Yesterday on Discovery there was an item about how hotel locks were
made. The name of the program is very appropriate: “How it’s made”…
And for the Dutch readers: it even was subtitled in Dutch.
It is always very informative to see how locks are made and tested.
Electronic or mechanic, you always learn a lot. I could tell you what
I learned from it, but advise my dear readers to look at the video themselves.
It can be found here (WMV, 5 minutes, 38 Mb, some weird glitches …sorry)
In the comments we can discuss the possible flaws…
having or some how making the “bypass” mechanical key, too bad it didn’t show much about it or what type of key or just a simple lever lock
DMUX: I also wonder if the ‘factory test key’ still works?
yes good point, and if also there were some type of card that could be inserted and erase or reset the “key” so any blank card would be able to open the lock
Barry: Or, if it can be enabled in a fallback-mode (perhaps by removing the batteries, high current, using a magnet etc)
I have no idea about the electronics in these locks so maybe this would do nothing but if the device has any sort of writable memory introducing a high voltage to the metal case may effect this… Although totally unrelated this trick used to work on some uk fruit machines, pro longed exposure (only a mimute or so) to a high voltage (suchas the igniter that lights gas hobs and fires boilers or a stun gun)on a part of the metal casing would cause the operator memory to clear restoring the machine to its original high paying factory state without effecting any of the machines other systems or future operation.
Old fashioned, but still good – a lot of hotel locks utilize a lever type handle on the inside (primarily to enable them to comply with disability legislation) and this ‘opens the door’, if you’ll excuse the pun, to inserting a U-shaped wire underneath the door with a cable attached to the inside end. With a suitable bend to the wire so it hooks over the handle, springy enough material and a sharp tug on the cable, the handle will depress sufficiently to release the deadlatch.
GREAT VIDEO CLIP VERY INFOMATIVE.
WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM IT?
ALL THE BEST BARRY
GEOFF
K so I’m kinda a newb when it comes to the whole lock thing but loving everything I’ve been reading (Yes I’m one of those that saw the youtube vid of bumping and jumped on the bandwagon)
With that out of the way…
From what the video says this particular lock isn’t tied into a main system for programming. I would assume that means there is a programmers card for each lock. Basically slide programming card in and it resets the system to not allow any of the previous cards in. Then slide the new card(s) in one at a time and when you are done slide the programmers card in again to set it back to user mode.
So the trick would be to get ahold of a programmers card. It would be kinda neat to see whats programmed on the magnetic stripe. That might show any even easier method.
What kind of manual key is that? Looks like just a star/flathead screwdriver. Is there some kind of key lock that fits that or is that all there is to it?