Safe lock help · Burg-Wächter
Safe lock troubleshooting › Burg-Wächter › Basic / Smart / Universal Safe
This guide is for Burg-Wächter Basic Safe 1 E, Smart Safe 2 E and Universal Safe 2 E home safes with an electronic keypad. It covers how to open the safe, change the four AA batteries (after which you must set your code again), set a new code, and use the emergency key.
Want the whole manual? Jump to the manufacturer download links.
Is this your lock?
- A small electronic keypad on the door with number keys and an enter / on button at the bottom right, and a knob you turn to open the bolts.
- It uses a personal code of 3 to 6 digits. A 6-digit code is recommended.
- The safe is powered by four AA (LR6) alkaline batteries inside the door, behind a battery cover.
- This is Burg-Wächter’s entry-level home safe line. Other Burg-Wächter electronic locks use different procedures.
How to open it
- Enter your personal code (3 to 6 digits).
- Press the enter / on button at the bottom right of the keypad.
- A tone means the code is correct. Turn the knob clockwise to the stop and open the door within about 6 seconds of the tone.
Opening with the emergency (override) key
Use this only in an emergency.
- Carefully slide the cover plate away from the keypad on the front of the door.
- Put the key in the keyhole and turn it anti-clockwise to the stop.
- Turn the knob at the left of the keypad clockwise to the stop and open the door.
- To close the safe, shut the door and turn the knob anti-clockwise to the stop.
- If the batteries are completely exhausted, you can only open the safe with the emergency key.
Keep the emergency keys outside the safe.
Store the keys and your personal code in a secure place outside the safe, and never lock the keys inside.
How to change the battery
The safe uses four AA (LR6) alkaline batteries, 1.5 volts each. When the red control light comes on, replace all four batteries. After new batteries go in, you must program your personal code again.
- Open the safe door (use the emergency key if the batteries are too weak for the keypad).
- Remove the battery cover on the inside of the door.
- Replace all four AA alkaline batteries with new ones.
- Program your personal code again (see the next section).
- Test the new code several times with the door open before you close it.
The code is not remembered through a battery change.
On these safes you need to set your personal code again after fitting new batteries.
How to set or change your code
Do this with the door OPEN.
Test the new code several times with the door open before you close it. Do not use personal dates, phone numbers or other easy guesses.
- With the door open and batteries inside, press the red button on the inside of the door. A control light comes on at the outside of the door.
- Enter your new personal code (3 to 6 digits; use 6 digits for the best protection).
- Press the enter / on button at the bottom right of the keypad to confirm.
- Test the new code several times with the door open.
Lights and tones
| What you hear / see | What it means |
|---|---|
| A tone after you press enter / on | The correct personal code was entered. Turn the knob within about 6 seconds. |
| Red control light comes on | The batteries are low. Replace all 4 batteries and set the code again. |
| Control light on the outside while programming | The safe is waiting for a new code (after you press the red button inside the door). |
Wrong-code time-out
If an incorrect code is entered 3 times, the safe goes into a time-out of up to 2 minutes. When it ends, you can enter the correct code again.
If it still won’t open
The keypad is dead
Open the safe with the emergency key, replace all four AA alkaline batteries, and set your code again.
I changed the batteries and my old code no longer works
That is normal for this safe. Program a new personal code with the red button inside the door.
I cannot find or use the emergency key
Do not force the safe. Call us.
Download the full manufacturer instructions
This page is a quick-reference summary. For every feature and diagram, use the official manual for your model:
- Burg-Wächter Basic Safe 1 E, Smart Safe 2 E, Universal Safe 2 E: Operating Instructions (PDF)Burg-Wächter English operating instructions, print dated 16.12.09. Hosted by Burg-Wächter.
- Burg-Wächter websiteManufacturer website, with manuals for other Burg-Wächter safes.
Need a hand?
Still stuck? We can help.
Having a hard time getting into your safe? Our technicians are trained to open malfunctioning safes professionally, so your valuables can still be safely secured. Call us or stop by.
Steve’s Lock, Safe and Alarm · 3401 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
More lock guides
About this guide. This is an independent guide from Steve’s Lock, Safe and Alarm, a safe and lock dealer. Brand and model names belong to their owners and are used only to help you identify your lock. We are not affiliated with the manufacturers. These steps summarize the manufacturers’ own instructions; your lock may be a different version, so if anything here does not match what your lock does, follow your manual or call us. Always change codes with the safe door open, and test the new code several times before you close the door.
Steps last checked against the manufacturer documents on October 14, 2026.