Ideas on how to protect digital safes

[Dusty Stevens]

Sir, When was the first EMP event? I guess I missed it.
Tim

Every atomic test we’ve had.

 

[TIMO]

Every atomic test we’ve had.

yes, don't think those were as wide spread events across the country. If we have a nuclear event close to my safe, I probably will not be getting into it or much else. I like the smile and dial safes, reminds me of our house phone when I was growing up.
Tim

 

[JFrank]

I’m more worried about Jennifer Aniston falling in love with me.

Yeeeaaah I wouldn’t hold yer breath ol buddy, she’s already with me.

 

[SecondsCount]

I’m more worried about Jennifer Aniston falling in love with me.

Yeah. If there is an EMP, the entire world is going to change.

An EMP has to induce electricity into a circuit via a large magnetic field. Being that a safe is a great big Faraday cage, you could create a little metal cover with magnets to mount it, and cover the outside of the lock when it isn't in use.

 

[Richard Jones]

I have 2 safes that came with mechanical dials so to get into them quicker, I ordered Lagard digital keypads and installed the electronic locks myself. Very easy to do and have the original mechanical dials as a backup if the keypads fail. Bought everything from https://mbausa.com/.

Could you expound on what/how/etc.?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yeah. If there is an EMP, the entire world is going to change.

An EMP has to induce electricity into a circuit via a large magnetic field. Being that a safe is a great big Faraday cage, you could create a little metal cover with magnets to mount it, and cover the outside of the lock when it isn't in use.

A safe isnt a faraday cage. My casio connected watches update every day and a tile i have reads thru there just fine. A faraday cage is a very complex operation. We have one where i work.

 

[nakneker]

We have EMP devices on our cars, generators, solar system etc. will they actually work? I doubt they will fully protect everything if a serious EMP attack happened. That’s why we also have 60 cords of wood out back, two wood stoves, one you can cook on, two years worth of food on hand, 1500 gallons of gas that gets rotated yearly, extra set of tires for every vehicle and the tractor, guns, ammo etc. The truth of it is that if something happened our seven children and our grand children would be headed for our house, most of our friends would need help too and no matter how much you have or how well you think you have prepared there will be something you forgot or the stash you have won’t last as long as you might think it will. We’re all in this together. My kids poke fun at me and my wife but if they get too sassy I remind them where they will be at the first sign of serious trouble…. Home.

We have two digital safes and two combo safes, I highly doubt the digital locks will work after an EMP but we can’t still get in if need be. I wish I had a safe room with a combo lock, a safe door, that will happen this year. Get tired of bumping rifles coming in and out of the safe, I’d rather have a safe room and the space to store rifles without them touching each other, get tired of the “safe wear”

 

[nakneker]

I’m more worried about Jennifer Aniston falling in love with me.

That’s funny!

 

[David Milisock]

from an EMP ?

You'll spend some money, a simple true earth ground will work if the processor in the device is properly shielded.

 

[David Milisock]

I could stand to drop a few pounds but missing NCIS episodes would be disaster.
Funny how, when Y2K was upon us, guys wanted to brag about their preparations. It was surprising how many would have bottled water, survival food stores, precious metals (gold & silver), etc but have no firearms. They would always finish with "what have you done to prepare?". My answer:
"I stocked up on lead and listened to all you with no guns tell where to shop".

In the event, shelter, salt, fresh water, food, knowledge, firearms and ammunition with be hard currency in equal measures.

 

[David Milisock]

yes, don't think those were as wide spread events across the country. If we have a nuclear event close to my safe, I probably will not be getting into it or much else. I like the smile and dial safes, reminds me of our house phone when I was growing up.
Tim

It does not need to be close, regional air blasts can send EMPs across entire regions. Most cars, computers, any device with a unprotected microprocessor is susceptible.

 

[SecondsCount]

A safe isnt a faraday cage. My casio connected watches update every day and a tile i have reads thru there just fine. A faraday cage is a very complex operation. We have one where i work.

I should say a poor Faraday cage

Add some extra grounding and shield the openings, and it is better than just sitting on your desk.

 

[3Phantoms]

Sir, When was the first EMP event? I guess I missed it.
Tim

Check out the following:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event

 

[joshb]

We have EMP devices on our cars, generators, solar system etc. will they actually work? I doubt they will fully protect everything if a serious EMP attack happened. That’s why we also have 60 cords of wood out back, two wood stoves, one you can cook on, two years worth of food on hand, 1500 gallons of gas that gets rotated yearly, extra set of tires for every vehicle and the tractor, guns, ammo etc. The truth of it is that if something happened our seven children and our grand children would be headed for our house, most of our friends would need help too and no matter how much you have or how well you think you have prepared there will be something you forgot or the stash you have won’t last as long as you might think it will. We’re all in this together. My kids poke fun at me and my wife but if they get too sassy I remind them where they will be at the first sign of serious trouble…. Home.

We have two digital safes and two combo safes, I highly doubt the digital locks will work after an EMP but we can’t still get in if need be. I wish I had a safe room with a combo lock, a safe door, that will happen this year. Get tired of bumping rifles coming in and out of the safe, I’d rather have a safe room and the space to store rifles without them touching each other, get tired of the “safe wear”

I used to just like you. Now……you’re my idol!!!!!!!

 

[ebb]

Elect a strong president that loves America and believes in Mutually Assured Destruction, and has the will to defend America and all of its citizens from all enemies foreign and domestic. OH CRAP TOO LATE.

 

[Dave M.]

I'm concerned with ME getting into my safe in the event of an EMP.
Pretty sure angle grinders won't work if there is an EMP

Point taken, but lots of people have generators and keep in excess of 100g of fuel on hand at any time. If you are that worried about an emp keeping you out of your safe, perhaps a dial com would be better for you. The electronic safes can be converted.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

 

[M5Pilot]

Could you expound on what/how/etc.?

Depending on your current setup, mine had the mechanical dials. I called MBA and they are a great help on the phone on what to order and follow-up tech support. I bought 2 new dials and rings to have it be Lagard and 2 Lagard redundant mechanical 4-wheel locks that allow the mechanical dial to work but it also has a plug socket on the side that also allows the keypad to be plugged into it. So it's dual purpose. I also ordered a cobalt 5/16 drill bit from them as the hole needs to be big enough for the keypad wiring harness plug end to pass through the safe door and they suggested that size.

First thing is to open the safe door and pull the inside door panel off and see what area you have to work with. Telling MBA what you have in there now brand-wise may help them decide what you need. I put my electronic keypads to the left of the mechanical dial when looking at it from the outside. My mechanical dial is in the center of the door. You just want an area where you won't interfere with one of the bolt arms that move back and forth. Drill your hole, and if I remember I drilled 2 small holes and tapped them to mount the keypad bracket. Run your wire through, I taped mine to the inside of the door so they don't get in the way of moving parts and swap out the mechanical lock for the new one. If I remember correctly there is a long threaded shaft with the new dial and that has to be cut at a certain length depending on how thick your door is. There are videos online on how to install a mechanical dial. You also get to set both your electronic combination and your mechanical lock combination. The keypad allows as many digits as you want and I set mine at 8 digits. If the battery fails, just pop the keypad off the bracket as there are 2 nine volt batteries inside that. I did this maybe 7-8 years ago and still have the original batteries. I get into my safe daily. Of course, when you're all set up, try both locks maybe 10 times with the door open of course. Makes you a little nervous when you finally do close it and lock it the first time. When you get in there and look it all over, they really are pretty simple.

 

[Erud]

I could stand to drop a few pounds but missing NCIS episodes would be disaster.
Funny how, when Y2K was upon us, guys wanted to brag about their preparations. It was surprising how many would have bottled water, survival food stores, precious metals (gold & silver), etc but have no firearms. They would always finish with "what have you done to prepare?". My answer:
"I stocked up on lead and listened to all you with no guns tell where to shop".

Out of curiosity, How many pounds could you stand to drop? Keep in mind that in the hypothetical situation being discussing in this thread, you'd be making your shopping trips on foot carrying your stockpile of guns and ammo on your person. So, the pertinent questions are; how much can you carry, and how far can you carry it?

If you're like most of the guys I hear/read saying these types of things, the answers are "not much" and "not very". Maybe you're an exception.

 

[shoot4fun]

Out of curiosity, How many pounds could you stand to drop? Keep in mind that in the hypothetical situation being discussing in this thread, you'd be making your shopping trips on foot carrying your stockpile of guns and ammo on your person. So, the pertinent questions are; how much can you carry, and how far can you carry it?

If you're like most of the guys I hear/read saying these types of things, the answers are "not much" and "not very". Maybe you're an exception.

Maybe I am.