Which is more secure? Key or combination lock?
Both key and combination locks offer the same level of security for your safe or security cabinet. The choice of locking system depends on your personal preferences.
Key locks for safes – the traditional locking system
Quality key locks can be bought at a relatively low price, but cheap locks can fail and cause problems. It is important to remember that key locks can be forced open and, most importantly, keys can be lost. If you lose the key to your safe, the level of security drops. In such cases you must act quickly and change the lock, which means extra costs.
Combination locks for safes – the modern locking system
Combination locks give you fast access to the contents of your safe or security cabinet. The best thing about combination locks is that the code can be shared with others without the need for extra keys. However, it is important to remember that if you forget the code to your lock, it can be more expensive to resolve than replacing a key lock.
What are the lock requirements for each burglary protection class?
Safe locks are classified into security classes from A to D according to the EN 1300 standard.
In addition, safes and security cabinets from security class IV and above must have 2 separate locks – and as many as 3 locks from class XI and higher.
The following table explains the lock requirements each safe must meet to maintain its certification according to the EN 1143-1 burglary protection class.
Is the lock included in the stated external dimensions?
No, the lock is not included in the safe's external dimensions. The dimensions are without the lock handle and fittings. You can find the lock dimensions in the product description under the attribute "Lock depth".
My electronic safe lock has run out of power. How do I replace the battery?
All safes with a combination lock have an external contact where a backup battery can be connected, or where the battery can be replaced from the outside. You can still open the safe in the event of a battery failure.
Depending on the lock type, you can either:
- Replace the battery from the outside, typically under the keypad.
- Connect an external battery to the keypad to open the door.
- Some safes come with an emergency key from the factory.
I have forgotten the code to my safe. Can you help?
For security reasons, neither SafeGear nor the manufacturer of the safe lock has a master code to open the safe. In some cases it can be opened with an emergency key. If there is no emergency key for your combination lock, it may be necessary to break the safe open to access the contents, which will damage the safe.
Problems opening or closing the safe?
There can be several reasons why the safe cannot be opened or closed, but the problem is often easy to solve.
The lock
After installation, the lock should beep twice, which means the code has been entered correctly.
Jammed doors
If the safe door is open, it means the lock is still not working correctly. The bolts press the lock into tamper protection. The bolts on the hinge side of the door are in contact with the body of the safe, putting pressure on the locking mechanism and the bolt.
The solution is to maintain pressure on the bolt by pressing the handle just after the code has been entered, while keeping the door closed. This usually releases the lock. It works because it removes the load from the bolt and increases the torque with a lift.
Battery and emergency power
If the battery is flat, the keypad has two emergency power buttons for temporary use.
The battery is empty and I cannot open my safe. Is it still possible?
You can use emergency power to open the safe even if the battery is empty. To activate the emergency power you need a 9V block battery, which is inserted into the corresponding contacts on the lock's control panel.
On the right-hand side next to the keypad you will find two grooves, which must be opened with a knife or a spatula. Underneath these are the contacts for the 9V block battery.
Connect the 9V block battery to the contacts, with the large negative terminal placed on the large contact and the small positive terminal on the small contact.
The emergency power from the battery makes it possible to enter the code and open the safe.
Leave the emergency power connected until the safe is fully open. Once this is done, you can replace the empty batteries with new ones as usual.
I have an electronic lock. How often should I change the battery?
It depends on how often the electronic safe lock is used. All electronic locks give an audible and/or visual warning when the battery is running low. As soon as this happens, we recommend replacing the battery with a new one.
You can always replace the battery on your electronic lock quickly – even if the battery is already empty. Read our FAQ to find out how you can change the battery yourself without professional help.
I think my keypad is faulty. How can I test it? BR 5010 (EM2020 / EM3520)
If the keypad test shows no errors, you may be entering an incorrect code. The M-Locks BR 5010 emits a long beep if an incorrect code is entered. Note that if you enter an incorrect code four times in a row, the lock will be blocked for 5 minutes. If you then enter two more incorrect codes, the 5-minute block starts again.
Download the manual by clicking the link below:
This video also explains how to test your keypad:
How do I replace the battery on my combination lock? M-Locks EM2020 / EM3520
To replace the battery, open the battery compartment at the bottom of the keypad by sliding the plastic cover to the right.
Follow these steps to replace the battery on your safe:
- Open the compartment at the bottom of the lock by sliding the plastic cover to the right
- Once the cover is open, carefully remove the old battery from the input unit.
- Disconnect the battery clip and connect it to the new battery.
- Place the new battery in the lock and close the battery cover.
Only use quality 9V batteries. The BR5010 keypad is used with combination locks such as the EM2020 or EM3520 from M-Locks.
The keypad is used on the following safe series:
Lyra, Libra, Paper Star Light, Gemini Pro, SB Pro, GTA, GTB, SafeGear Gun Safe, KWT, Topas PRO, Einsatzdeposit
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