Knowledge Base


Find answers to frequently asked questions, easy-to-use guides to troubleshoot and perform basic functions like changing the combination or changing the battery, and more.

Quick starting tips

Listed here are a few things to know and remember about the ESL5 locks

  • The ESL5/ESL5LP uses a fixed length 6-digit combination. Your AMSEC ESL5/ESL5LP Electronic Safe Lock has a default factory combination of: 1-2-3-4-5-6.
  • Opening Your ESL5/ESL5LP Lock for the First Time
  1.  Press the “C” key.
  2.  Key in the factory preset combination.
  3. Press the “#” key.

If the combination was entered correctly, the lock will cycle open for three seconds. During this 3-second period, turn the handle of the safe to the unlocked position and pull the door open.

  • With each keystroke, the backlights on the keypad will flash OFF and the beeper will chirp.
  • If 4 incorrect combinations are entered, the lock will go into Penalty Lockout for 15 minutes to prevent trial-and-error attempts at opening the lock. The backlights will flash once every 5 seconds during this period. If you press any key during the Penalty Lockout Period, the backlights will flash and you will hear 8 rapid chirps. Removing power does not reset the Penalty Lockout.
  • Before keying the combination, be sure that the handle of the safe is centered in the locked position to allow the lock to open freely.
  • If the lock fails to open or acts strangely, replace the battery with fresh alkaline 9-volt battery. See the Battery article. It is a good practice to replace your battery once a year to prevent corrosion damage from leakage and assure you always have ample power to open the lock.
  • During the input sequence, if you make a mistake, you can press “C” to clear the previous input and start over again.
  • Use only your fingers to key the combination. Do not press hard or strike the buttons. Sharp objects will result in damage, which is not covered by the warranty.
  • If at any time during opening the lock or changing the combination, no keys are pressed for 10 seconds, the lock will return to a resting condition. If this occurs during a combination change, the old combination is retained.
  • When opening or changing the combination on your lock, the ESL5/ESL5LP will register the first 5 digits of the combination into the buffer that receives input. The 6th digit will be the last numeric key pressed. For example, if you press C-1-2-3-4-5-7-4-5-2-7-6-# the program recognizes only the C-1-2-3-4-5-6-# input. The last numeric key pressed continues to replace the one prior until the “#” key is pressed to indicate completion. This is a security feature that allows you to baffle any onlookers who may be trying to memorize your combination.