We've been in our house since June & I think I'm om my 4th 9v battery in the safe lock. Not sure if it's a bad batch of batteries, or if it's just eating them up. It only gets opened maybe once a month.
The Enemy's gate is down.
January 19, 2023, 06:24 PM
parabellum
Invest in a mechanical lock
January 19, 2023, 06:25 PM
P250UA5
Can a Cannon Safari safe be converted? What's a mechanical conversion run, cost wise? Locksmith, or DIY?
The Enemy's gate is down.
January 19, 2023, 06:26 PM
parabellum
Three, four hundred, I think. You won't be doing it yourself.
As long as you don't abuse a mechanical lock- by spinning the dial- it will last a very, very long time, and you don't have to worry about dead batteries or EMP keeping you out of your safe.
January 19, 2023, 06:27 PM
armored
I change mine on New Years Day every year, that means once a year. I see no signs that the battery is weak when I change it out. I probably open the safe (Champion safe / LaGard keypad) once a week. This has been my procedure for about 10 years, no problems with the safe lock ever.
January 19, 2023, 06:30 PM
P250UA5
Makes me curious if I got a bad batch of batteries. Will see how long the current one lasts & maybe try a new lot/brand & see if it's the same result.
If so, will look for a local locksmith to swap in a mechanical.
Luckily, this is overflow & my EDC/HD stuff is in another, keyed safe.
The Enemy's gate is down.
January 19, 2023, 06:30 PM
parabellum
Aside from dead bateries, electronic safe locks sometimes simply fail. All of these locks are made somewhere in Asia. I do not consider any of them to be trustworthy.
You might be fine with an electronic lock. Then again, you might not. Invest the money and put your mind at ease.
Forum member a1abdj might be able to refer you to a trustworthy locksmith in your area.
_______________________________________________
“What sickens me about left-wing people, especially the intellectuals, is their utter ignorance of the way things actually happen.” ~ George Orwell
"That's one thing about intellectuals. They've proved that you can be absolutely brilliant and have no idea what's going on." ~ Woody Allen
January 19, 2023, 06:45 PM
P250UA5
Thanks, boss. He chimed in when we moved in here & I didn't know how to reprogram the lock code. I'll reach out to him when I'm ready to look into the conversion.
The Enemy's gate is down.
January 19, 2023, 06:53 PM
RogueJSK
Let's just say I change my (mechanical) safes' batteries every time I sleep with a supermodel.
January 19, 2023, 07:24 PM
oddball
None of my safes in my house have an electronic lock.
Label me a luddite, but I find the concept of battery operated locks to be outside my thinking.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
January 19, 2023, 07:25 PM
slosig
quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK: Let's just say I change my (mechanical) safes' batteries every time I sleep with a supermodel.
January 19, 2023, 07:28 PM
pace40
YouTube can be your friend here. I converted my Liberty D20 from electronic to a S&G mechanical. The lock was about $110.00 and it took me about 2 hours but I cleaned and lubed all the bolts and lock work while I was in there. More tedious than difficult. The research on how to do it and what lock to buy took longer than the actual lock change. Probably about 7 or 8 years ago so the lock may have gone up some.
____________ Pace
January 19, 2023, 07:57 PM
Black92LX
To answer your actual question. I have 2 safes with electronic locks. Both locks are the same company. I get about 6 months out of mine. However I generally open each of them twice a day.
I only use Duracell batteries.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
January 19, 2023, 08:00 PM
joatmonv
quote:
Originally posted by oddball: None of my safes in my house have an electronic lock.
Label me a luddite, but I find the concept of battery operated locks to be outside my thinking.
Same here. 3 safes and all of them are keyed to open and then keyed for a master lock.
I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not.
January 19, 2023, 08:08 PM
Gustofer
Just changed mine a few weeks ago after 10 years. While I'd prefer to have a mechanical one, my safe did come with a key that'll open it should somebody decide to nuke us.
________________________________________________________ It is long past time for a Convention of States. The Founding Fathers gave us this tool to fix an out of control government and we need to use it.
January 19, 2023, 08:12 PM
SIG4EVA
Never right now. It has a mechanical lock.
SIG556 Classic P220 Carry SAS Gen 2 SAO SP2022 9mm German Triple Serial P938 SAS P365 FDE P322 FDE
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it"
January 19, 2023, 08:17 PM
pbslinger
I change my dangerous batteries trianually.This message has been edited. Last edited by: pbslinger,
January 19, 2023, 08:27 PM
ensigmatic
I've had the S&G Titan 2007 D-Drive lock in my safe for three years, come April. It's still going strong on its original battery.
But, being as I've been retired ever since I installed the lock (replacing the cheap mechanical lock that came with the safe), it hasn't been operated frequently. Maybe a couple times/week, if that.
Sounds like you may need a new lock?
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
4 batteries in 6+ months ? Maybe your electrics are no good.
I keep a piece of paper with the date taped on the inside of safe door change it 1x a year regardless. Never had a problem. Last thing I want is my electrics getting tucked from corroded battery leak.
Mechanical dial wasn’t an option when I bought my safe. Too lazy /cheap to upgrade it.