Specifically, two factors are key here (no pun intended): the default position of the lock and what it does when power is interrupted. What happens is different depending on whether the lock is fail safe or fail secure.

Let’s go over how each of these types work and why it matters.

About Fail-Safe Locks

The default position of a fail-safe lock is an unlocked position. So when these types of locks lose power, the lock returns to an unlocked position, which lets the door (or whatever it’s on) continue to operate. As such, it prevents lockouts. This is ideal for scenarios where you need access to a room or area of a property during an emergency. This is because when there is no power with a fail-safe lock, you’re still safe to exit. In general, fail-safe locks aren’t as prevalent as fail-secure locks.

About Fail-Secure Locks

Fail-secure locks are the more common type of electronic lock. These locks have a default position of wherever the lock is currently situated. So if it’s locked, it will stay locked if it loses power or power is interrupted. This isn’t ideal for emergency situations, but it makes sense for businesses that want to keep the door locked and secure in the event of a power outage. If you’re locked out and a fail-secure lock is involved, a manual override is key—which is why it’s a common feature with fail-secure locks.

Which One Is Better? Does It Matter?

Determining whether to use a fail-safe or fail-secure lock depends on the purpose it will serve. If it’s in a situation where people are involved, you want a fail-safe lock because it allows for easy exiting. However, If you’re more concerned about protecting property or assets (and there aren’t any safety concerns) a fail-secure lock is a better choice. If you do use a fail-secure lock, always make sure there’s a manual override system in case emergency services need to access your property or a room for any reason.

If you have other questions related to locksmithing or security—or you’re interested in a product or service—contact A-1 Locksmith today.

While having routines can make life more efficient, when it comes to home security your predictable actions may have big impacts on yours and your family’s safety.  How is your everyday humdrum creating potential security risks?  Read on to find out.

1.   Who Doesn’t Love a Good Routine

Do you leave the house at the same time, every day?  Come home every night at 6 o’clock, on the dot?  Maybe you go for that weekend run like clockwork every Saturday or attend church religiously in Sundays?  While routine is excellent for planning, it can also lead to predictability for criminals.  Consider changing things up on occasion to appear less of an easy target for a crime of opportunity.

2.   Knock, Knock, Anybody Home?

It’s a well-known fact that burglars and thieves are less likely to strike when they know someone is home.  If your home is being cased for potential thievery, would-be robbers will be turned off if it appears someone is always home.  Not answering the door can also create a personal safety issue if burglars break in while you’re in residence.

3.   Newspapers, What Newspapers

Subscription or not, chances are if you look out at your driveway now you’ll see one or more errant newspapers littering the drive.  From local newsletters to free copies, maybe even your paid morning news, all probably sit for days or more, clearly indicating you aren’t home to retrieve them.  Want to stop advertising that your house is vacant?  Collect those papers on the regular.

4.   Shredding Documents is For the Birds

We get it, you hate junk mail.  We do too.  We also hate bills and paper credit card and mortgage statements and wonder why the heck everything just isn’t electronically delivered any more.  But just because you can’t be bothered to open these sensitive, info containing documents doesn’t mean you should just toss them in the trash.  Don’t give identity thieves a free shot at stealing your credit and personal info.

5.   You’ll Get Around to Replacing Those Lights Eventually

Out of sight, out of mind is a popular saying.  Turns out its also applicable to your home security as burned out lights give thieves and intruders the cover of darkness.  A well-lit yard, preferably with motion sensing lights installed, will deter mischief makers (and ensure you catch your kids sneaking back into the house passed their curfew).

6.   Nobody Locks Their Door in Our Neighborhood

One of the worst habits security experts see is born in good intentions.  If you’re a suburban resident you’ve probably caught yourself rushing out of the house more than once without turning that lock.  “It’s a safe neighborhood.”  “I’ve lived here all my life.”  “We’ve never had problems in the past.”  Always lock and secure your doors and don’t give fate a chance to test your faith in your community, or assume that no one other than your neighbors will be popping in to say hello while you’re gone.

7.   Who’d Want to Break into My Garage Anyways?

Perhaps the most common habit that makes homeowners prime crime targets is an unsecured garage.  Even the most attentive of us routinely forget to latch that side door or bolt the lock on the main entrance.  You may think there’s nothing of value stored on the inside, but hand and power tools are prime targets and easy flipping for thieves.  Secure your garage and replace old and malfunctioning garage doors with newer secure models.

Each of the above habits not only expose you to a higher risk of being a target of a crime, they are also easily preventable.  At A-1 locksmith we’re here to provide you with a complete security screening of your home.  We’ll expose vulnerabilities and help design a plan to keep you and your family safe and secure.  Call A-1 today to find out how we can help.

Digital Door Viewer

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could see who is at your door without having to press your face against the door to look through that ridiculously small peep hole? Well thanks to Multi-lock now you can! You can literally see who is at your door using a small device that looks somewhat like a cell phone.

So What Exactly Is A Digital Door Viewer?

The Digital Door Viewer (DDV) is a digital peep hole, it has a built in camera which allows you to take time stamped pictures or record anyone approaching your door.  The viewer features a LCD screen with a 5.6-inch viewing area that activates at the push of a button. The camera attached is armed with infrared capabilities so even in reduced lighting conditions, you’ll still get a clear picture. The Digital Door Viewer is easy to use and more secure than a regular peep hole. When visitors press the door bell on the door viewer camera, the door bell will then ring. At the same time the screen on the inside of the door will automatically turn on to show the outside images, this lasts about 20 seconds before turning itself off. Also when the door bell is pressed the camera will automatically take a phone of who ever is outside, the photo is then stored automatically. This device can be set up so that even when you’re not home, it also can record up to a half hour and store images.

Where Can I Find A Digital Door Viewer?

You can find this product at any trusted locksmith store front, online, or by the makers of Mul-T-Lock. This product received a 4 out of 5 stars rating. Installation for this product is rather easy no special tools are needed, you only need some AA batteries. The DDV is so easy to operate it’s something elderly and children could use without any hassle.

Dallas Locksmith knows what can be a hinderance to our every day lives. Locks are the problem and of course keys. You can’t have one without the other, they are bonded together through life. But if you don’t have the right locks their is no use for your keys. So who should you get your locks from? Well, get them from the most recognized locksmith in the Dallas and Fort Worth area.

Locks tend to be huge issue wither it be for your home or business. They are what keeps us safe and what can gain us access to our family. So why wouldn’t we want the most secure locks and best quality locks out there.

Some of us think that good locks will be expensive but in fact with A-1 Locksmith locks can be very affordable and not only that the Dallas Locksmith team gives advice on what locks would be best for you and your situation.

A-1 Locksmith has high security locks as well. They can provide the most relevant locks for your business so that it is very hard for anyone to breach it. In fact the criminals just looking at that kind of lock will get second thoughts about the whole thing. These locks are intimidating but very affordable.

Dallas Locksmith has transponder keys for only $40 to $175! CLICK HERE for a free quote! Unlike car dealerships that can charge $80 to $450 for only one key and sometimes that transponder key isn’t programmed. CALL 972-284-7500 for more info on affordable transponder keys!

Remember Dallas Locksmith provides the most recent information on the locksmith industry! Just watch our blogs for new news and for the most affordable locksmith in the DFW!

In the heavy machinery industry you would think that their isn’t much the locksmith could do for you. But you’d be wrong, in fact locksmith Dallas have a lot of things that you can put into use to protect your industry. Even though there isn’t a huge lock that you can put over your machines you can put into affect other security tools and systems that will keep your heavy machines safe from any kind of breach.

Locksmith Dallas has high security locks that you can place on the working part of your machines so that you won’t be able to move them. Also if you have them in a protected gated area locksmith Dallas has high security locks that you can put on the gate or storage facility.

It is also a good idea to go ahead and get a security system for your storage facility. Why? Well you never know what tools a burglar might bring to bring the locks and even though A-1 Locksmith has amazing locks it doesn’t mean they are burglar proof. In fact nothing really is completely safe. But Locksmith Dallas wants you to know that if you put into place the security systems and tools that they have for you that the chances of your industry being breached is very minimal.

Locksmith Dallas has transponder keys for only $40 to $175! CLICK HERE for a free instant quote! Unlike car dealerships that will charge you up to $80 to $450 for only one transponder key and sometimes that key won’t even be programmed. Kind of a rip off!

Always know that their are always stupid people in the world that think they can get away with burglary but if you place high security locks and security system in your business they won’t get away. They might be able to break in, highly unlikely but they won’t succeed in getting away.

But while we might remember the experience with the locks, we might have never come to understand exactly how a combination lock does its job. The locksmith combination lock has had a storied history, with some versions being recorded as early at the thirteenth century.  The simplest version, which is often used in conjunction with a chain to lock up bikes, is the locksmith multiple dial locks.  These devices work as the result of rotating discs into which notches are cut.  The notches on the inside of the rotating discs line up with pins when the numbers are aligned in the correct sequence, and once all the numbers are aligned, the lock can open.  The combination padlocks we are all familiar with are slightly different than multiple dial locks and are, in fact, called single dial locks.  Single dial locks utilize several parallel discs, also called cams, that are directly behind the front dial and are usually held in place with spring tension.  These cams each have a cut or notch that aligns with a tooth when the dial is turned to the correct number.  Typically, the first cam is aligned by turning the dial to the right a prescribed number of turns; the second cam by turning to the left, usually one full turn, to the designated number; the third by turning to the right again.  Once the third number on the dial is reached and the cams are all aligned, the hasp is released and the lock opens.  All these inner workings of a simple combination lock occur without our knowledge, and we don’t normally think about the internal minutia required to open a lock.  We take for granted the beautiful simplicity inherent in the lock and the complex machinations that were required to help protect our belongings.  Fortunately, the locksmith professionals who designed the locks—and locksmith techs who can service them—have a much clearer understanding of such mechanical properties.  Then all we have to do is spin the dial.

For all your locksmith needs, A-1 Locksmith is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  A-1 Locksmith – 2685 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229 – (972)284-7500.  Available 24/7 at 972-284-7500.

Take, for example, the iconic padlock. It is, at first glance, a simple and unremarkable mechanism in its own right. However, knowing its storied history and having a rudimentary understanding of how it works allows you to view it in a more reverential light. As well the cousin of the padlock, the combination lock, is at once as iconic and noteworthy.

A combination lock is, simply, a lock that uses a series of numbers, letters, or both to open it and allow access. It is worth noting that ‘combination’ is, in mathematical terms, a misnomer. The correct term for the series of values used to open the lock is ‘sequence.’ Combination locks date back to the Roman period, and have varying degrees of complexity. Multiple-dial locks, like those seen on bike locks, are secured by a toothed pin inside of a series of rotating, numbered disks. Once the proper combination is input, the pin’s teeth are allowed to leave the lock and access is granted.

Single-dial locks include, as Dallas locksmith suggests, a single numbered dial that interacts with a series of cams. Cams are parallel disks inside the lock that have indentations that must be aligned for the lock to unlatch. This is done by entering the correct combination on the dial by turning it in a clockwise-counterclockwise manner.

The experts at A-1 Locksmith are available 24/7 to serve the locksmithing needs of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Call them today at (972)-284-7500.

As we have demonstrated, the padlock is a device that transcends its original medium. Sure, a padlock can be found anywhere in the world, fastened to a door or a fence or a chain or to any manner of objects that must be secured. It is more than just a lock, though. It is a symbol, an icon for safety, security, and peace of mind for millions of people the world over. It can even be seen on a great number of websites, ones that demonstrate that they have indeed taken great strides to ensure that the personal information of their users is secure. Although it has taken on that air of intangibility, it is still very much an icon for physical security. However, much like the websites we use every day, many people still do not think twice about the very things that keep their possessions, their families, or themselves safe.

Even though the padlock has saturated our culture with its ubiquitous presence, there are still many people who are not that knowledgeable about this simple little device. It is because of this simplicity that the padlock is most effective. It is a lock that can be taken anywhere and can be used to secure any manner of object or container. It is as near a universal security measure as we may ever have. A padlock is comprised of three distinct parts: the body, the locking mechanism, and the shackle. The shackle is the U-shaped portion of the lock that is the padlock’s point of contact with what is being secured. It is held within the body of the lock by the locking mechanism, of which there are integrated and modular variants.

Integrated locking systems directly interact with the lock’s tumblers. These systems were, for the most part, a feature of older model padlocks. Integrated systems included disk-based mechanisms, where a rotating disk slides into a notch in the shackle and prevents it from moving. Modern locking systems are referred to as modular mechanisms. Modular locking mechanisms feature tumblers that interact with disks, pins, and wafers but not with the shackle.

Whatever the lock and whatever the problem, the locksmithing experts at A-1 Locksmith will take care of it. Call them 24 hours a day at (972)-284-7500.

The earliest known padlocks date back to the Roman Era, between 500 B.C. and 300 A.D.. Padlocks with spring mechanisms were found in the remains of a Viking settlement in York, England, and date back to 850 A.D.. This lends itself to the fact that the technology of the various tribes and settlements had a tendency to catch on in others and to reach distant lands. Early padlocks were made of wrought iron and employed simple lever mechanisms to achieve access control. Later padlocks featured a shell of brass or steel that encased the locking mechanisms. This allowed for more efficient production, as there was no longer a need to bother with metal casts for the padlock’s body. Even with changes in mechanism design and material composition, the basic tenets and features of the padlock have not changed in centuries. It is a testament to human ingenuity that, even with technology advancing at such a rapid pace, we still utilize a design that is hundreds and hundreds of years old and we use it widely enough to warrant significant mention.

Even though a few things may have changed, the basics never do. The professionals at A-1 Locksmiths understand this, and are ready to help the Dallas/Fort Worth area with any and all of their locksmithing needs. Call them 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (972)-284-7500.

The locksmithing industry is seen as an offshoot of the security industry but is, in actuality, an entity in and of itself. It is the means by which we achieve and maintain a sense and a state of security. Therefore, it must operate by its own rules and its own merits, maintaining a standard of operational quality that must be ensured at all times. Yesterday we profiled a few different types of locks that one person my encounter on an everyday basis. Sure, you have your basic single-cut blade, but you can also have key cards, key codes, biometric security measures with advanced security capabilities. But what of the locks themselves? Here we profile a few of the locks that you might encounter in everyday use:

• Pin-tumbler locks are the most commonly-used locks in the western world. A plug acts to keep the door locked and is unable to spin without the aid of a key by two sets of pins: spring-loaded driver pins on top and key pins below. When the correct key is inserted the lower key pins are lined up with the top of the plug, allowing it to spin and unlock.
• Wafer-tumbler locks are similar to pin-tumbler models but with rectangular ‘wafers‘ in place of cylindrical pins. The set of wafers are spring-loaded and prevent the plug from moving because they are set into it on the bottom of the lock. When a key is inserted the wafers are raised out of the plug and entry may be gained.
• Lever locks, which are pretty self-explanatory and use levers as the main locking mechanism, are popular in most prisons and safes.
• Combination locks are popular in academic settings and require something of a numeric code to gain entry.

Whatever the lock or key, A-1 Locksmiths will fulfill all your locksmithing needs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Call them today at (972)-284-7500.