Electronic locks have come a long way over the past few years.
The advantage of an electronic lock lies in not having to carry around a key and the subsequent possibility of losing the key. Electronic locks usually also have the advantage of being able to have the combination number changed at the owners wish, so in the event of a combination being learnt by someone who should not have access to the safe or door, it can be changed quickly and easily. Some establishments such as banks and embassies, change the combination numbers on a regular basis, sometimes as frequently as every week, in order to ensure optimum security. Some of the more well known manufacturers are: LaGard, Mas Hamilltion, (now Kaba Mas) EDL, & Secu.
Following is a range of some of the more common locks available and their basic functions.
LaGard Comboguard 33e series combination lock
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Simple operating instructions
Please enter each digit slowly and distinctly. The lock will signal audibly at each entry.
To open lock (the factory setting is 123456 or 111111)
Enter your combination. The lock will signal twice.
Turn the keypad clockwise to open the lock.
To close the lock
Close the safe door.
Turn the keypad anticlockwise until straight. |
Changing the combination
Open safe door
Enter six zeros
Enter old combination
Enter new combination twice
Incorrect combination change
The lock signals three times and the old combination is still valid.
Try again and test the new combination several times before closing the safe
Changing the battery (use only alkaline batteries)
Repeated beeping during an opening indicates that battery is low
Pull off the battery box cover.
Replace batteries.
Replace cover.
Wrong try penalty
The entry of four consecutive invalid combinations will start a 5-minute delay period. The keypad flashes red at 10- intervals. At end of penalty period, two more consecutive invalid combinations will restart the 5-minute delay period.
Emergency battery terminals
If the keypad is completely dead, the most likely cause is that the internal battery is exhausted. However, the safe can still be opened using the emergency terminals as follows.
Hold a new 9-volt alkaline battery against the terminals on the left hand side of the keypad (see picture above). The larger battery terminal should be mated with the larger lock terminal (big to big, small to small). Hold the battery in place whilst entering the code and turning the dial. Once the safe is open replace the internal battery. Instruct the safe user on the low battery warning.
If the time delay feature is active you will not be able to hold the battery in place for a long period. Therefore use a battery connector with wires. Push the wires into the holes in the emergency terminals with black going to the larger terminal and the red to the smaller. Use tape to hold the wires in place.Plug a new 9-volt alkaline battery in to the connector and enter the code to start the time delay period. Once the safe is open replace the internal battery. Instruct the safe user on the low battery warning.
The Diplomat EDL safe lock
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The E-D-L electronic safe lock has been used for many years on various fire and security safes brought in from the Far East such as those supplied by Phoenix and other importers.
The lock will look similar to the one shown on the right but may also be fitted with a handle rather than the small knob as shown here. |
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Before use, slide Battery Housing Cover to the right to open, and load 4 1.5V Alkaline batteries in the battery case. The initial code from the factory is 1 2 3 or 1 2 3 4
Step 1: Push Start Button C (LED lights with 'Bi' sound).
Step 2: Push Initial code 1 2 3 in sequence (Whenever each button is pushed, it sounds 'Bi')
Step 3: Push Finish Button # (You hear a melody).
Step 4: Turn Knob clockwise to open door while melody goes on.
Note: In case of wrong code, you hear a 'Bi Bi Bi Bi' sound. If a wrong code is used over 3 times, the lock freezes and keeps quiet until it is released/unfrozen.
How to release a frozen lock.
With the original or correct personal code, proceed the above opening steps (1 to 3) twice consecutively (You hear a melody).
How to Enter Your Own Personal Code
* * Always keep the door open until you are happy the new code works * *
Step 1: Push Memory Button M on the inside of the door. (LED lights with 'Bi' sound).
Step 2: While LED lights on, enter your new personal code by pushing your chosen code for instance, 197568 sequence (up to a max.17 digits)
Step 3: Push Finish Button # (You hear a melody).
* Warning: Confirm the personal code is correctly entered, please keep the door open whilst using the new personal code prior to closing door. *
When and How to Replace Battery
When Start Button C is pushed, if there sounds a series of 'Bi Bi Bi Bi", or the door is not opened in spite of normal LED flash with melodic tone, it indicates that the batteries have to be replaced (Use 4 AA size 1.5V Alkaline batteries) The entered code will NOT be erased, even if battery is completely exhausted.
SMP 'Inner coffer' time/delay lock series C5 to C9.
SMP have used the C series lock on their inner coffers for some years. The lock is used to set a time delay and opening times on the inner coffer. For instance, the safe is factory set to open between 10:00 and 12:00 and then again between 17:00 and 19:00. Anyone trying to open the coffer outside of those times will be unable to do so. If you do try to open the coffer with the correct code during the accepted times, the safe is set to delay opening for 10minutes from the time the code is inputted. These times can all be changed according to the instructions below.
The instructions below apply to the C5, C6, C8 & C9. However, functions 6 onwards do not apply to the C5
How to use the SMP 'Inner coffer' time/delay lock series C5 to C9.
Code:
A single code of four digits is used to open the coffer, which on newer models is factory set to 0000 - use this code to open the coffer initially then set your own. Take care when setting your new code and do not lose it.
To Open:
Press OPEN and enter the code. The delay will start to count down .You must wait for the delay to elapse and then press open and turn the handle.
To Close:
Press LOCK and turn the handle
To Change Settings:
To set your own code and times etc, you must first open the coffer and with the door open, press set followed by the relevant number below to select the feature as per the menu below.
Set + button 1:
Sets your new code. Simply key in your own four-digit code.
Set + button 2:
Sets the first time slot open & close. Set open first when shown. Set close when shown.
Set + button 3:
Sets the second time slot open & close. Set as above.
Set + button 4:
Sets the time. Key in the time of day (24 hour clock)
Set + button 5:
Sets the time delay. Key in the delay you want in minutes (0-60).
Set + button 6:
Sets todays date for audit trail. For 25th October 2006 enter as 251006
Set + button 8:
Audit trail for the last 20 openings. The data is shown for each opening as: Time HH-MM, Date DDMMYY, code XXXX. |
