Weak spot on Electronic Locks?

[MikeSD]

I have a couple of gun safes that have mechanical locks. I prefer mechanical to electronic, pretty much for only 1 reason. not likely a mechanical lock will stop working outside of external causes. At least not too likely. But all electronics fail, eventually. So, I've shyed away from using electronic locks. I almost locked myself out of my mechanical lock safe this weekend. Forgot the combination (tip: don't leave your backup combination inside the safe). With a little guessing and logic, I figured out the combination, after about an hour of trying. But that got me thinking about electronic locks, not that I couldn't also forget that combination.

I wanted to take a look at one of the S&G Electronic Locks to see what they were all about and if there were any weak spots, over mechanical, should I decide to change. The first thing that jumped out at me was the electronic cable between the keypad and the locking mechanism. It's so easy to get to. That made me wonder about the communications between the keypad and the lock.

1) How secure is that communications? It can't be just motor power.
2) Is it encrypted data?
3) Does having access to the cable make the electronic lock less secure?
4) Is is keypad permanently married to the motor electronics? My second thought was someone could just buy their own lock, remove mine, connect theirs and enter their combination. But there must be some pairing between the lock and keypad to prevent that.

This next question is apart from any other safe protections (i.e. relocking, drill plates, glass, etc). You can't disassemble the lock or drill holes in the lock. For two locks sitting on a bench, with no external protections,

5) which would be harder to break into, a mechanical or electronic?

Same question but this time, you can drill one hole in the front lock plate, but only that surface.

6) Given the 1 hole scenario, which would be harder to break into, a mechanical or electronic?

[Squelchtone]

You have posted in an area for locksmiths to talk shop about electronic locks such as HES 9600 door strikes and HID prox card readers, or AlarmLock keypad commercial locks. Talking about drilling electronic safe locks is beyond the scope of this area, and that subject matter is restricted and reserved for the Advanced Topics - Safes & Safe Locks (members only) area where we can talk about it without teaching every bored teenager and hoodlum how to break into a safe in the public forum.

I recommend sticking with mechanical locks, but I will tell you one thing, the keypad only sends a signal to the chip inside the lock, changing out a keypad doesnt do anything, the combination is not stored there, so there is no 'mating' or synching going on.

I'm afraid we can't take this conversation deeper, hope you can appreciate where we are coming from. PM me with any concerns.

Squelchtone.

Electronic Locks and Access Control
This area is for discussing the installation and troubleshooting of access control, prox reader, strikes, or electronic prox fob and keypad locks. No bypass or Advanced techniques please.