Understanding Safe Override Keys
I spent a little time in the shop this week and I had the pleasure of chatting with a lovely couple that brought in a small safe that their daughter keeps at their house. While she is now living 400 miles away, she still needs to ask her mom and dad for her Birth Certificate because she keeps it locked up safe in her childhood home. Well, here is the problem. She is 400 miles away with BOTH copies of the key to the safe, and you would think that this is totally ok because of the keypad right? WRONG! The keypad was dead…… no batteries. So, mom and dad had to bring the safe into the shop to have it opened up. Read on to learn what happened……
Many people these days have been tempted to go completely keyless. It is the land of technology…….. Technology has advanced to where keeping track of keys is just no longer needed. Passwords can be memorized, or you can store that info in your phone, after all…. nobody is ever without them, right? If that’s true, then what’s the point of the override keys? Does it presence of them negate the purpose of electronic locks by giving them a mechanical key mechanism?
Override keys for safes are physical keys that can override the electronic locking mechanism. You can open an electronic lock without knowing the password if you have the override key. You simply insert the key and open the door, just like you would with any mechanical lock.
What is an override key for on safes?
Most newer safes are electronic. This means they don’t use keys to open, but rather some electricity-based or battery powered mechanism. Most use keypads to open but some are using biometrics like fingerprint scanning. Whatever it is, it makes the keys unnecessary. But what happens when the electronics fail? How do you open it?
This is where override keys come in. Override keys for safes or doors are special keys that can be inserted that get past the electronic systems inside the lock. These allow locksmiths to get inside your lock if needed. They also allow you to get past the lock if you forget the combination or if something happens, like, you know…….. the batteries die.
So, when this lovely family came in with their daughter’s safe this week we picked the lock and opened the safe for them and guess what we discovered? There were no batteries in it! None! Once the door was in the open position we put some good batteries in (check out our blog here to learn what batteries we recommend for your important locks) and we helped them reset the code to open the door to something that they agreed with their daughter on. Now, on their next visit I am sure they will make sure to get one of those override keys “Just In Case” to make sure they have it for emergencies. In the meantime, at least now they can access the important documents that they need.
So, Override keys are keys that bypass the electronic mechanism. They do not do anything to negate the security of your lock or the ease of it. Override keys for safes are mostly unnecessary at this point, technologically speaking. Overall, you don’t really need a safe or door with an override key, but you sure will be happy to have it if/when the batteries are dead or the electricity is out. If you have to get into the safe, you will be able to access it at any time. These override keys also protect you from forgotten passwords or combinations to safes, so these keys are good to have around.
As always, if we can help you with a new safe you can contact us anytime!