Having an electronic safe or locker is as important as having a proper and effective alarm system installed in your home. Needless too say, one is the prevention and the other, cure, when it comes to a break-in in your home. You can keep valuables like jewelry and cash in it, alongside important documents like identity proofs, bank documents and property papers. Anything that is precious to you, that you want to keep away, safe from the general roving eye, finds place in a safety locker.
Lockers can also be bought for keeping in shops or taking with you while travelling. Retailers often need a safe place to store the earnings of the day and prefer to go use safes for the purpose. On the other hand,if you are travelling and need to carry cash or essential documents with you, an electronic safe is your best bet against thieves. Electronic lockers come in various different shapes and sizes to suit your various needs. Which type you choose depends on your priorities and the level of safety you expect out of it.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying an Electronic Safe?
You keep your most precious belongings in the faith of an electronic locker. It goes without saying that the safe must be absolutely secure enough to do that job. But security does not end in just being inaccessible to outsiders. It should also be as easily accessible to you. That is why, before buying any electronic safe, the following points must be kept in mind.
Access Mechanism
While broadly, safes can be mechanically operated with keys or have an electronic lock system, even among electronic safes, there are a number of types. The most common of these is the password-protected one with in-built keypad. Electronic safes may also have a biometric system that uses your fingerprint as the key. More advanced technologies have come by which an electronic locker may be locked or unlocked directly from one’s laptop or mobile via some network. Another method is the use of personal credit or debit cards using a swipe system.
Purpose
Different models of electronic safes are built for different purposes. The fire-proof ones are bulkier due to the layer of fire-resistant material, while burglar-proof ones have alarm systems and might also send you alerts on your phone. Portable ones are usually lightweight and compact to fit into your travel bag. There are of course the conventional ones that simply fit into wardrobes.
Size
Electronic safes come in a large variety of sizes. It is but common sense that you will buy the larger one if you have more things to store. If you are looking to fit it in your almirah, the dimensions of that shelf should also be considered. Portable lockers are, by default, smaller and lighter than others.
Strength and Durability
A safe is supposed to be strong enough to not bend under the force applied by robbers in case there is a break-in. A good-quality electronic safe should have a durable and stress-resistant body made of strong material like steel so that it cannot be broken into.
Alarm Mechanism
A good electronic safe should have some sort of alert system installed into it to warn against break-ins. It could be a loud siren to make neighbors take notice, or it could send an alert via email or message to the home-owner. Either way, it should be something that will discourage the burglars from making off with it.
Best Electronic Safes in India
A quick browse of any website or shopping portal will reveal that Godrej is the leading brand in India when it comes to safes, whether mechanical or electronic. Few models that beat the ones that Godrej has in the market. But that definitely does not mean there are not other brands that can be trusted. Take a look at the list below to get a better idea.
1. Godrej Security Solutions Access SEEC9060 Electronic Safe
This Godrej model is the bestseller in India right now, with most people opting for it blindly, knowing it will meet their expectations. It is a strong and compact storage safe that comes with password protection. It unlocks with a 3-6 digit password, over which, you will have a master password for better control. The safe auto-freezes after wrong attempts at entering the password.However, if the owner himself has forgotten the password, there is a mechanical override system to regain access.
The safe has a non-volatile memory, whereby the password is not forgotten even if the batteries are drained or removed. The password entry can also be hidden if you so wish. The battery life is quite long, and it gives a low battery indication too. The safe is operated by 2 motorized shooting bolts of solid steel for greater protection, and features a multi-bend construction for enhanced strength. The floor of the safe is carpeted for protection of the valuables against bumps, and it has a nice-looking exterior with durable finish to top it off.
Features of Godrej Security Solutions Access SEEC9060 Electronic Safe
- Its dimensions are 20 x 30 x 20 cm.
- Safe’s weight is 5.98 kg.
- Its capacity is 8 L.
- It operates on 4 AA batteries.
- The body is made of mild steel.
- It can be anchored or grouted.
2. AmazonBasics Security Safe
AmazonBasics gives tough competition to Godrej with this electronic safe loaded with features. It is a large-capacity security safe, that has not one but two emergency override keys for when you forget the password or the batteries run out. The digital access is reprogrammable. The safe is made of steel for strength, with a carpeted floor to protect contents against scratches or damage. It has 2 live-door bolts and pry-resistant, concealed hinges.
It can be mounted on floor, shelf or wall, and has four bolts for this purpose. It is constructed with 2 shelves, so that you can store more than one type of article without mixing them or stacking them on top of each other. It has an aesthetic, textured finish with ivory and steel accents for a sleek look.
Features of AmazonBasics Security Safe
- The exterior dimensions of the shelf is 16.93 x 14.57 x 10.63 inches, while the interior dimensions are 16.81 x 12.15 x 10.51 inches, with an approximately 2 inches thick door.
- Its weight is 12 kg.
- It is made of steel.
- Its storage capacity is 1.2 cubic feet or 34 L.
- It requires 4 AA batteries for operation.
- It can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted.
3. Godrej Security Solutions Goldilocks Personal Locker
The Goldilocks model of Godrej is built purely with portability in mind. It is compact and lightweight, and used mainly as a personal locker to store easily misplaced objects like wallets, keys, ID cards, etc. Yet, it is made of mild steel of the same grade as home lockers, which impart strength and robustness to it. Not only that, it also has a tamper alert in case someone tries to break into it or flee with it.
Although made of steel, it looks really suave, with a soft, rounded body and a smart touch panel with illuminated keys that make it easy to operate even in low illumination. The interiors are soft to protect against bump damage. It also has a number of pockets to keep your things organized on the go.
Features of Godrej Security Solutions Goldilocks Personal Locker
- The size of the safe is 28.6 x 7.8 x 30.2 cm.
- The weight of the safe is 5 kg.
- Its capacity is 5 L.
- This locker is made of mild steel.
- It comes with grouting bolts.
4. Godrej Security Solutions Forte 40 Steel Safe
The Forte 40 is a massive safe with large capacity, more tall than wide, and is built for larger families. Its shape and dimensions are conducive to storing documents, especially in A4 size. Its locking mechanism involves a 3-6 digit password, embedded in a master password and enabled by a mechanical override system, in case the owner forgets the password. There is also the option for USB data retrieval in emergency cases. Otherwise, the lock system auto-freezes after consecutive wrong attempts at password entry. The memory for the password is non-volatile and is retained even after battery dies. Password entry can be hidden for security.
The door is locked using two motorized shooting bolts of solid steel for beefed up protection. Multi-bend construction gives extra strength to the safe. It has an enhanced battery life and indicates when battery is running low. Its best takeaway is the fact that upto 100 audit trails can be viewed on the safe, that shows date, time and method of opening. Its smooth and durable finish adds the cherry on the top for this safe.
Features of Godrej Security Solutions Forte 40 Steel Safe
- Dimensions of the product is 35.8 x 35 x 41.7 cm.
- Its weight is 16 kg.
- It is made with mild steel.
- Its capacity is 40 L.
- This safe runs on 4 AA 1.5V alkaline batteries.
- It can be anchored or grouted.
5. Godrej Security Solutions Halo Bio Steel Safe
The Godrej Halo Bio safe is different from the previous ones in the list in that it uses an optical biometric fingerprint sensor as a password to unlock the safe. It can even store upto 32 fingerprints as valid password to open the safe. But it has been warned of course that people with fading fingerprints, especially elders, or with partial or missing prints from accidents may not be able to operate thee safe properly as the biometric may not recognize it.
The biometric also freezes automatically on consecutive wrong entries. Even when the battery runs out, the fingerprints are not erased from the memory. Battery life is long and there is an indicator to let the user know when it is running out. The safe also has an added mechanical override system using a key. The safe has a solid, arc-welded, heavy gauge steel construction that gives it sturdiness, and the solid steel motorized bolts with controlled retraction makes it resistant to prying hands. The internal carpet protects articles from damage. It has provisions for both wall and floor mounting.
Features of Godrej Security Solutions Halo Bio Steel Safe
- Item dimensions are 20 x 30 x 20 cm.
- Weight of the item is 5.5 kg.
- Capacity of the safe is 8 L.
- It has one chamber.
- Safe can be anchored or grouted.
6. Godrej Security Solutions Taurus Electronic Safe
Although this is the last in the list of Godrej products, it is in no way the least. A basic but trustable, robust product, the Taurus’ biggest selling point is that instead of employing fancy systems, it utilises reliable methods, making it easy to use and durable. It is made of mild steel in a a single molded case that, along with concealed hinges, make it truly resistant to prying or breaking. It has a digital locking mechanism with the provision of mechanical override in case one forgets the password.
Any tampering involving entry of wrong password entry consecutive times will cause an automatic shutdown of the system. The safe has a non-volatile memory, whereby the password is retained even after the batteries are removed. There is an indicator to draw your attention when the battery is running low. It employs motorized locking with 2 solid steel bolts that resist pressure on the door. Double shelves help to keep the interior organized and the floor carpet cushions stored objects against scratches. It has a durable exterior with a smart-looking finish.
Features of Godrej Security Solutions Taurus Electronic Safe
- Its size is 35 x 25 x 25 cm.
- It has a weight of 10 kg.
- Its volume is 14 L.
- There are 2 chambers in it.
- Locker can be anchored or grouted.
7. IPSA ES01 Electronic Safe Locker
IPSA has a lot of variations of home safes using different technologies, but this is the most popular one. It has a steel body with an attractive textures finish that imparts resistance to rusting, a very important feature when it comes to the strength of the safe and its durability. It has a digital locking system with 1-10 digit passwords being allowed. Three consecutive wrong attempts at password entry will freeze the machine for 3 minutes as a warning to sneaking individuals. The password mechanism can instantly be overriden using manual key system.
The hinges and door edges are tucked behind the safe boundary to discourage prying. The door is operated solid steel double bolts.But the operation of the bolts is not motorized, so a lever in the form of a knob is provided on the door to turn them open.
Features of IPSA ES01 Electronic Safe Locker
- Dimensions of the locker is 20 x 31 x 20 cm.
- Its weight is 7 kg.
- The capacity of the locker is 12.4 L.
- It is made from steel.
- The bolting mechanism is mechanical.
8. Ozone OES-BAS-05 Core Series Safe
This is a super-compact safe, especially useful for individual miscellaneous use. Like the IPSA model, this too has a digital locking mechanism but the bolting is operated mechanically. The safe can be opened using 4-digit user codes. In case the code is forgotten or battery is dead, manual override can be done using the keys provided. However, inputing the wrong code thrice consecutively puts the safe in an inoperable, secure mode for 3 minutes.
The mechanical solid steel shooting bolts can be opened or closed using the knob-shaped lever at the front of the door. The digital lock operates on battery and will warn you before the battery runs out. It has one chamber inside and can snugly fit cash, jewellery and smaller documents. A powder finish exterior gives it an aesthetic look.
Features of Ozone OES-BAS-05 Core Series Safe
- The safe dimensions are 30 x 20 x 20 cm.
- Its weight is 6 kg.
- It has a 10 L capacity.
- It is made of steel.
9. Stok St-Es1723 Small Electronic Safe
Stok is another trusted brand when it comes to electronic safes. The model mentioned here has a cold-rolled steel sheet body. Its walls are about 2 mm thick while the door is 4 mm thick. This is a small and light safe that you can even carry with you if you so wish. It has a digital lock mechanism that can be operated by a 3-8 digit password. If you, however, enter the wrong code consecutively 3 times, it gets locked in a secure or freeze mode for 3 minutes until you can try again.
If you have forgotten the password or entered the wrong one thrice, you can also use the mechanical override system using keys to open the safe at once. Two such emergency keys are provided with the lock, but you can order more for a cost. The steel shooting bolts are manually operated using a knobbed lever. Carpeted floor protects stored objects from scratches and damage.
Features of Stok St-Es1723 Small Electronic Safe
- Its dimensions are 23 x 17 x 17 cm.
- Its weight is 4 kg.
- It is operated by 4 AA 1.5 V batteries.
- Safe has one chamber.
- It can be anchored or grouted.
10. Yale Guest Safe Medium YSG/250/DB1
Yale Guest is a lesser known but reliable small-medium size home safe. Its best feature is its aesthetics, with a uniform, powder finish steel body, it looks great and blends in well in minimalistic decor. It uses a digital lock system that can be operated with a 3-8 digit user/guest code. The bolt is opened manually using the handle provided. Manual override is also possible using keys provided.
The safe has a time lock system whereby, after 4 consecutive attempts of wrong password entry. Another really convenient feature is that the battery slot is on the outside of the safe, which means the safe does not have to be opened by the keys every time the batteries die. There is also a secret input option where entering the numbers can be made a silent process by turning off the key tones. This helps maintain privacy to a great extent.
Features of Yale Guest Safe Medium YSG/250/DB1
- The dimensions of the safe are 247x347x187mm.
- Its weight is 8.37 kg.
- Its capacity is 16 L.
- There is only one chamber.
Conclusion
Every home has valuables and important documents to store. For this very reason, safes are extremely necessary. Lockers provide a safe place to not only store valuable objects, cash and documents, you can even use it to store easily misplaced items like keys, ID cards, etc. The best reason to use an electronic safe over a mechanical one is that a mechanical safe either employs a time-consuming lock system, or keys, which again need to be kept safely and could easily get displaced. With electronic safes, all you need to do is to remember the password and you are good to go.
However, only opt for them if you are sure you can remember the PIN code combination. Therefore, it might not be a great choice for elderly people who live alone, since both fingerprint biometrics and their memory may fail them. Also make sure that the safe comes with a manual override system, because anyone can forget passwords at times. There are of course a number of other factors to keep in mind, which this guide will help you do while buying.
