BioVault 2.0 Problems

[skibud85]

Have had the Biovault 2.0 for 5+ years, basically trouble free! I returned from a trip last week. the screen was blank? AC-DC wall adapter has good voltage, new batteries installed(checked..OK), but the screen is still blank! No callback/e-mail from Sequiam (now Alibaba.com)! Everything points toward the main board being bad, or possibly just not receiving power??? Short of cutting it open (easy to do with the correct tools), I would like to be able to salvage the unit if at all possible. Any similar experiences or idea would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jim
Florida

 

[skibud85]

Also, does anybody know what the rj45 plug on the Biovault 2.0 side panel is for?

 

[AZAndy]

Also, does anybody know what the rj45 plug on the Biovault 2.0 side panel is for?

That's interesting-- is it phone-plug sized, or ethernet-cable sized?

 

[skibud85]

Hi AZAndy. Looks to be rj45(ethernet)size? I cannot find any information on the purpose of the plug! Hoping it was something used to open the doors if all else fails, and in my case (short of using my Stihl Concrete saw) all else has failed. Sure would be nice if they had a key as a last option!!

 

[boom boom]

Believe that it is for an external power supply so that the batteries are a backup. Have no idea where you could find the power supply though.

 

[skibud85]

Hi boom boom. May be an alternative power supply, but since it already has the AC/DC power plug backed up by the batteries it most likely is a COMM plug to the motherboard(for what?)? Wasn't concerned about the lack of a key as a last resort to open it, but with a total system failure(FAIL SAFE=FAIL OPEN)-NOW I AM!!!!! NO INFO AT ALL about alternative ways to open it up. Going to wait awhile before I take out the cutting tools, and see if any info comes in!

Thanks
Jim

 

[boom boom]

Hi boom boom. May be an alternative power supply, but since it already has the AC/DC power plug backed up by the batteries it most likely is a COMM plug to the motherboard(for what?)? Wasn't concerned about the lack of a key as a last resort to open it, but with a total system failure(FAIL SAFE=FAIL OPEN)-NOW I AM!!!!! NO INFO AT ALL about alternative ways to open it up. Going to wait awhile before I take out the cutting tools, and see if any info comes in!

Thanks
Jim

Originally viewed the post on my phone but did not see the top one. Looking at the pix in a manual for it, my guess is that it is for either hooking it up to an alarm or to an external computer for programming, If it is the latter, you might be able to use it to open the vault depending on the setup--I suspect that a power supply capacitor has gone bad on the motherboard of the unit--cheap fix but obviously you have to get into it to remove it for fixing.

Cheap Chinese capacitors are why so many consumer grade computers and tv's fail in a couple of years time and there is no way to predict when. I suspect that the same is true for electronic locks on safes.

You might also be able to break in with an electro magnet depending on the latch design. There was a series of youtube videos where a guy was demonstrating that a lot of cheap quick access vaults could be easily broken into using different tricks.

 

[skibud85]

Thanks for the info. Afew days ago, it started working again. Took all my stuff out for now. A big project to take the liner out for access to electronics/latches, might give it a try one of these days.

Thanks
Jim

 

[boom boom]

Glad to hear it worked out.

 

[skibud85]

Yay, always good when it works out, regardless how you get there!!!! Not a cheap safe, really a nice unit! To bad they sold it off to an offshore company with little to no support. When it finally dies, I'll get out the cutting tools and open her up like a flounder

 

[boom boom]

Yay, always good when it works out, regardless how you get there!!!! Not a cheap safe, really a nice unit! To bad they sold it off to an offshore company with little to no support. When it finally dies, I'll get out the cutting tools and open her up like a flounder

If you know someone with electronics skill, most computer boards can be rebuilt relatively cheaply rather than buying a new unit. My suspicion is your problem is power related either in wiring or the power supply to the biometric lock. It is the testing equipment, parts identification, and soldering that can be a pain.

I'm waiting today for Fedex to deliver a power supply board for my TV which went out just as the warranty expired--$50 fix but probably because a 1.00 part is bad. I figured that I can always play around with the old board to try to find the problem and fix it for a spare but not at the expense of my TV watching. The really tough fixes are multilayer pcb boards for computers--usually cheaper just to junk it if these go bad as they are not really designed for repair but for ease of production.

 

[skibud85]

Thanks for the info. I'll get around to it one of these days

 

[FAS1]

Thanks for the info. Afew days ago, it started working again. Took all my stuff out for now. A big project to take the liner out for access to electronics/latches, might give it a try one of these days.

Thanks
Jim

That's an interesting looking safe for sure. Your experience with it working one day and not the next unfortunately does seem typical of inexpensive Chinese electronics for the most part. One thing unusual is that there is not a back up key? If that's correct I think it's the only electronic handgun safe that I have seen without it, as you found out why all the others have one. It's not if, but when you need it even if it's just a dead battery.

Also, I have yet to see any manufacturer of electronic handgun safes offer replacement parts for the safe itself. Seems like they are all throw-aways. Let us know if you decide to tinker with it.