M14 Forum

shoot4score

What's going to happen to the batery powered digital keypads on gun safes in the event of an EMP attack?? Is it going to be fried rendering us unable to access our firearms??

MackR

I don't trust those electronic keypads for opening a safe....one of the main reasons I went with a conventional combo lock. Others may argue and disagree but I'm happy with what I got and it has never failed me.

ruger6x

x2 on that

ive always trusted manual over electronic any time

Hgunner

I don't know for sure but I suspect an EMP will fry it.

I have also heard that the companys that make the digital locks have a master code for them.

Personally theres nothing like a good ole Sargent&Greanleaf dial lock..

lefty o

over time, that digital combo will fail. no need to wait for any imagined EMP.

leadbug

I personally do not understand the fascination with a keypad safe. Give me manual controls for everything like that.

It is analogous to having a firearm that is run by a computer chip, just waiting to fail.

deadfoot

If an EMP is all it is advertised in the link posted previously by jim-analog,
http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/cong...as197010_1.htm
then yes indeed an electronic safe lock would likely be fried.

I do think you should consider what is the likelihood an enemy can obtain a nuclear weapon and launch it into space above the US and successfully detonate. Note the "starwars" in the link. EMP from ground based explosions really aren't that much of a concern for us common folks as the EM effect falls off more rapidly than other annoyances like the fire storm.

MonnieRock

Being a locksmith, my safe has a UL Listed Group 2 mechanical combination lock. That should be a hint

Typical failure of electronic safes are PCB failures and solenoid failures. Just think, they use a $0.75 chinese made solenoid that retracts the bolt, when it fails places you in a lock-out situation.

All these so called "gun safes" that are 12ga-16ga plate steet are just a holesaw away from theft.

I suggest These

NE450N02

I have had several people that sell, work on, or build gunsafes, and they all advised me NOT to get the electronic lock.

I like the Safes made by Sturdy Safe.

They are good people and a good company to deal with.

www.sturdysafe.com

Long Shot

For the locksmiths out there, how hard is it to retrofit an existing safe with an electronic lock?

led boot

Wouldn't a common fire melt the keypad off?

harman60

Better yet, how hard to retro fit from electronic to manual?

jim-analog

Greetings,

When I bought my safe, it came standard with the "upgrade" electronic lock. I had the shop replace it with a mechanical type before delivery. I'm an EE and don't trust most consumer grade electronics. The shop mentioned that if the mechanical lock failed, the safe could still be opened, but the reverse was *not* true.

As was stated before, odds are it will probably fail long before an EMP event. I'd inquire with the safe manufacture or a local lock smith/safe company to have it replaced sooner rather than later.

Regards, Jim

art7

I think the solution is to have a back door on the safe, so if the lock fails, you can still get in .... :-)

Seriously, there is only one reason you need a gun safe, which is to prevent an accident where a kid or friend accidentally shoots themselves playing with something they should not have touched. This accident scenario is a much greater nightmare than any imaginary EMP threat.

Fire and theft can be covered with insurance, which is a lot cheaper than buying an expensive safe.

tmcfalls

Now those are some actual safes! I just don't know that I have enough friends to help me carry one in the house.