While biometric fingerprint sensors on safes can be extremely convenient, if used incorrectly they can also be very frustrating. Follow these tips to ensure you have a seamless experience, for quick, reliable access to your safe in under a second.
About our sensors:
We use high end optical sensors on our safes to read fingerprints. This sophisticated technology works by detecting light and turning it into electrical signals. Optical sensors are common in quality safes for their robust, reliable characteristics.
When using the fingerprint reader, think about it as if the sensor is taking a photo of your fingerprint. The same things that can make a photo less clear can impact the reading of a fingerprint. A few things that can impair the fingerprint sensor:
- Dust on the sensor or your finger
- A scar
- Moisture (either fingers that are very dry or covered in lotion or sweaty) can all degrade the interaction between your finger and the sensor.
This can be especially frustrating for people who live in humid environments and is one of the reasons we recommend installing your safe inside, where humidity will have less of an impact than if you install it in a garage or shed, for instance.
Other factors that can impact the sensor engagement with your finger are age of the person using the sensor and individual fingerprint definition. Fingerprints become less discernable as we age, which can make it harder for the sensor to read them. Additionally, some people naturally have less defined fingerprints.
The sensor is best able to read your fingerprint when it gets the same view every time. As we’ll explain in the following steps, it’s best to try to align your finger in the same way each time you use the sensor.
When determining the tolerances of the fingerprint sensors on our safes, we erred on the side of caution because we did not want a design that would allow unqualified people into the safe. This is one of the reasons we strongly recommend setting up both the fingerprint reader and passcodes. Having both options will enable you to easily open the safe in the event that one of the factors mentioned above interferes with the sensor at a moment when you need access.
For more information on types of sensors on safes, read our industry report here.
How to use our fingerprint sensors:
1. Keep the sensor clean: use a soft cloth to wipe down the fingerprint reader and confirm there is no dust or grime on it. Wash your hands and make sure they are clean and dry.
2. Place your finger on the sensor the same way when setting up the fingerprint registration and when opening the safe:
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Cover the whole sensor with your finger. When properly aligned, the blue light (A) will be covered.
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Align your finger so that the curve of your finger follows the curve on the sensor above the blue light (B). Center your finger in the middle of the sensor (C).
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Aim to have your cuticle aligned with the center of the sensor, so that the pad of your finger completely covers the sensor (D). Press firmly against the sensor.
