Gun Safe Electronic KeyPad Lock Failure.

[kenemoore]

Hi Folks,

I have a Cannon gun safe, I've had it for about 6-7 years. About 3 weeks ago, I went to open it and it would not open, made funny, unusual beeping noises. This was a Sunday, and I was heading out of town for work. During the week I called Cannon and they basically said it was the battery. I knew it was not the battery because I changed it and measured the voltage on the new one at 9.18 volts. I told them this. They said I needed to call back when I was standing in front of the safe. Fast forward one week, I call them back, they have me take out the battery, unhook the lock cable, punch all the keys and put it back together. No joy, still will not open. They tell me I'll have to get a locksmith to drill it, and then get a new lock.

I call around and get a name of someone who specializes in gun safes, going to cost $250 to open, and $125 to install a new mechanical lock, this includes patching up the drill hole. But the guy is a nice guy and tells me to call the lock people, Securam, they might have a way to force it open.

So I call Securam, they are busy, nobody answers the phone, leave a message. About 1 hour later they call me, have me try a few things, the guy can hear the funny beeps over the phone, says the keypad has a short, I can tell by the beeps. Says, all I need is a new keypad. Emails me a coupon for 20% off and tells me if it doesn't fix my problem, I can send it back within 30 days.

Well, cost me around $68 with shipping, arrived today, installed it right away, and it opened right up with my old combo.

Moral of the story, Cannon safe tech support is not so hot. Securam is Outstanding.

Posting this in case someone has a similar experience. Don't give up until you call the lock folks.

Now, since it worked, I called the locksmith, will cost $205 to convert to mechanical, I think I'll keep the electronic one, first one lasted 6 years.

-Ken

[Bawanna]

I was very reluctant to get a safe with an electronic lock but just last week I finally relented.
I wasn't aware that they could be converted to mechanical, that's good to know.
So far I like it. It doesn't hold as many guns and it claims but it serves it's intended purpose for now.
I got an employee discount at my 4th job so it was a pretty good deal and now a few more I prefer secure are secure. Comforting.
I guess if it don't open I got an 8# keg of Winchester 452 sitting on top, some fuse and a match and I bet she'll open.

[berettabone]

I have a smaller electronic safe. Takes batteries but also plugs in. When I got smart enough, I figured that the batteries are for back up in case of power outage. When I got really smart, I took the damn batteries out because even with a power outage and no batteries, I have a key on my keychain that opens it with a key. Duh...………………………………………………….:p

[Bawanna]

That's getting way up there in the smart department.

[ltxi]

i've long preferred keypad safes. But consider mechanical/key unlock as backup a needed feature. Our personal, non-gun, keypad safe has been 20 years flawless with one or two battery changes.

[Armybrat]

Well, my safe's dumb combination lock hasn't failed me yet in 25 years except when I have a brainfart & can't remember the dang digits.

[Bobshouse]

I've heard that you can remove that electronic lock, replace it with another programed with a different combination and open the safe. Wonder if it's true?

Hate to read this, as I have a Cannon also.

[CPTKILLER]

Good info!

[ltxi]

I've heard that you can remove that electronic lock, replace it with another programed with a different combination and open the safe. Wonder if it's true?

Hate to read this, as I have a Cannon also.

I lived my entire professional life in an environment that required high security entry door and safe locks. All combination at first and then those plus, electronic keypads, mag swipe, and prox cards as technology evolved. The very idea of being able to simply remove such a lock from the outside and replace it with a preprogrammed another that would allow access sends a chill up my spine.

Even in lower security applications, such a gun safes, I've never observed an install that would allow such a thing.

[gale155]

I lived my entire professional life in an environment that required high security entry door and safe locks. All combination at first and then those plus, electronic keypads, mag swipe, and prox cards as technology evolved. The very idea of being able to simply remove such a lock from the outside and replace it with a preprogrammed another that would allow access sends a chill up my spine.

Even in lower security applications, such a gun safes, I've never observed an install that would allow such a thing.

I spent the last 10-years of my working life in such an environment...multi-billion dollar data centers, in which all of the locks on the high-security doors were biometric (requiring a fingerprint scan). When it came to security, money was no object in these facilities due to the nature of the data stored there. While the biometrics functioned properly most of the time, they did fail with some regularity. I can tell you that I would never, ever consider a quick-access gun safe that required a finger scan, or any other type of electronic locking system for that matter.

[Bawanna]

I'm with Army, my combination safe has never failed in at least that long maybe longer. The digital key pad is faster and I can even do it without my reading glasses which is handy.
I figure I'll put the stuff I might need fast in there, like my AR. My daily social weapons never go in the safe, so if it mess's up, no urgent crisis.

I did hear someone say that you could put in a new keypad and just use your old combination and it would open.

Think that was in this thread in fact, I don't have that long a memory. Had to be recent.

[Ikeo74]

I have a similar safe with an electronic key pad. Same battery is in it for 7 years. It works great, but I saw a video on utube where they said it is better to change your combination once in a while because if you use the same one and open it often, you can wear out the number pads. Changing the combo to a different set of numbers makes the key pad last much longer. This is probably what happened to the original posters safe because he never changed the combination.

Now I am thinking I better change my combination because it is still the original. However I don't open it more that 2 or 3 times a week so it is probably good, but I will make the change anyway for safety reasons. I don't want to spend several hundred dollars if I can avoid it.

[kenemoore]

For the record, the keypad combination is stored in the lock, not the keypad.
When I replaced the keypad, I had to use my old combo to open it. Not the factory default. The little paper pad that came with it, explicitly stated you had to use the old combo. So swapping the keypad would not help a thief.

I usually open my safe twice a week. Once on Saturday, before range time, and again on Sunday, when I put everything back. Changing the keypad combo, might help if you only had one combo, but that's one of the great things about electronic locks. I have one combo, and my wife has another. We each picked our own, so we could remember them easier.

[Bawanna]

Didn't know you could have two combinations. I better read the papers again. I didn't see anything about that.

[kenemoore]

Mine has a "managers" combo, and a "user" combo.

[wyntrout]

Dang! I have a Winchester safe, too. I've had to change the battery once since 2012. Remember my adding a stainless steel doggy bowl to cover the electronic lock against EMP?

I would rather have had a mechanical combination lock, but I got my safe at Costco for about $300... just needed something for my pistols then, but now my 3-rifle lockable rack is too small. I don't have that many long guns, but will have to priortize which ones get locked up. The pellet rifle and the old .22 pump will have to take their chances.

That's a very helpful post about replacing the keypad! I'll certainly keep that in mind if I have any troubles. :eek:

[340pd]

I have an 25 year old American Securities with a mechanical lock which has never been anything but perfect. This safe is opened and closed at least four times per day.<br>
A lower cost one with a electronic lock that twists off and can be opened with a special key. I put no trust is this and it is used for airguns and paperwork.<br><br>If I were to do it all over again I would to straight to Liberty products.&nbsp; There construction and guarantee are unbeatable.