Electronic push button safe locks (e-locks) have been around since the early 90’s. The goal of the e-lock was to combat lazy employees from “day-locking” the safe during business hours. Day-locking is still used to this day, but usually involves a key locking dial. When a safe is opened the dial normally stops around 86 on the dial. If the dial is rotated back to zero, the Bolt Control Handle (BCH) which opens the safe door will lock. Turn the dial back to 86 and the BCH will unlock. Some dials are key locking and allow the dial to be locked at the zero position.
If a business handled a lot of cash and most of the employees knew the safe was “day-locked,” it was only a matter of time before cash went missing. The e-lock ensured the safe was completely locked when the door was closed and the handle thrown in the locked position. Convenience and ease of opening the safe were by-products of solving a bigger problem, employee theft.
One the earliest e-locks was called the Smart-Guard. The Smart-Guard could be programmed to speak 5 different languages, audit up to 50 different users, store up to 500 events and could also be programmed with a Time Lock and Delayed Access Timer. The lock could even send a silent alarm.
The whole reason for locks with all these features is to narrow down who took the cash. Only people with codes could gain access, and the lock kept an audit of day and time each time someone opened the lock.
Many e-locks were sold on safes because they are much easier to open than mechanical locks. Mechanical locks require memorizing dialing sequences, four times right, three times left and so on. The e-lock allowed the end-user to push buttons, like dialing a phone number. The safe can be opened and locked again quickly, many times during the day.
The problem with e-locks then and now is the same. Lock failure can happen without warning and usually requires the safe be drilled open to gain access. This also means a hole in the safe has to be repaired and a new lock purchased and installed. This can be expensive, but the inconvenience of not getting cash or inventory out of the safe may cost you sales and income.
The SecuRam Xtreme is an electromechanical redundant lock. The lock can be opened by entering a six number combination into the keypad. If the electronics fail, the lock can be dialed open just like any mechanical safe lock. You should never be locked out because of a malfunction.
