How to open Sports Afield safe without key

One of the most common troubleshooting calls we receive is:

“My safe won’t open. What do I do?”

Here are five common reasons why your safe won’t open, and what steps you should try before you call a technician.

Five Possible Reasons Your Safe Won’t Open

Dead Batteries

Fingers crossed, the reason your safe won’t open is as simple as dead batteries.

Before you try anything, change the batteries using brand name batteries. Off brand batteries lose power much faster than their brand-name counterparts.

It is important to try this step first, even if your keypad beeps and lights up as normal. There may be enough power in the batteries to operate the keypad, but not enough to completely retract the boltwork.

Jammed Bolt Work

At times, the bolt work can get jammed for a wide variety of reasons. If you hear the motor trying to retract the bolt work, but the safe won’t open, a jam could be the culprit.

It’s time to unleash your inner-frustrations; you get to mule kick the safe. Turn your back to the safe, and kick the door, hard, a few times. Be sure that you do not kick the keypad or the handle. This will help loosen the bolt work.

Next, pull the handle in the opposite direction than you normally do and enter the code. This will release some of the extra pressure on the bolt and should help the handle move more freely.

Lockout Mode or Time Delay

Many safes  go into penalty lockout mode if too many wrong codes are entered. Depending on the type of keypad, it typically emits a rapid series of beeps. If this happens, wait 10 to 20 minutes, and try again.

Your safe also may have a time delay. If this is the case, you will need to wait for the specified time delay period (typically 10 minutes) and re-enter your code.

Deactivated Code

Another possible reason your safe won’t open is your code has been deactivated. Have someone else try their code to see if theirs works.

Disconnected and/or Damaged Wiring

As with any electronic device, wiring can get disconnected and/or damaged. Remove the keypad and inspect the wires to see if they have come loose, are kinked, or cut.

If everything is intact, disconnect the wire from the keypad, and remove the batteries. Wait at least 20 seconds, then reinstall the batteries and reconnect the wiring.

If wiring is damaged or cut, you will need to call a technician. Be sure to tell them the type of keypad you have installed so they can bring one when they come.

If you try all of these steps and your safe still won’t open, it’s time to call a technician. If you have any questions, let us know. We’re happy to help!

Posted: Thu, 06 Dec 2018

This is a question I get asked a lot!

So, here is my definitive guide to getting into your electronic digital safe if the batteries are dead.

Step 1. Don’t panic

You will be able to get back into your safe and as long as you follow the below steps, your safe will be undamaged and useable again in no time.

Step 2. Check that the batteries are dead and that it is not another problem

On most higher end electronic safes, the first sign that the safe batteries are dead is usually a longer series of beeps when you input your code or a warning on the display panel if you have one. If you are getting a low battery warning of any sort and if the safe won’t open it is likely that this is the problem.

Lower cost electronic safes may not warn you that the battery is running low and the first you may know is when the safe won’t open. Batteries can be expected to last up to 2 years, depending upon usage, so if yours have been in longer than that, then a dead battery is likely to be the reason. Batteries that are left untouched for too long may corrode, which could create a much more expensive problem.

Step 3. Work out what sort of digital safe you have

Obviously, there are hundreds of models of digital safe, but I have split these into three categories depending on the type of electronic lock the safe has.

Digital lock with override key

If you purchased your safe at low cost online or from a large chain retail outlet, then it is likely to be this type of electronic safe and will have a lock similar to the one in the image above. Your safe will have come with a separate key which can be used to open the safe if the electronic lock fails or the batteries run down. Override keys should not be stored inside the safe.

Digital lock with batteries behind the keypad

These higher end locks have the batteries concealed within the keypads with access to the battery even if the safe is locked (often from below, or the keypad will tilt forward to reveal the batteries). If the battery is running low on a safe with this type of lock, you will get a warning. This maybe beeps when you input your code or, if you have a display panel, it may show a low battery warning similar to that you would see on a mobile phone.

Digital lock with emergency power supply connection

Locks like the one in the image above have an external emergency battery connection point on the keypad. The actual battery housing is inside the safe on the back of the door and inaccessible from the outside when the safe is locked.

Step 4. Accessing the batteries in your digital safe

Each type of safe requires a different method of replacing the dead batteries:

• Digital lock with override key - You will need to use the override key to open the safe. The battery pack is inside the door and batteries can only be replaced with the safe open. To access the override lock, there is usually a removable panel to the side of the keypad. Undoing this will uncover the lock for the key to be inserted. If you have lost the override key then you cannot open the safe. However, due to the less secure nature of these sort of key locks, a locksmith will be able to open it for you, for a charge.
• Digital lock with batteries behind the keypad - There is normally an obvious catch somewhere on the keypad (often at the bottom) which will release the battery casing and enable you to replace the batteries as seen in the image below
• Digital lock with emergency power supply connection - These safes cannot be opened without battery power and the batteries are located inside the safe. If your batteries are dead, you will need to hold a 9v battery (Like the ones you get in smoke detectors) to the connection points at the front of the safe, this should deliver the power you require to enter your code on the keypad.

You will need to keep the battery held onto the connection points while you type in your code and open the door.

Once inside the safe, you will have access to the dead batteries and be able to replace them.

Step 5. If all else fails, contact the experts

If your digital safe is one of the more secure/robust varieties or none of the above have worked then it is probably time to speak to the professionals.

With our experienced engineers and nationwide service, no matter what grade, cash rating, or make of safe you have, we can get it open for you.

Safes can become stuck shut for a variety of reasons, not just the batteries. Whatever the issue preventing you from opening your safe, our engineers will quickly diagnose the problem and determine the options for opening it.

If you need help opening your safe, get in touch now

Things you should NOT do if your safe won’t open

1. Kick it: Although this may make you feel better it will not help and may damage the safe locking mechanism further
2. Spray things in the lock: We have had all sorts of weird and wonderful things sprayed in locks over the years and none of them helps.
3. Force the lock: Any attempt to force the safe open is likely to cause damage. Safes are designed not to be able to be forced open so any attempt you make to do so is futile.
4. Drill the lock: Unless you know what you are doing, the only guaranteed result of drilling your safe’s lock is that you will never be able to use that lock again.

We can help you to get your safe open in the most effective and least damaging way. Please contact us to arrange for an engineer to come out to you asap.