Strange gun safe

[Ignoramus13429]

When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.

The silvery cover with buttons, etc, could easily pop out, which is
what I did, to look at what is inside.

On the inside of the cover, there was a battery compartment, some
PCBs, and a telephone style wire going to inside the safe.

My question is this.

Is there some smart circuitry inside the safe, such that the cover
only sends electricity and keypad signals to the "brains" inside the
safe, and the "brains" decide when to open the lock based on keypad
combination.

Or, is it perhaps a bullshit "safe" where the brains are in the PCBs
outside and that sends current to the door opener inside through the
wire? In this case, the safe could be opened by simply applying
battery voltage to the wires going inside, bypassing PCBs.

I know that no one can say for sure. What makes me suspect the latter
is that there are basically too few conductors inside a typical
telephone wire to send all those keycodes. It can be done, I suppose,
but maybe it is not. Any thoughts?

i

 

[Luhan]

When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.

The silvery cover with buttons, etc, could easily pop out, which is
what I did, to look at what is inside.

On the inside of the cover, there was a battery compartment, some
PCBs, and a telephone style wire going to inside the safe.

My question is this.

Is there some smart circuitry inside the safe, such that the cover
only sends electricity and keypad signals to the "brains" inside the
safe, and the "brains" decide when to open the lock based on keypad
combination.

Or, is it perhaps a bullshit "safe" where the brains are in the PCBs
outside and that sends current to the door opener inside through the
wire? In this case, the safe could be opened by simply applying
battery voltage to the wires going inside, bypassing PCBs.

I know that no one can say for sure. What makes me suspect the latter
is that there are basically too few conductors inside a typical
telephone wire to send all those keycodes. It can be done, I suppose,
but maybe it is not. Any thoughts?

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Luhan

 

[Ignoramus13429]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

i

 

[Luhan]

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.

Luhan

 

[Ignoramus13429]

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.

Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

 

[Jim Thompson]

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe. [snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.

Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

 

[Tam/WB2TT]

Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

Unless they are complete idiots, that part would be inside the safe.
Tam

 

[[email protected]]

Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe. [snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.

Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

 

[Jim Thompson]

Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe. [snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

Glock and important papers. I don't own a rifle or rocket launcher,
but maybe I should ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[Roger Hamlett]

When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.

The silvery cover with buttons, etc, could easily pop out, which is
what I did, to look at what is inside.

On the inside of the cover, there was a battery compartment, some
PCBs, and a telephone style wire going to inside the safe.

My question is this.

Is there some smart circuitry inside the safe, such that the cover
only sends electricity and keypad signals to the "brains" inside the
safe, and the "brains" decide when to open the lock based on keypad
combination.

Or, is it perhaps a bullshit "safe" where the brains are in the PCBs
outside and that sends current to the door opener inside through the
wire? In this case, the safe could be opened by simply applying
battery voltage to the wires going inside, bypassing PCBs.

I know that no one can say for sure. What makes me suspect the latter
is that there are basically too few conductors inside a typical
telephone wire to send all those keycodes. It can be done, I suppose,
but maybe it is not. Any thoughts?

On many of these, the keypad is removable.
The 'lock' is inside. They usually are fairly smart, since it is so
easy/cheap to write a 'better' program. Usually requires a sequence of
digits, entered within a specified period. Get it wrong a number of times,
and the system will stop listening for a period (usually an hour or more).
The basic control board, is the same as is used on a lot of things like
door entry systems etc.. You only need two wires to send any number of
keycodes. They are sent serially. Try looking at the wiring of a normal
burglar alarm. There is normally only a four wire cable, used to send
power, and all the keycodes etc., between the main control box, and the
alarm keypads.

Best Wishes

 

[Luhan]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:16:33 GMT, Ignoramus13429


Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.
[snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

Glock and important papers. I don't own a rifle or rocket launcher,
but maybe I should ;-)

I have a marchmellow gun, and I know how to use it!

Luhan

 

[Luhan]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:16:33 GMT, Ignoramus13429


Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.
[snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

Glock and important papers. I don't own a rifle or rocket launcher,
but maybe I should ;-)

I have a marshmellow gun, and I know how to use it!

Luhan

 

[Andy]

I have a marshmellow gun, and I know how to use it!

Luhan

Andy writes:
Very handy, if you're ever robbed by a marshmellow....

:>))))) Andy

 

[Luhan]

Andy writes:
Very handy, if you're ever robbed by a marshmellow....

In my neighborhood, you never know.

Luhan

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe. [snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

No, its his wine cellar! ;-)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Jim Thompson]

Jim Thompson wrote: [snip]

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

No, its his wine cellar! ;-)

Is above ground ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[Rich Grise]

Andy writes:
Very handy, if you're ever robbed by a marshmellow....

It could happen - haven't you ever seen "Ghostbusters"? ;-)

 

[Tom Del Rosso]

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

Or magnetic media. A "fire safe" is rated to keep paper from burning in a
typical fire for 1 hour, but disks and tapes would melt before then. In the
concrete floor they would have a better chance.

 

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:16:33 GMT, Ignoramus13429


Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.
[snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

No, its his wine cellar! ;-)

Not with the sort of wine he drinks. Yellowtail ...

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:16:33 GMT, Ignoramus13429


Ignoramus13429 wrote:

Ignoramus13429 wrote:
When visiting Lowe's, the other week, I saw a strange electronic
safe.
[snip]

The keypad sends button codes in serial. Only the circuit on the
inside 'knows' the combination. This is the same as security systems
in offices and homes, the keypad just sends the numeric codes, only the
central unit can interpret them and disable the alarm.

Thanks. I wish I could mess around it with a multimeter.

You would need a scope to see whats really going on.


Well, if it sends voltage to the opening motor, I would get by with a
multimeter. And if I find out that it is not so, then I would know for
sure that it is a properly done safe.

i

For some reason I don't think I'd trust an electronic safe.

I use a good old-fashioned tumbler safe that's fire-proof and buried
in the concrete floor.

...Jim Thompson

To store, what? Your .44 caliber pistols, your rifles and your rocket
launcher?

No, its his wine cellar! ;-)

Nah! 5 gallon plastic jugs won't fit in something like that.