TF, AM, & SF Series Safe Manual

Note: This manual applies to the TF, AM, and SF series safes from American Security. It covers installation, using the ESL5 lock, and troubleshooting tips.

INSTALLING YOUR SAFE

Positioning your safe:

American Security highly encourages our customers to seek professional assistance when installing or moving your new Gun Safe. If you choose to move and install the safe yourself, please use extreme caution as the safe is very heavy and cumbersome to move.

• American Security Gun Safes weigh between 300 and 2,400 pounds, depending on model type and options. The installation location must be capable of adequately supporting the safe’s weight and should be in a clean, dry indoor environment.
• Serious injury or death may occur in the event of an accident involving the safe. Use at least two people to maneuver the safe, and follow proper safety procedures at all times.
• American Security highly recommends that a thin sheet of wood, carpet, or rubber be placed between the safe and the floor to prevent damage to the flooring.
• Protect all flooring, walls, and other furniture as necessary. Make sure the safe door is shut and locked while moving.
• Use caution if cutting through the box while unboxing to prevent damage to the safe’s finish.

Removing the metal shipping legs from your safe:

This is a two-person job. The metal legs are bolted to the bottom of the safe. Each leg is secured with two bolts. You will need an 11/16” (17mm) wrench to remove the bolts.

1. Remove the bolts from the Right Leg. Leave the bolts on the Left Leg secured.
2. Once the bolts have been removed from the Right Leg, Installer 1 will gently tilt the safe towards the left so Installer 2 can remove the Right Leg.
3. With the Right Leg removed, Installer 1 will gently lower the right side of the safe to the ground.
4. Remove the bolts from the Left Leg.
5. Installer 2 will gently tilt the safe towards the right so Installer 1 can remove the Left Leg.
6. Position and anchor the safe to the floor.

Unpacking Your Safe

Your safe was shipped to you with the door closed. To open the door and unpack your safe, please refer to the ESL5 Lock instructions below.

Final Assembly:

• If equipped, install the spokes of the handle into the hub. Do not use any tools to tighten them; hand tighten only.

• American Security recommends that your safe be bolted to the floor with 3/8″ anchors to ensure maximum safety and security.

A Quick Note About Shelving

• The Top Shelf and Side Shelves are adjustable.
• To install a shelf clip, insert the top of the clip as shown into the shelf standard. Push up on the angled bottom of the clip and rotate the bottom tab into place. Make sure all shelf clips are secure and on the same level before installing the shelf.
• To remove a shelf clip, push up on the angled bottom and rotate away from the shelf standard.
• Shelf Cover Plates are provided with your interior to convert a Gun Rack cutout into a solid shelf. Simply place the Cover Plate over the undesired cutout to make the shelf solid.

ESL5 LOCK OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

The ESL5 uses a fixed length 6-digit combination. Your American Security ESL5 Electronic Safe Lock has a default factory combination of:

1-2-3-4-5-6

To open your ESL5 lock:

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.

CHANGING THE ESL5 COMBINATION

You may change your combination any time you’d like and as many times as you’d like. To ensure security once your safe is installed, you must change the factory preset combination to a new 6-digit combination.

CAUTION: Combination changes should always be done with the door OPEN.

Steps to Change Combination:

1. Press the “C” key.
2. Press the “#” key. You should hear a short warbling tone and see the keypad flash.
3. Key in the old 6-digit combination.
4. Press the “#” key. You should hear a short combination tone.
5. Key in your new 6-digit combination.
6. Press the “#” key. You should hear a short combination tone.
7. Re-key in the new 6-digit combination.
8. Press the “#” key. If the combination input matches the first pass, you should hear a long combination tone indicating your new combination has been recorded.
9. Test your new combination several times prior to closing and locking the safe.

A Few Things To Remember

• With each keystroke, the keypad will flash and a chirp will be heard.
• If 4 incorrect combinations are entered, the lock will go into a Penalty Lockout for 15 minutes to prevent trial-and-error attempts at opening the lock. The keypad will flash once every 5 seconds during the penalty period. If you press any key during the lockout period, the keypad will flash and you will hear 8 rapid chirps to indicate the lockout condition.
• 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 a fresh alkaline 9-volt battery. Replace the battery annually to prevent corrosion damage.
• 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. Sharp objects will result in damage, which is not covered by the warranty.
• If no keys are pressed for 10 seconds during input or a combination change, 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 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.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

Safes should be serviced and repaired by qualified safe technicians only. Here, we offer some basic troubleshooting tips that may help you resolve an issue. If these tips don’t resolve your problem, please visit our website at American Security Service Inquiry.

To Replace The Battery:

1. Grip the keypad and turn approximately 1/8 turn counter-clockwise to disengage the keypad from the base.
2. Carefully pull the keypad away from the base, taking care not to stress the cable that connects the keypad to the lock inside the safe. Do not allow the keypad to hang on the cable.
3. Lift the 9-volt battery out of the pocket where it is retained.
4. Carefully remove the battery clip from the end of the battery, making sure you don’t pull on the wires and disconnect the battery clip from the PC board.
5. Snap on the new 9-volt battery onto the clip, making sure it is tight with no loose contacts.
6. Press the battery back into its pocket, taking care to route the wires in the open cavity so they are not positioned where they will get pinched under the battery when the keypad is placed on the base.
7. Replace the keypad on the base, starting with the top of the keypad around the 11:00 position, pressing down to seat it where the retaining tabs go into the receiving slots, then rotate clockwise to vertical. You should feel a bit of a snap as it locks into position when the keypad is level.

Bolt Binding

The second most common opening issue is bolt binding, which is a problem where the safe’s locking mechanism is pressing on the locking bolt of the lock inside the door. The ESL5 relies on a solenoid to actuate this bolt. That solenoid can only overcome so much resistance, and if that resistance is too great, the bolt will not retract.

To resolve this problem, find a handle position that does not push the locking system up against the lock’s bolt.

• If your handle turns clockwise to open, turn the handle all the way counterclockwise before attempting to open the lock.
• If your handle turns counterclockwise to open, turn the handle all the way clockwise before attempting to open the lock.
• If you don’t remember which way your handle turns, find the center of the free-play by moving the handle clockwise and counterclockwise to the stopping points. Then, move the handle to the center of that range before actuating the lock.

If the bolt pressure is causing the problem, this should resolve it. Make it a habit to position the handle correctly when you leave the safe so it’s ready for the next time you open it.

ESL5 BEEP AND KEYPAD BACKLIGHT PATTERNS

Beeper Pattern

• Standard Beep: A short, distinct beep
• Warble: A high-low-high-low beep-chain, sounds like “dee-del-dee-del-deee.”

Keypad Backlight Pattern

Symptoms

You hear a faint click when the code entry is completed, and the keypad stays on for about 3 seconds:

• This means the code was accepted, but the bolt did not pull open.
• This can be due to “bolt binding.” See previous comments on resolving this issue.
• This can also be due to a low battery condition. Change the battery and try again.

The keypad responds to input, but when you press “#” the keypad does not light up and the lock does not report with a click sound:

• This is usually caused by a low battery condition. Change the battery and try again.

There is no response at the keypad to any input:

• The cable may be disconnected from the keypad. Remove the keypad as directed (battery change) and check the connection to make sure the cable is securely installed in the socket.
• Dead battery condition. Change the battery and try again.

For more information on the ESL5 Lock, including additional troubleshooting, visit our ESL5 Lock Knowledge Base.