Locksmithing etc. October 2015

    Oct. 1, 2015
    Door Operator with Loose Arm Assembly
    Door Operator with Loose Arm Assembly

    Mandatory Surveillance Legislation

    The Philadelphia, Penn., City Council is considering a bill that would require specific alcohol serving establishments to install surveillance cameras. The cameras would be required outside of the building. The bill is expected to be voted on before the end of 2015. Is this a starting point for surveillance cameras being required for commercial establishments?

    Loose Low Power Door Operator Arm

    A low power operator would keep trying to reach its stop location. Unfortunately, the screw securing the arm to the operator had loosened. This resulted in the operator going out of adjustment. The solution was to turn off power, reposition the arm and use thread adhesive to secure the hex screw when tightened. Once completed, the low power door operator ran through it start cycle and began to operate properly.

    ADC116 OBD Port Tester

    The Advanced Diagnostics USA OBD II Diagnostic Port Tester checks the voltage and ground of the OBD II port. Using this portable tester eliminates wasted time by determining if the vehicle battery is charged. It also checks the PIN 7 line on VW/Audi vehicles. This portable tester is powered by the vehicle using LEDs to indicate condition.

    For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or Advanced Diagnostics at Web Site: www.adusa.us.

    Neuter Bow Restroom Key

    An option for your commercial customers is a higher level of security for their customers’ bathroom keys. The most important is that the key is not part of the masterkey system. Using a neuter bow key blank will help to limit duplication if the key grows legs.

    Sargent Rim Exit Devices Indicator

    Sargent offers the Visual Indicator, option 49, for their 8816 rim exit devices with double cylinder function. The indicator is built into the inside chassis and displays the condition of the exit device, whether the door has been secured by the cylinder on the inside of the room. When the exit device has been secured, the indicator displays red with a locked icon. When unlocked, the indicator displays white with an unlocked icon.

    Seeing is Believing for Smart Home Technology

    According to a 2014 research report by Icontrol Networks, the likelihood of purchasing smart home (Home Automation) devices increased by 93 percent among those individuals who have seen the technology in action. Nine out of 10 North Americans agreeing personal and family security (piece of mind) is the most important reasons to purchase a connected home and connected technology.

    Some of the target markets are elder care, where older parents homes have smart home technology that can be monitored by children, parents monitoring their children and the ability to stay connected when away from the home.

    Consider installing a home automation display with hub and devices which the customer can operate, including a camera, lock and light.

    Unique Door Closer Application 

    While walking past this gate to a residence, I noticed the streamline door closer being used in conjunction with two butt hinges to control the opening and closing. The bottom of the gate has a box mechanism attached with an arm that applies force against the hydraulics as the gate is being opened. When released, the hydraulics place pressure against the arm to the gate, closing and latching the gate. The door closer is mounted onto a plate welded to the post.

    Bad Electromagnetic Lock Installation

    This electromagnetic lock was installed about 10 years ago. The armature plate was not replaced for the new larger electromagnetic lock. This completely exposed the wiring box, providing an opportunity for someone to easily disable the electromagnetic lock.

    SOLID KEYS USA Remotes

    Solid Keys USA has developed the Universal Car Remote and Universal Car Keys. The Solid Keys USA Universal 6-button Car Remotes are equipped with ultra-low-power microprocessors and transmitters that extend the on-board battery life. The main functions are lock, unlock, open trunk and panic. The two remaining buttons are for specialty functions including remote start, power door opening or convertible top.

    The Universal Remotes are available for most 1997-2015 model vehicles equipped with remote functionality. Up to four reprogrammable remotes can be programmed to a vehicle. In addition, the remote can be ordered as a Universal Car Key. Contact Solid Keys USA for specifics.

    For more information, contact Solid Keys USA, 828 E. Market St, Louisville, KY 40206. Telephone: 844-KEYS-USA. Web Site: www.solidkeysusa.com

    Facial Recognition Technology

    According to a number of reports, biometrics, especially facial recognition technology and infrared facial thermography, will be experiencing growth in areas such as ID cards for access control, banking/financial, retail, passports and identifying persons of interest. This long-term growth is being made possible by the increasing speed and capabilities of computers and significant size increases in storage.

    Car Theft Details

    In 1991, more than 1,661,000 vehicles were stolen. The number of thefts have fallen by more than 60 percent to just under 700,000 vehicles in 2013. With people owning their cars longer upwards of 11 years on average, the value of the average stolen vehicle is less than $6,000.

    Closing Off Exterior Doors

    To improve access control, more facilities are closing off non-essential exterior doors. At one complex, more than 10 exterior doors were removed and glass panels were installed.

    Car-Opening Techniques: Audi TT

    This month we will offer car-opening tool manufacturer's recommended techniques for opening the later model Audi TT. The TT is equipped with lock control bicycle-style cable linkage within the doors. Opening instructions vary by starting year and vary by model. Check the latest opening information before unlocking.

    Caution: Failure to remove the wedges prior to raising the car-opening tool into the passenger compartment may break the window glass. When using a car-opening tool whose tip contacts the inside door control, tape the end to prevent marring. It is always a good idea to using some diluted dish soap to prevent damage to the weather stripping when inserting wedges or tools.

    As an alternative, the Audi TT door lock can be picked using specialized tools. I have been told that some of the later 2015 models are being equipped with a dual clutch that may require even more specialized picking tools.

    Use the following opening methods can be used to unlock the later models of the Audi TT:

    Use the Access Tools Flexible Long Reach Tool #78SG and a glass wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Separate the glass from the weather stripping with the glass wedge along the top of the vertical edge of the passenger door window. Insert the Flexible Long Reach Tool into the passenger compartment, with the tip facing down. Continue to slide the car-opening tool into the passenger compartment until the tip is positioned in front of the inside door handle. Hook the tip of the inside door handle with the car-opening tool and pull out twice to unlock the door locking mechanism. Open the door by pulling on the outside handle.

    Use the Pro-Lok AO-35 MCOT-Wide Tool and an inflatable wedge to unlock the front door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the inflatable wedge 14 inches from the front edge of the passenger door. Inflate the wedge. Insert the AO-35 opening tool with the tip facing forward into the door five inches from the front edge of the front passenger door. Lower the car-opening tool into the door cavity. Rotate the AO-35 tool beneath the bottom edge of the window glass. Deflate the wedge. The raise the car-opening tool through the gap until the tip of the tool is visible. Position the tool's tip in front of the inside door handle. Rotate the AO-35 until the tip binds the inside door handle. Once in position, rotate the tool to move the handle towards the open position twice to unlock the door locking mechanism. Open the door by pulling on the outside handle.

    For 2007-15 models, use the Slide Lock Dual Reach Tool and an inflatable wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the inflatable wedge near the top of the vertical edge of the passenger door window. Inflate the wedge. Insert the Dual Reach Tool above the wedge, sliding it into the passenger compartment, being careful not to scratch the vehicle. Position the tip of the car-opening tool in front of the inside door handle. Pull out on the door handle twice to unlock the door locking mechanism. Once in the unlocked position, open the door by pulling on the outside handle.

    Use the Steck Manufacturing BigEasy “Glo” and a wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the wedge or inflatable wedge into the top corner area of the door. Once the door has been carefully wedged out, insert the BigEasy tool into the passenger compartment. Manipulate the tool to position the 90-degree bend tip behind the inside door handle. Carefully pull back on the inside door handle to unlock the locking mechanism and open the door.

    Use the Tech-Train Productions TT-1015 car-opening tool and a wedge to open the passenger door of 2005-2015 Audi TT models. Begin by carefully inserting the wedge near the inside door handle. Carefully insert the TT-1015 car-opening tool into the door cavity forward of the wedge with the bend rearward. Lower the car-opening tool until the upper bend is beneath the bottom of the window glass. Rotate the tool until the bend is on the interior side of the window glass. Carefully raise the tool until the bend is just visible within the passenger compartment. Remove the wedge. Raise the TT-1015 until the tip is visible within the passenger compartment. Position the tip of the car-opening tool between the inside door handle and the handle trim. Lever the handle out from the door as far as possible and slowly return the handle towards the trim. Just before the handle stops against the trim, pull it out as far as possible and hold it in that position. With the inside handle in that position, lift up on the outside handle to open the door.

    The direction to rotate the door lock plug to the unlocked position is counterclockwise.

    For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or following car-opening tool manufacturers:

    We are interested in printing opening methods from other car-opening tool manufacturers. Contact Gale Johnson, Telephone: 847-454-2703.  E-mail: [email protected].