Time-delay combination locks
Encyclopedia
A time-delay combination lock is most commonly a digital electronic combination lock equipped with a delay timer that delays the unlocking of the lock by a user definable delay period, usually less than one hour. Unlike the time lock
, which unlocks at a preset time and must be manually reset daily to a new time (as in the case of a bank vault), time-delay locks operate each time the safe is unlocked, but the operator must wait for the set delay period to elapse before the lock can be opened.
Time-delay combination locks are frequently incorporated into money safes as an armed robbery deterrent, since most robbers are unwilling to wait around for the timer to unlock the safe. In many instances, time-delay combination locks are also equipped with a duress code which may be entered to activate the time delay whilst sending a silent alarm to a monitoring centre.
Some electronic combination locks with a time-delay feature require the code to be entered twice. Once to start the timer, and again after the delay period has expired, in order to actually unlock & open the safe.
Time lock
A time lock is a part of a locking mechanism commonly found in bank vaults and other high-security containers. The timelock is a timer designed to prevent the opening of the safe or vault until it reaches 0, even if the correct combination are known...
, which unlocks at a preset time and must be manually reset daily to a new time (as in the case of a bank vault), time-delay locks operate each time the safe is unlocked, but the operator must wait for the set delay period to elapse before the lock can be opened.
Time-delay combination locks are frequently incorporated into money safes as an armed robbery deterrent, since most robbers are unwilling to wait around for the timer to unlock the safe. In many instances, time-delay combination locks are also equipped with a duress code which may be entered to activate the time delay whilst sending a silent alarm to a monitoring centre.
Some electronic combination locks with a time-delay feature require the code to be entered twice. Once to start the timer, and again after the delay period has expired, in order to actually unlock & open the safe.