The nine-volt battery in your safe’s electronic lock should normally last between 8,000 to 10,000 openings. And that is a lot of openings. But what if you go to open your safe and find that the battery has suddenly died? Will you be locked out of your safe because your code will be wiped out? Here is what happens when the battery on an electronic safe lock dies.
Do Not Panic…Your Code Is Still There!
While it is inconvenient, being locked out of your safe because of a dead battery is only a temporary problem. You can rest assured that once you replace the battery in your lock, your combination code will still be there. This is because electronic locks contain what is called ‘non-volatile memory” that holds onto the combination codes that you have programmed into your lock. In fact, your electronic lock’s memory can hold onto your codes for up to 10 years whether your battery is dead or removed.
Lock Lights Up, but Safe Won’t Open
If your battery is not quite dead yet, the lights or display on your lock could still light up. After entering your combination code, you might still hear the expected beeps and clicks that happen as the safe’s bolt disengages. However, when you try to turn the handle, you might find that the lock has not fully disengaged. [Link “Common Problems”] This is because there is not enough juice left in the battery to fully power the opening operation. Replacing your battery with a fresh one should resolve this problem for you right away.
The Type of Battery You Use Matters
When it comes to the reliability of your electronic safe lock, the type of nine-volt batteries you use matters. You should use high-quality alkaline nine-volt batteries, like Duracells or Energizers. Even though there are high-quality carbon batteries available, often at a lower cost, electronic locks are designed to work better with alkaline batteries. A carbon battery may not provide enough consistent power to allow the bolt to retract enough to open your safe. So, if you want to ensure proper lock operation, never skimp on its batteries.
Preventing Surprises
The last thing you want when you go to open your safe, especially in an emergency, is to find out the batteries are dead in its electronic safe lock. Liberty Safe recommends that you replace the battery in your safe lock every six to 12 months. This will ensure your safe can always be opened quickly, as is intended by equipping it with a reliable electronic lock.
Liberty Safe uses high-quality SecuRam electronic locks for their safes because of their extreme reliability.