Light switch/power locks

[Chrispy]

My place of employment has various switches like the one pictured below. There is normally a key left in the lock so that the switch can be turned to turn the light on. I took the key out and picked the lock in about 10 seconds or so (it is only a simple 3-disc wafer lock) but the interesting and extremely pleasing thing about these locks is the you don't need a tension wrench. The cylinder is directly attached to the switch so that by putting pressure on the switch (i.e. turning the dial) the lock opens



Anyone else had experiences with these?

[vector40]

Heh... haven't seen those, but I have wondered whether you could do a similar thing using key-in-knobs in which you turn the key and the entire knob turns with it.

[Buggs41]

Also, It looks like some 'handyman' added another circuit to that box.

Depending on the location, this might be very unsafe installation. The original install, seems to be made to be vapor/water proof. The U.F. added to that box is not listed to be used in those conditions.

[Chrispy]

The location of that switch box is inside the engineering department workshop. The extended wiring is simply another light in the next room so that all the lights in the three room workshop can be turned off and on at the same time. Plus, the engineer that installed that box is a licensed electrician. The company I work for (a very large American company) wouldn't approve of dodgy wiring

[digital_blue]

<sigh> Picking locks you don't own......

[Chrispy]

....unless given expressed permission by the owner. Don't panic db.

[master in training]

at least if someone leaves the keys at home they'll be able to see to do something, even if it is just have a break

chrispy, have they got those weird like flat metal plates with just a lock in to turn the heaters on and off too, or is it just my college in the UK that is that stupid?

on a slightly different note, i found out the old box to stop telephone access to the rest of the house my mum had put in a while ago, its got a tubular lock on the front with all of 0 pins in! i looked at it for a second, then stuck my thumbnail in and turned it

anyway, how did you convince your boss to let you pick the light switch?

[Chrispy]

The head engineer has a fascination with James Bond/spy movies/top secret stuff, etc. and has always wanted to be able to pick locks. He thought it was cool

[digital_blue]

Ok ok... no probs Chrispy. But people gotta make it clear that they have authorization to pick the locks they don't own, otherwise how am I ever gonna get a chance to get down from the soap box? A guy needs a bathroom break you know!

db

[Chrispy]