December 30, 2022Electronic locks vs. Expert Advice: Dial Locks for Gun Safes
Dual-Lock Technology: Cannon has an innovative combination digital/mechanical lock system. Dual-Access Lock: This lock allows for quick access to an electronic lock, but also provides the security of a manual (rotary dial), combination lock. Smart gun owners know that a solid gun safe is essential. When choosing a gun safe, which lock should you choose? Both have their pros and cons. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. This article will help to make the right decision for you. We explain the key features of both electronic and dial lock systems in our Gunsafe Buyer’s guide. Many safe-makers will tell consumers that electronic locks are more convenient. However, most locksmiths we surveyed believe that electronic locks are more convenient and will last longer. He is a professional locksmith who has over 20 years of experience in servicing locks and safes of every type and brand.
Electronic locks are the best for their convenience and quick opening. The dial lock is the best option for durability and long-lasting use. Over the past 22 years, I have made my living servicing locks of every type. This includes opening safes that aren’t possible to open. I have done warranty work for Liberty and several other safe manufacturers. In all my years of experience, I have learned that manual dial locks are very reliable. Most common is a loose dial, which can cause the index point to be in the wrong spot for proper tumbler alignment. This is easy to fix. However, electronic locks can have many issues and none (except bad keys-pads) are difficult to fix. If one does go bad, it must then be drilled into to unlock it. It’s not a question of “if” an electronic lock will eventually fail, but rather of “when”. Since electronics have become more common over the past 10 years, I’ve had difficulty drilling open bad electronic locks in a ratio of approximately 20-1. My professional opinion is to get the manual dial lock, unless you’ve got a good friend who is a locksmith/safecracker.How Secure is Your Lock?
RFB says both electronic and dial locks offer security. As long as the lock is made by LaGard Sargent & Greenleaf or Kaba/Ilco, RFB believes it will be secure. RFB warns us that both electronic and dial locks offer good security, provided that the lock is made by LaGard, Sargent & Greenleaf, Amsec, Kaba/Ilco, or Kaba/Ilco. The brain is hidden inside the safe. Only the best electronic locks can be manipulated by an amateur. Both can be combined to create a theoretical million combinations. Because there are many combinations that can’t or shouldn’t be used, I call it ‘theoretical’. You wouldn’t set your dial lock to 01-01-01, etc., nor would an electronic be set to 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 or 1-2-3-4-5-6. “Tips for dial locks”
RFB points out that “the speed and ease of using a manual dial lock can both be improved upon by having your combination reset using certain guidelines.” Avoid numbers higher than 50. A 1st number between 40 and 25, and a 2nd number between 0-25 and 35, will reduce dialing time by half without compromising security. (For mechanical reasons, I won’t go into here, the third number of a good manual diallock cannot — or shouldn’t — be set to any number other than 95 & 20. “Tips for Electronic Locks”
The combination can be changed much faster than dial locks by using electronic locks. This should be a good thing. RFB says, however, that this can be a double-edged weapon. I have had to open safes with electronic locks that had been changed by the user incorrectly, resulting in an undetermined number that no one can determine. Don’t forget to mention that electronic locks can be locked out by changing the wrong number. In an emergency, I wouldn’t rely on the 6-number combination’s normal speed in an electronic lock. If you panic, or for any other reason, the lock will shut down for a 5-minute ‘penalty’. If you repeatedly punch in the wrong number, the lock will automatically shut down for five minutes.
You should change the battery at the least once a calendar year to get the best out of your electronic keypad lock (keypad Lock). Although low voltage won’t cause the lock to shut down, it can cause damage to the electronics and eventually lead to lock failure. You should replace your battery every year if you don’t have any other options to keep your digital-lock safe. You should also get a new battery with a release date from the store. Don’t just take a battery from a storage bin. Old batteries can lose “juice” and become physically degraded even if they are stored.
