lock body the way a standalone smart mortice lock does. If you want a lock that fits into the door itself, see the Vault smart lock range.
No. The electric strike is sold separately and must be selected to suit the door, frame, power supply and application - including whether the opening needs fail-safe or fail-secure operation. The door-type compatibility matrix is the place to start.
Yes. The Arena is a wired system and should be installed by a suitably licensed installer, with any 240V mains connection completed by a licensed electrician. Terry's offers a site survey and installation service - see Advice and Installation.
Yes, provided the door uses a compatible electric strike system. For fire-rated openings, a suitable fire-rated electric strike may be required as part of the complete door assembly. See apartment fire-door compliance and Buyer's Guide fire-door guidance.
Yes, but only when paired with the Vault G5 Wi-Fi Gateway. Without the gateway, the Arena operates locally via Bluetooth and onboard credentials - see Wi-Fi and remote access.
Additional Information
The Arena is an access controller, not a battery-powered replacement smart lock body. It reads the credential and releases the strike; the door hardware does the locking.
Final performance depends on the electric strike, power supply, and door preparation used with the controller. Confirm power availability, cabling path, and strike compatibility before ordering. The Buyer's Guide strata checks are worth reading for apartment work.
The Arena does not offer face recognition. Its manual is shared with a face-capable variant (the K2F suffix), which is why the brochure pages include an Add Face section - the Arena listed here has no face reader. For a face-recognition access controller in the same format, see the Vault Pulse.
Fire performance relates to the complete door and strike system, not the Arena controller alone - see where fire-door rules apply and the strata checklist.
The Arena is the fingerprint, PIN, RFID and Bluetooth member of Vault's access-control trio: the Pulse adds 3D face recognition and the Edge is the lowest-priced. See the Vault range guide and the Vault brand profile.
Warranty
Vault Smart Locks products purchased in Australia are covered against defects in materials and workmanship under normal residential or commercial use for:
- Standard range: 12 months from the date of purchase
- Select Signature Range models: 24 months (as stated on the product listing or packaging)
Returns & Warranty|View Vault Warranty Policy
This warranty operates in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Download PDF Resources
Twelve-page manual for the Arena (models K2 / K2F): structure and inclusions, the specification table (aluminium frame, 79 x 125 x 18.5mm, Bluetooth 5.0, 12V, 1A / 15mA, 1.5s unlock, IP66, 1000 cards / 100 fingerprints), the four-step wall-mount installation with wiring, then app registration, passcodes, eKeys, cards, fingerprints and gateway setup. The Add Face pages belong to the face-capable variant, not this controller.
Four-page manual for the optional G5 Wi-Fi gateway that adds remote access to this controller - app registration, connecting the controller to your phone, what the gateway does (remote unlock records, clock calibration and remote passcode changes) and the pairing panels.
Vault Arena Smart Access Control - FAQ, Setup and Owner's Guide
Everything below is here to help you specify, install, set up and live with the Vault Arena. For general smart-lock questions see our Smart Lock FAQ (Chapter 13), for the credential types see Chapter 03 - Access Methods, and for the whole Vault line-up the Vault range guide.
Access Control Basics
The Arena is a wall-mounted access controller: it reads a fingerprint, PIN, card or app credential and closes a relay that releases the electric strike fitted to the door. A smart lock such as the Vault Prime replaces the door's own lock body and runs on batteries; the Arena leaves the locking to the strike and runs on a wired 12V supply. Managed, shared and high-traffic openings usually suit the reader-and-strike format; a single front door usually suits a lockset. The door-type compatibility matrix walks through it.
The Arena's onboard relay has normally open, common and normally closed contacts. On a valid credential it changes state for the unlock period, which releases whatever it is wired to - a fail-secure electric strike is normally wired across the normally open contact, and a magnetic lock or fail-safe device across the normally closed contact. Your installer chooses the wiring for the hardware on the door.
A fail-secure strike stays locked when power is lost and a fail-safe strike releases. Emergency egress rules, fire-door requirements and how the building should behave in an outage decide it, and the installer confirms it before ordering. For apartment and strata doors start with apartment fire-door compliance and the strata checklist.
Without 12V the controller stops reading credentials and the door does whatever the strike does unpowered. The Arena's backup power (UPS) input lets the installer wire in a battery-backed supply so the controller keeps working through an outage - specify one for any door that must not stop. Background: power outages and electronic locks.
No. The Arena has no keyway. Mechanical egress or a key override, where one is needed, is provided by the strike and door hardware. Read what a key override does and locks without a key override.
Credentials and Passcodes
100 fingerprints and 1000 cards or fobs, per the Arena manual - the same capacities as the Pulse, minus the face reader. Compare the credential types in Chapter 03 and browse compatible credentials in the RFID and fob category.
Permanent codes for regular users, timed codes that work between a start and end time, one-time codes for a single entry, custom codes you set yourself and recurring codes that repeat on chosen days - all created and revoked in the Vault Smart Locks app over Bluetooth. Change the factory default PIN at setup.
An eKey is app access shared with another Vault Smart Locks user so they can unlock from their own phone over Bluetooth. eKeys can be permanent or time-limited and are revoked from the administrator's app.
No - and the manual can mislead here. The Arena manual covers models K2 and K2F and includes an Add Face section for the face-capable variant, but the Arena we list has no face reader, and its specification table carries no face-capacity row. For 3D face recognition in the same wall-mounted format, choose the Vault Pulse (100 faces).
Yes - unlock records are read in the Vault Smart Locks app over Bluetooth, and remotely with the G5 Gateway. For shared and short-stay buildings, why an audit trail matters.
Power, Wiring and Installation
A 12V wired supply. The controller draws 1A when operating and about 15mA on standby; size the supply for the controller plus the strike it drives. Any 240V connection to the supply must be made by a licensed electrician.
The power supply, the electric strike, an exit button for the secure side, cabling, and optionally a doorbell, a backup (UPS) supply and a Bluetooth remote control. The Arena box holds the controller, its mounting plate, mounting screws (4 + 1) and a hex screwdriver.
It surface-mounts on the wall beside the door on its mounting plate. The manual's four steps are the cable hole, the mounting plate, the wiring to the power supply, and hooking the 79 x 125 x 18.5mm unit onto the plate and securing the screw.
A licensed installer - it is a wired 12V system that drives door hardware, and any 240V work is an electrician's. Terry's offers a site survey and installation service on the Gold Coast; see Advice and Installation. If you are considering DIY, when DIY is reasonable and the common installation mistakes are worth reading first.
Yes - it is IP66 rated against dust and water jets, which suits sheltered external entry points. House the supply and strike for their own positions. IP ratings explained; coastal sites should read how salt air shortens lock life.
Remote Access and Gateway
Not to use the Arena - it works fully over Bluetooth when your phone is in range. The Vault G5 Gateway (sold separately) connects it to your Wi-Fi so you can trigger entry, manage credentials and review activity remotely, and add voice control through compatible smart-home platforms. Do you need a gateway at all? answers the question in general terms.
Home Wi-Fi within Bluetooth reach of the controller - the G5 sits between the two. Most smart-lock gateways work on the 2.4GHz band, so if your router merges its bands read about band steering before setup, and check the G5 page for its own network notes. Place it sensibly (placement tips); if it keeps dropping out, the real fixes.
Everything local: fingerprint, PIN, card and Bluetooth app unlocking keep working because the credentials are held in the controller. Only remote management through the gateway pauses - see internet-down behaviour.
Voice and smart-home integration for the Vault range runs through the G5 Gateway - see the G5 Gateway page for what it supports.
Suitability and Compliance
The controller can, because it mounts on the wall, not the door - what matters is the strike, which must be suitable for the fire door and fitted without compromising the door's rating. See where fire-door rules apply, certified smart locks for apartment fire doors and who has to approve it.
It is a common fit for shared entries and common-area doors, but strata approval and the building's fire and egress requirements come first. Run the Buyer's Guide strata checks and the strata checklist.
Commonly used where managed or shared entry control is needed instead of a conventional standalone smart lock - office and staff doors, shared residential entries, commercial doors requiring controlled entry, and gates or openings where a wired controller and strike suit the installation better.
All three are wired 12V controllers on the same app with fingerprint, PIN, RFID and Bluetooth. The Pulse adds 3D face recognition (100 faces). The Arena keeps the published 100-fingerprint / 1000-card capacities and the backup-power input. The Edge is the lowest-priced of the three and switches an electric strike or electric bolt through its relay.
App and Management
The Vault Smart Locks app, free for iOS and Android
Access is managed from the administrator's Vault Smart Locks account, which can share app eKeys and passcodes with other users. Keep the administrator account with whoever manages the building or business, and transfer it if that changes.
Warranty and Support
Vault's standard 12-month warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, for the original purchaser - the full terms are in the Warranty section above. Incorrect or unlicensed installation is excluded, which is another reason to use a licensed installer. Vault charges a refundable assessment holding fee on warranty assessments ($200 in metropolitan areas, $250 elsewhere), returned if the fault is covered - contact us first and we will guide the claim.
Yes, across the Gold Coast - book a site survey for access-control work so the strike, supply and cabling are specified before anything is ordered. Advice and Installation explains the service.
Related Products, Guides and Chapters
Vault access-control range: Vault Pulse (3D face recognition) · Vault Edge (lowest-priced) · Vault G5 Gateway (remote access)
Vault door locks: Prime lever lock · Triton lever lock · Neo lever or knob lock · Guardian face-recognition lever lock · Fortress push-pull · Nexus deadbolt
Buyer's Guide chapters: Ch 03 Access Methods · Ch 04 Door Types · Ch 05 Fire Doors · Ch 07 Short-Stay · Ch 08 Gateways · Ch 10 Brand Profiles · Ch 11 Standards and IP · Ch 12 Installation · Ch 13 Smart Lock FAQ · Ch 15 App Platforms
Helpful blog reading: Introducing the Vault Smart Lock Range · Apartment Fire Doors - What Is Compliant · G2 vs G3 vs G4 vs G5 Gateways · Why Smart Locks Drop Off Wi-Fi · The Realities of Electronic Door Locks · Mechanical Key Override · Which Smart Lock Platform Is Right for You · Site Survey and Installation
What's in the Box - Vault Arena

- Vault Arena access controller x1
- Mounting plate x1
- Mounting screws (4 + 1)
- Hex screwdriver x1
Typical Installation Arrangement
Vault Arena - Product Brochure
PDF Files - Vault Arena Smart Access Control
Twelve-page manual for the Arena (models K2 / K2F): structure and inclusions, the specification table, the four-step wall-mount installation with wiring, then app registration, passcodes, eKeys, cards, fingerprints and gateway setup. The Add Face pages belong to the face-capable variant, not this controller.
Four-page manual for the optional G5 Wi-Fi gateway that adds remote access to this controller - app registration, connecting the controller to your phone, what the gateway does (remote unlock records, clock calibration and remote passcode changes) and the pairing panels.
Vault Warranty
Vault Smart Locks products are backed by a manufacturer's warranty against defects in materials and workmanship under normal residential or commercial use. All claims are handled locally by Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries - start with us and we'll manage the process with Vault on your behalf.
Warranty Summary
How to Make a Claim
- Contact Terry's Gold Coast Smart Locks through the Returns & Warranty page above, with your proof of purchase (invoice or receipt).
- Have your product model and serial number (if applicable) ready, along with a brief description of the fault and your installation address.
- We assess your claim with Vault and advise the outcome and next steps. You may be asked to return the product for inspection.
What This Warranty Does Not Cover
- Normal wear and tear.
- Cosmetic damage that does not affect performance.
- Damage caused by incorrect installation, misuse, neglect, modification, or accident.
- Damage due to improper handling, or installation by an unlicensed technician.
- Products that have been disassembled, tampered with, or where the security seal or warranty label has been removed.
- Battery leakage or failure, or damage caused by incorrect battery usage.
- Environmental or weather damage caused by use outside recommended operating conditions.
- Labour, installation, or removal costs associated with replacing or reinstalling products.
- Work performed before warranty approval or assessment.
Important Notes
Where a Vault product carries an Ingress Protection (IP) rating, that rating is stated on the individual product listing, packaging or technical documentation. Unless stated otherwise in writing, the IP rating applies only to the external-facing side of the lock - not to the internal assembly, handle, battery compartment, electronics, cables or connectors. The internal side must be installed in a dry, sheltered position. An IP rating describes water resistance, not waterproofing: the lock must not be submerged, pressure washed, or exposed beyond its stated rating, and all seals, gaskets and covers must be correctly fitted and undamaged.
Vault's manufacturer policy applies a warranty assessment holding fee, which is refundable if the fault is found to be covered under warranty. If a product is assessed as outside warranty or damaged by an excluded cause, a discounted replacement may be offered. We will confirm any applicable fees and options with you before any assessment proceeds.
This warranty is provided in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the ACL. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure, and to have goods repaired or replaced if they fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.
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