We’re packing to move. I had an extra safe in the garage with a very few random things in it. I decided I didn’t need to move the whole safe, so I opened it up. I was truly surprised that the batteries were still viable, though I did get a low battery warning. You have to have the safe open to change the batteries, so I’m not at all sure what you’re supposed to do if you let them run down.
At any rate, I got the meagre contents out. HA’s offspring wanted a safe for their new place, so I thought I’d be a good guy and replace the batteries before giving it to them. I did so, closed the safe, and now it won’t recognize the combination that has been the same since 15 January 2020.
To further complicate things, I don’t seem to have a scan of the manual, even though I scan and keep copies of everything. There’s also an override key, so I went to my collection of keys that goes back to 1980. I don’t recall ever having lost a key. It isn’t there. The combo is in my password manager, but there’s no mention of the key location or the manual or any override codes.
So who makes a safe where replacing the batteries locks you out?
And what was going on in my life in January 2020 that I failed to scan the manual or note the location of the override key or put the override key in the place random keys always go?
I could pick the lock, but I have too much to do to fiddle with it for an $80 safe. I’d also probably have to buy a tubular lock wrench. At least I know it’s empty, and I can just recycle it.
—2p