Power Box Locks

[LouisCipher]

My boss has renters and has had problems with tampering with the power boxes. She some locks which are supposed to be for power boxes, but she doesn't have a key. Thusly, I am charged with finding or making one.

The lock is basicly a free spinning cylinder with an 1/8in hole in the middle. at the bottom of the hole is a wedge. I beleave that I need to make a key that will turn the wedge without turning the cylinder.

does anyone know about these locks that can give me some pointers, or (god willing), tell me where to buy a key?

[illusion]

it's a barrel lock I would guess.

can't help further though

[Shrub]

The cylinder spins so you cant turn it with some vise grips, have a word with your local power supplier and they may send you out someone to sort it, it is after all an offense to steal power and im sure they would do it for free i dont think anyone else is supposed to gain entry to them regardless for the reason.

I dont think a newbie will be told how to open power boxes even if its straight up and totally legit, sorry.

[vector40]

Sounds vaguely like those "locks" on toilet paper dispensers and the like. Am I way off base?

[Mad Mick]

My boss has renters and has had problems with tampering with the power boxes.

So why doesn't she discreetly report them?

She has some locks which are supposed to be for power boxes, but she doesn't have a key.

Why would the electricity provider give her a key?

Thusly, I am charged with finding or making one.

Are you qualified to do this?

[digital_blue]

Yeah, sounds to me like the electric company would have the key for a power box... and that's how they intend it to be. But, maybe some clarification would help.

db

[LouisCipher]

as far as clarification goes, I don't really know how to clarify any more...

why doesn't she report them? I don't know that either, but she has this strange tendancy to find somthing perfictly simple and complicate the #@$% out of it...

am I qualified to do this? that depends on you deifintion of qualified. I have all the nessesary skills and tools. I have a locksmithing cert from ICS, (not that that counts for much in the real world). Should I be playing with power tools and electricty, probably not.

[zeke79]

Should I be playing with power tools and electricty, probably not.

Good answer. Let her take care of her own problems while you focus on your own circle of influence. Life is always a whole lot easier that way .

[Buggs41]

Are you in the US? If so, the easiest way to get that lock looked at, is to call diggers hotline for a locate. Say you want to plant a tree in the yard, and need to know where the utilities are. It cost's nothing. To do the locate, they need to open the box, and attach a transponer to the wires. If they can't open the box with the key they have, they will contact the utility. Thus, your hands are clean. Job well done!

[digital_blue]

If I'm reading the OP correctly, he actually has the lock OFF the box right now, but would like to unlock the lock and use it FOR the box.

Am I right so far Cipher?

So... what kind of locks are these? I'd bet that if you just call the power company and say "Hey... I have this box and there's no lock on it... is that normal?" they'll probably have one out to you PDQ.

That might solve your problem AND hers.

db

[LouisCipher]

Based upon advice both here and elsewhere, I called TXU electric, (because waiting for her to do anything is a chore), and they came out and locked the boxes.

When I asked them about the key and the locks, they took mine, saying they were propriatary equiptment to the power company and only linemen should have these, thus removing the possability for future study.

I think I figured out how they worked... but I never got a chance to fully test my theories. I think it had somthing to do with magnets pulling the center pin out... Oh well. I'm sure there will be another chance someday.

[Mad Mick]

Considering what those locks are designed to protect and the fact that the power company owns them, I'm not surprised they took them. Although they did take them, they only did so because of your honesty. Kudos.

On a side note: The last time I came through US airport security, I had to give up a nice cigarette lighter, due to honesty (stupidity). I'm sure it will be wrapped up for someone this Christmas!
The only reason I came through the US was due to a bird-strike, which resulted in my missing a connecting flight direct to Bermuda and having to be re-routed through JFK. Stupid birds.

Anyway, better to keep this info close to your chest though, otherwise some pokey kid or someone wanting to steal electricity may work it out and either get killed, or sponge off the rest of us.