If your deadbolt is below the lever or knob, do not assume the Lockin Veno Solar Palm or Veno Solar Face can simply be installed in the same layout. Lockin’s Veno Solar FAQ says to swap the positions when the deadbolt is below the handle, and it recommends putting the lock above the handle if the exterior assembly is too large to fit underneath without interference.
The practical answer is: compare the actual lock and handle envelopes first. Proceed only when the assembly has the required clearance, the handle still operates freely, and the palm or face approach path is unobstructed. If those conditions are not met, use the manufacturer-supported above-handle arrangement and have the revised door preparation checked before drilling or relocating hardware.
Why the below-handle layout can be a problem
The Veno Solar exterior assembly needs usable space around the deadbolt. A handle directly above it can interfere with the assembly, block a hand or face from reaching the biometric reader, or make the lever difficult to operate.
The current Veno Solar FAQ identifies a minimum distance of 2 inches (50 mm) between the handle and the crossbore center. It also says the Veno Solar Palm and Face are intended for compatible single-cylinder deadbolt preparations and are not compatible with storm doors or mortise locks. These conditions are model-specific; do not use this article as permission to modify an incompatible door.
The supported layout decision
Use this order before you buy or remove anything:
- Measure the existing relationship. Locate the center of the deadbolt crossbore and the centerline of the handle. Check whether the handle-to-crossbore spacing meets the Veno Solar FAQ’s 2-inch minimum and whether the lock body would overlap the handle’s operating area.
- Check the approach path. Stand outside with the door closed and simulate raising your palm or positioning your face. The handle, trim, storm door, wall, or other hardware must not force an awkward approach or block the reader.
- Confirm the door preparation. Check the Veno Solar requirements in the Lockin user-manual library, including door thickness, crossbore, backset, latch-hole depth, and faceplate shape. The FAQ says the lock is not for mortise locks or round faceplate cutouts.
- Choose the layout. If the deadbolt is below the handle, follow the FAQ’s recommendation to swap their positions for installation. If the large exterior assembly cannot fit below the handle, place the lock above the handle instead.
- Stop before structural changes. If swapping positions requires new holes, moving the handle, changing the latch, or altering a rented or shared door, obtain Lockin guidance, a qualified installer’s assessment, and the owner or leaseholder’s permission first.
Can you just swap the handle and lock?
Not automatically. The FAQ supports switching their positions as the remedy for the below-handle arrangement, but that is a fit recommendation—not a universal instruction to drill a new door layout.
Before approving the change, verify all of the following:
| Check | What must be true |
|---|---|
| Lock location | The Veno Solar exterior assembly has clear space above or below the handle, as applicable. |
| Handle operation | The lever or knob can be opened without touching or colliding with the lock assembly. |
| Biometric access | A palm or face can approach the reader without the handle or trim blocking the path. |
| Door preparation | The existing or revised holes, backset, latch, and faceplate meet the Veno Solar requirements. |
| Door type | The opening is a compatible single-cylinder deadbolt setup, not a mortise or storm-door arrangement. |
| Permission | Any relocation or new drilling is approved by the owner and allowed by the lease or property rules. |
If any row is uncertain, pause and contact Lockin support through the FAQ with photos and measurements. A qualified installer can also confirm whether the proposed layout can be prepared without weakening the door or creating a latch-alignment problem.
Palm or Face: does the answer change?
The below-handle clearance guidance applies to the Veno Solar Palm and Veno Solar Face FAQ. The access method differs—palm-vein recognition for the Palm and facial recognition for the Face—but both models use an exterior assembly that must remain clear of the handle and surrounding trim.
For the exact product and current configuration, review the Veno Solar Palm product page or Veno Solar Face product page, then confirm the model’s current manual before installation. Do not assume that a clearance that works for one door or trim package will work for another.
Bottom line
For a Lockin Veno Solar below door handle layout, do not force the exterior assembly into the existing position. Measure the clearance and approach path, confirm the door preparation, and follow the Veno Solar FAQ’s supported remedy: swap the positions so the lock is above the handle when the deadbolt is below it or when the assembly cannot fit underneath. Get manufacturer and installer guidance before any new drilling or relocation, especially on a rented or shared door.
When the measurements and permissions are clear, start with the exact Veno Solar Palm product page or Veno Solar Face product page, and keep the Lockin user-manual library available during installation.