Posted: 11/24/2012 5:53:54 PM EDT
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Alright, I have an issue with a red head safe, and it's fucked up. I have a very special code close to the heart but impossible or next to it for others to figure it out, but that's besides the point. I put the code in earlier, nothing. again. nothing. One more time, it locks itself out. I know i pushed the right code in. Well I did a bunch of shit that I'm going to skip and I basically called a safe smith. Dude said it's either the solenoid or the panel is fucked up, said it's going to cost $600.00 and he'll replace everything. Anyways he said I could try taking the battery out, and I did that for an hour. I waited, and put the battery back in and it worked. I got the door open.
HOWEVER, I do not want to close it again, because I don't want this shit happening without finding out what arfcom safe doctors say. I'm pretty mechanically inclined (HVAC, electrician) but I never drilled or installed this type of shit. I see it's hooked up to a two prong connector to the board so I see the keyboard could be replaced. He said he would have to drill in there put a bunch of ball bearings, and that you have to replace the solenoid and keypad around every five years, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I think the keypad is going bad and it's not the solenoid because it went straight to a bad code, but like I said wanted to get the safe guru's in here to help a brother out. I live out in the sticks a couple of hours out of town, and this safe weighs in at a half ton, so moving it isn't a option. It's also about 5 years old. Any suggestions? |
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Get a S&G dial lock installed. Electronic locks on common safes are the sh*tz. You could ask member a1abdj for his opinon. He's a locksmith who specializes in safes. Yup. Pretty stoked that I payed over a grand for something that only lasted around 4 years. |
| my safe occasionally does this i found out that i was just entering the code to fast and now that i enter it in slower i havnt had a problem , also make sure you are pressing firmly ( sounds dumb but hey ) my safe is a 800 dollar cheapo from cabellas and i hope to upgrade soon |
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People tell me electronic locks are reliable. I do not believe them. My safe has an old-fashioned S&G dial lock. I suggest you have one retrofitted to your safe. YMMV. I thought long and hard before buying a safe. No electronic lock for me. I like my S&G dial lock also. |
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S&G dial, like others have said. You can even set your combo to your special number. XX-XX-XX Yeah but I have to switch shit around don't I? I couldn't install it myself. Don't want to fuck this safe up. Probably depends on how far you're willing to go try to save a buck. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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For all of you saying dial....
I have a old wall safe that was my grandpas. I go to open it yesterday and nothing. It felt like it was spinning to easy. I try it about 20 times, nothing. So finally I cut it out of the wall and bring it into the garage. Cut and pry the things open. Open up the dial and come to find out a small spring inside the dial broke. This safe is about 50 years old, so there is no doubt it had been opened a few times. |
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People tell me electronic locks are reliable. I do not believe them. My safe has an old-fashioned S&G dial lock. I suggest you have one retrofitted to your safe. YMMV. I thought long and hard before buying a safe. No electronic lock for me. I like my S&G dial lock also. I was thinking the same thing. However no one carried them, and trying to get stuff sent out to my house is like telling someone to go to Africa and help me find a dingo baby. I'm lucky I have internet out here. 
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Are you sure the battery didn't just need to be replaced? Is this the first time you've replaced the battery? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Well I took out the original and put a energizer in there. However, besides that yes. SOOOO . . . . 2 batteries in FIVE+ YEARS , and you are blaming the E lock? 
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Are you sure the battery didn't just need to be replaced? Is this the first time you've replaced the battery? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Well I took out the original and put a energizer in there. However, besides that yes. SOOOO . . . . 2 batteries in FIVE+ YEARS , and you are blaming the E lock?
Meh, I tried different batteries. New batteries. It still wouldn't open or activate the solenoid. |
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I did a lot of research on the reliability of both electronic and manual locks before I purchased.
From what I found they have similar failure rates. Manuals have different but equally frustrating issues like changing their own combination. Bottom line.... Buy quality, get the type you want, and realize you may have to pay someone to work on it someday. |