ABUS Key Garage KG797C - Shackle-Mounted Key Safe, 4-Dial Combination
The ABUS Key Garage KG797C is the portable member of the KeyGarage family: a steel key box with a four-dial mechanical combination that hangs from its own 10 mm shackle instead of being screwed to a wall. It holds up to 20 keys or 14 access cards, runs on no power at all, and can be moved from one anchor point to the next in seconds.
It is the same box and the same mechanism as the wall-mounted ABUS Key Garage One KG787C - the difference is purely how it goes up. The 787 is marked out, drilled, plugged and screwed to the wall, and it stays there. The 797 has a lever marked RELEASE: press it to the left, pull the shackle up and out, hook it over a gate, a railing, a hasp or a site fence, and close it again. Nothing is drilled and nothing is permanent, which is what makes it the one to buy for a rental where you cannot put holes in the building, for a gate or fence with no wall nearby, or for a handover that has to move with the job.
Access is a four-digit code you set yourself on the dials. It leaves the factory on 0000 and must be changed before you put a key in it. Behind the key drawer is a small reset button - press it left, push it down, dial your own code, push the button back, and that code is now yours. There is no app, no account, no battery and nothing to go flat.
Key Features
- Hangs by its shackle - no drilling. The 10 mm shackle releases with a lever and re-closes into the body, so the box goes onto gates, railings, fences, hasps and door handles without touching the building.
- Four-dial mechanical combination, resettable to any four-digit code on the unit itself - no tools and nothing to send away.
- Holds up to 20 keys or 14 access cards on removable hooks, so house keys, car keys, fobs and prox cards share one compartment.
- No battery, no app, no connectivity. Nothing to charge, pair, update or forget.
- Retractable plastic cover slides over the dials when the box is closed.
- Steel alloy housing with a zinc alloy door, 915 g, in black with a silver front.
- Takes two mounting accessories: the KGCABLEC flexible cable shackle for anchor points the rigid shackle will not reach around, and the KG777AD automotive window adaptor for vehicle use. Both are sold separately.
Change the code before you use it - and do not lose it
The KG797C arrives set to 0000. Set your own code the moment you unpack it, before any key goes inside. ABUS states the warning plainly in the instruction leaflet: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no key override, no master code and no reset from the outside. Write the code down somewhere away from the box, or give it to one other person you trust.
The KG797C arrives set to 0000. Set your own code the moment you unpack it, before any key goes inside. ABUS states the warning plainly in the instruction leaflet: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no key override, no master code and no reset from the outside. Write the code down somewhere away from the box, or give it to one other person you trust.
What's in the Box
- 1 x ABUS Key Garage KG797C, with the 10 mm shackle fitted
- Removable key hooks, fitted
- Fixing kit
- Installation and operating instructions (multilingual fold-out leaflet covering both the 787 and the 797)
The KGCABLEC flexible cable shackle and the KG777AD automotive window adaptor are optional and sold separately. No battery is required.
Suitable Uses
- Rentals and strata where you cannot drill. Nothing is fixed to the building, so the box goes up and comes down without a repair, a bond argument or a body-corporate application. Where a permanent box is allowed, the wall-mounted KG787C is the same unit on screws.
- Gates, fences, railings and pool gates. Anywhere there is a hasp, a staple, a gate rail or a railing upright, the shackle has something to hang from - no wall required. If the rigid shackle will not close around the section, the KGCABLEC flexible cable will.
- Sites, temporary works and shared trade access. Hang it on the site fence for the duration, give the code to the trades who need it, change the code and move the box when the job finishes. Our blog explains where key boxes earn their keep beyond the beach - tradies, carers and holiday lets.
- Holiday lets and short-stay handovers. Give the guest four digits instead of meeting them at the door, then reset the code between stays. For what a combination box does and does not do, read how a combination key lock box works.
- Anywhere a key currently lives under a mat or a pot. The same blog is blunt about why the traditional hiding places do not work, and the guide to storing a spare key outside the house covers where to put the box once you have one.
- Vehicles, with the adaptor. The KG777AD replaces the shackle with a stainless bracket that hangs over a vehicle door window. Before you leave a modern car key in anything, read the relay attack risk section - a keyless fob needs a signal-blocking wallet as well as a box.
- The rest of the range. Wall-mounted, portable, push-button, dial and Bluetooth boxes sit side by side in our Key Storage range.
Available Finish Options
Black with Silver Front
(This Product)
STK KG797C
Black with Silver Front
(Front panel)
The KG797C comes in one finish - a black body with a silver front. Two swatches are shown because the finish is two-tone, not because there are two versions. Finish selection does not affect functionality, compliance, or performance.
ABUS Key Garage - Item Code Family
This product (bold row) is the shackle-mounted dial model. The KG787BTC is the only model in this family with Bluetooth and an access audit trail - every other model is mechanical.
Accessories & Spares
Both accessories replace the shackle, so the box uses one or the other - not both at once. The rest of the range sits in Key Storage.
Full Specifications
Dimensions
Internal cavity dimensions do not include protrusion of the locking mechanism. External height includes the shackle. Storage capacity depends on key size and use of tags or identifiers.
Setting and Changing the Code
The code is changed on the unit itself, in about a minute, with no tools and nothing removed from its anchor point. The reset button sits inside, behind the key drawer, so the box has to be open before the code can be changed - which is what stops anyone else changing it.
- Open the key drawer on the current code (0000 from new).
- Find the reset button inside. Press it to the left, then push it down and hold it.
- Turn the four dials to the code you want.
- Push the reset button back. The new code is set.
Scramble it in the right order
Take the key out, then close the key drawer before you scramble - not after. Once the drawer is shut, spin all four dials off the code and slide the plastic cover back over them. Closing the box with the code still showing is the one habit that undoes everything else, and it is the mistake we see most often on key boxes that have been in service a while.
Take the key out, then close the key drawer before you scramble - not after. Once the drawer is shut, spin all four dials off the code and slide the plastic cover back over them. Closing the box with the code still showing is the one habit that undoes everything else, and it is the mistake we see most often on key boxes that have been in service a while.
Mounting and Installation
This is where the 797 and the KG787C part company. The 787 is positioned, marked, drilled, plugged and screwed to the wall, and that is where it lives. The 797 hangs, and it takes about ten seconds:
- Press the lever marked RELEASE to the left to free the shackle.
- Pull the shackle up and out of the body.
- Hook it over the gate rail, hasp, railing, fence or handle you want it on.
- Close the shackle back into the KeyGarage.
The same release is what lets the KGCABLEC flexible cable or the KG777AD automotive adaptor take the shackle's place.
The anchor point is part of the security
A hanging box is only as good as the thing it hangs on. A loose hasp, a hollow gate rail or a fence panel that lifts off its spigots all undo the box before anyone touches the dials. Pick something solid and fixed, and put it somewhere overlooked rather than somewhere convenient. If you are weighing a hanging box against a fixed one, book a free site survey and we will look at the property first.
A hanging box is only as good as the thing it hangs on. A loose hasp, a hollow gate rail or a fence panel that lifts off its spigots all undo the box before anyone touches the dials. Pick something solid and fixed, and put it somewhere overlooked rather than somewhere convenient. If you are weighing a hanging box against a fixed one, book a free site survey and we will look at the property first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the KG797C and the KG787C?
How it goes up, and nothing else that matters. Both are four-dial KeyGarages with the same 84 mm wide, 44 mm deep body, the same 20-key or 14-card capacity and the same code-change method. The KG787C is drilled and screwed to a wall and stands 120 mm tall; the KG797C carries a 10 mm shackle, stands 180 mm tall and weighs 915 g against the 787's 774 g. Buy the 787 if the box has a permanent home, the 797 if it does not.
How it goes up, and nothing else that matters. Both are four-dial KeyGarages with the same 84 mm wide, 44 mm deep body, the same 20-key or 14-card capacity and the same code-change method. The KG787C is drilled and screwed to a wall and stands 120 mm tall; the KG797C carries a 10 mm shackle, stands 180 mm tall and weighs 915 g against the 787's 774 g. Buy the 787 if the box has a permanent home, the 797 if it does not.
What code does it come on, and do I have to change it?
It arrives on 0000, and yes - change it before a key ever goes in. Anyone who has owned one of these, or read the leaflet, knows the default. Open the drawer, press the reset button left and down, dial your own four digits, push the reset back. No tools, and the box can stay where it hangs.
It arrives on 0000, and yes - change it before a key ever goes in. Anyone who has owned one of these, or read the leaflet, knows the default. Open the drawer, press the reset button left and down, dial your own four digits, push the reset back. No tools, and the box can stay where it hangs.
What happens if I forget the code?
The box does not open. ABUS says it plainly: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no key override, no master code and no way in from the outside, and a locksmith cannot recover it either - the only way back in is destructive, which usually costs more than the box. Record the code somewhere away from the property, and tell one other person.
The box does not open. ABUS says it plainly: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no key override, no master code and no way in from the outside, and a locksmith cannot recover it either - the only way back in is destructive, which usually costs more than the box. Record the code somewhere away from the property, and tell one other person.
Where can I hang it if I am not allowed to drill?
Anywhere the 10 mm shackle closes around something fixed: a gate rail, a hasp and staple, a railing upright, a security screen handle, a site fence. That is the whole point of this model over the wall-mounted KG787C. If the section is too fat or too awkward for the rigid shackle, the KGCABLEC flexible cable loops where the shackle cannot.
Anywhere the 10 mm shackle closes around something fixed: a gate rail, a hasp and staple, a railing upright, a security screen handle, a site fence. That is the whole point of this model over the wall-mounted KG787C. If the section is too fat or too awkward for the rigid shackle, the KGCABLEC flexible cable loops where the shackle cannot.
Can I leave it outside?
Outdoors in a protected spot, yes - under an eave, inside a porch, on the sheltered side of a gate post. ABUS rates the mechanical KeyGarages for indoor use or protected outdoor areas, and quotes no IP or weather rating for them, so treat the retractable dial cover as protection from dust and splash rather than a seal. Somewhere fully exposed to driving rain and afternoon sun will shorten its life.
Outdoors in a protected spot, yes - under an eave, inside a porch, on the sheltered side of a gate post. ABUS rates the mechanical KeyGarages for indoor use or protected outdoor areas, and quotes no IP or weather rating for them, so treat the retractable dial cover as protection from dust and splash rather than a seal. Somewhere fully exposed to driving rain and afternoon sun will shorten its life.
Additional Information
What 20 keys actually means
Capacity figures assume ordinary flat house keys on the removable hooks. One transponder car key with a plastic head takes the room of several flat keys, and a bunch on a ring takes more again. Access cards are counted separately at up to 14, and they stack flat rather than hanging. If you are storing a full set for a managed property, take the hooks out and think in terms of what fits the cavity rather than the headline number.
Capacity figures assume ordinary flat house keys on the removable hooks. One transponder car key with a plastic head takes the room of several flat keys, and a bunch on a ring takes more again. Access cards are counted separately at up to 14, and they stack flat rather than hanging. If you are storing a full set for a managed property, take the hooks out and think in terms of what fits the cavity rather than the headline number.
Two ways to change how it hangs
The shackle is not the only option. The KGCABLEC flexible cable takes its place for fences, railings and handles the rigid shackle will not go round - it changes the reach, not the security. The KG777AD stainless adaptor hangs the box over a vehicle door window instead. Both also fit the push-button KG777C.
The shackle is not the only option. The KGCABLEC flexible cable takes its place for fences, railings and handles the rigid shackle will not go round - it changes the reach, not the security. The KG777AD stainless adaptor hangs the box over a vehicle door window instead. Both also fit the push-button KG777C.
What a key box is, and is not
A key box takes the key out of the flowerpot and puts access under a code you control. It is not a safe, and ABUS quotes no attack-resistance class, insurance approval or security grade for the mechanical KeyGarages - so do not choose one on the strength of a rating it does not have. Our blog covers how a combination key box works and the key hiders that are smarter than the doormat but weaker than a box.
A key box takes the key out of the flowerpot and puts access under a code you control. It is not a safe, and ABUS quotes no attack-resistance class, insurance approval or security grade for the mechanical KeyGarages - so do not choose one on the strength of a rating it does not have. Our blog covers how a combination key box works and the key hiders that are smarter than the doormat but weaker than a box.
If the 797 is not quite the one
Want the dials lit for a dark gate? The KG797LEDC is this box with LED illumination. Prefer buttons to dials? The KG777C. Need something smaller for a couple of keys? The KG737C Mini. Holding keys for several properties? The wall-mounted KG787BIG. Want individual codes and a record of who opened it? The KG787BTC Smart Bluetooth, or the portable Master Lock 5440EC.
Want the dials lit for a dark gate? The KG797LEDC is this box with LED illumination. Prefer buttons to dials? The KG777C. Need something smaller for a couple of keys? The KG737C Mini. Holding keys for several properties? The wall-mounted KG787BIG. Want individual codes and a record of who opened it? The KG787BTC Smart Bluetooth, or the portable Master Lock 5440EC.
Who ABUS are
ABUS is a German security manufacturer better known here for padlocks, chains and access control than for door furniture, and the KeyGarage range is the key-storage end of that catalogue. Our brand profile chapter on the commercial and institutional specialists puts them next to the other trade brands we stock. If you would rather talk it through than read it, ask our team for a recommendation.
ABUS is a German security manufacturer better known here for padlocks, chains and access control than for door furniture, and the KeyGarage range is the key-storage end of that catalogue. Our brand profile chapter on the commercial and institutional specialists puts them next to the other trade brands we stock. If you would rather talk it through than read it, ask our team for a recommendation.
Warranty
Warranty
ABUS products are backed by a manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Warranty periods vary by product - contact us or refer to your product packaging for the period that applies to your model. All warranties are supported under the Australian Consumer Law. Proof of purchase required for all claims. Returns & Warranty | ABUS warranty & returns information
ABUS products are backed by a manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Warranty periods vary by product - contact us or refer to your product packaging for the period that applies to your model. All warranties are supported under the Australian Consumer Law. Proof of purchase required for all claims. Returns & Warranty | ABUS warranty & returns information
Download PDF Resources
ABUS KeyGarage 787 and 797 - Installation and Operating Instructions (PDF)
The fold-out leaflet supplied with this box: opening the key drawer, the factory code of 0000 and the warning about losing it, the four-step code change, wall mounting the 787 and shackle mounting the 797.
The fold-out leaflet supplied with this box: opening the key drawer, the factory code of 0000 and the warning about losing it, the four-step code change, wall mounting the 787 and shackle mounting the 797.
ABUS KeyGarage and KeySafe Key Storage Catalogue (PDF)
The 2023 range catalogue: a model-by-model specification for every KeyGarage, a comparison table covering dials, capacity and mounting across the range, and a dedicated 797 and 797 LED spread on printed pages 14-15.
The 2023 range catalogue: a model-by-model specification for every KeyGarage, a comparison table covering dials, capacity and mounting across the range, and a dedicated 797 and 797 LED spread on printed pages 14-15.
ABUS Key Garage Range Brochure (PDF)
An earlier-edition range brochure, organised by mechanism: push-button models, then dial models with the KG787C and KG797C together on page 6, and the KG777AD automotive adaptor on page 7. Some figures in it predate the current catalogue.
An earlier-edition range brochure, organised by mechanism: push-button models, then dial models with the KG787C and KG797C together on page 6, and the KG777AD automotive adaptor on page 7. Some figures in it predate the current catalogue.
ABUS Key Garage KG797C - FAQ, Setup and Owner's Guide
Everything we get asked about this box, from choosing between it and the wall-mounted 787 through to setting the code and keeping it working outdoors. For the wider questions people ask about keys, codes and access, our Buyer's Guide chapter on the practical side of living with a lock is the companion read.
Choosing Between the 797 and the 787
Is the KG797C the same box as the KG787C?
Internally, yes. Same four-dial mechanism, same reset procedure, same 84 mm x 44 mm body, same 20 keys or 14 cards, same removable hooks and retractable dial cover. The difference is the mounting: the KG787C is 120 mm tall and screws to a wall; the KG797C is 180 mm tall because of the shackle, and hangs.
Internally, yes. Same four-dial mechanism, same reset procedure, same 84 mm x 44 mm body, same 20 keys or 14 cards, same removable hooks and retractable dial cover. The difference is the mounting: the KG787C is 120 mm tall and screws to a wall; the KG797C is 180 mm tall because of the shackle, and hangs.
I am renting. Which one do I buy?
This one. Nothing is drilled, so nothing has to be made good when you leave, and no permission is needed from an owner or a body corporate. Hang it on a gate, a railing, a meter-box hasp or a security screen handle. If you later move somewhere you can drill, the KG787C is the fixed version of the same box.
This one. Nothing is drilled, so nothing has to be made good when you leave, and no permission is needed from an owner or a body corporate. Hang it on a gate, a railing, a meter-box hasp or a security screen handle. If you later move somewhere you can drill, the KG787C is the fixed version of the same box.
Can I screw the 797 to a wall instead of hanging it?
Treat it as the hanging model and buy the KG787C if you want a fixed box. ABUS documents wall mounting under the 787 heading and shackle mounting under the 797 heading, and that is how the two are meant to be used. If you are unsure which suits the property, our supply and installation service can sort it out on site.
Treat it as the hanging model and buy the KG787C if you want a fixed box. ABUS documents wall mounting under the 787 heading and shackle mounting under the 797 heading, and that is how the two are meant to be used. If you are unsure which suits the property, our supply and installation service can sort it out on site.
Mounting by Shackle
How does the shackle come off?
There is a lever marked RELEASE on the body. Press it to the left and the shackle frees; pull it up and out of the box, hook it over whatever you are hanging from, then close it back into the KeyGarage. No tools, and it takes seconds.
There is a lever marked RELEASE on the body. Press it to the left and the shackle frees; pull it up and out of the box, hook it over whatever you are hanging from, then close it back into the KeyGarage. No tools, and it takes seconds.
What should I hang it from?
Something solid and fixed: a gate rail, a proper hasp and staple, a railing upright, a substantial handle, a site fence panel that is bolted rather than clipped. The box does not improve a weak anchor point - a hanging key box is only as secure as the thing holding it. Choose a spot that is out of sight from the street as well as strong.
Something solid and fixed: a gate rail, a proper hasp and staple, a railing upright, a substantial handle, a site fence panel that is bolted rather than clipped. The box does not improve a weak anchor point - a hanging key box is only as secure as the thing holding it. Choose a spot that is out of sight from the street as well as strong.
The shackle will not go around my gate post. What now?
Swap it for the KGCABLEC flexible cable - a 10 mm plastic-coated steel cable that releases and re-closes the same way, loops around sections the rigid shackle cannot reach, and will not scratch paintwork or powder coat. It changes where the box can hang; it does not make the box harder to attack.
Swap it for the KGCABLEC flexible cable - a 10 mm plastic-coated steel cable that releases and re-closes the same way, loops around sections the rigid shackle cannot reach, and will not scratch paintwork or powder coat. It changes where the box can hang; it does not make the box harder to attack.
Can I put it on a vehicle?
Yes, with the KG777AD - a stainless adaptor that replaces the shackle and hangs the box over a door window, which is how surfers, swimmers and mobile trades use it. One warning worth reading first: a keyless entry fob left in any box can still be relayed. Our blog covers the signal-blocking wallet that solves it, and a purpose-built alternative is the FK Surf Deluxe Keysafe, which ships with one.
Yes, with the KG777AD - a stainless adaptor that replaces the shackle and hangs the box over a door window, which is how surfers, swimmers and mobile trades use it. One warning worth reading first: a keyless entry fob left in any box can still be relayed. Our blog covers the signal-blocking wallet that solves it, and a purpose-built alternative is the FK Surf Deluxe Keysafe, which ships with one.
Setting and Changing the Code
What is the factory code?
0000. It is the same on every mechanical KeyGarage, which is exactly why it has to be changed before the box is put to work. Set your own code while the box is still on the bench, not after it is hanging on the gate with a key inside.
0000. It is the same on every mechanical KeyGarage, which is exactly why it has to be changed before the box is put to work. Set your own code while the box is still on the bench, not after it is hanging on the gate with a key inside.
How do I change the code, step by step?
Dial the current code and open the key drawer. Inside, press the reset button to the left and push it down. Turn the four dials to your new code. Push the reset button back, and that code is set. No tools, no bench work, and the box never has to leave its anchor point.
Dial the current code and open the key drawer. Inside, press the reset button to the left and push it down. Turn the four dials to your new code. Push the reset button back, and that code is set. No tools, no bench work, and the box never has to leave its anchor point.
I have lost the code. Can it be recovered?
No. ABUS states it in bold in the leaflet: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no override key, no service code and no way in from outside. Getting in means destroying the box, and at that point a replacement is the cheaper answer. Keep a note of the code somewhere that is not the property the key belongs to.
No. ABUS states it in bold in the leaflet: if the code is lost, the KeyGarage cannot be opened. There is no override key, no service code and no way in from outside. Getting in means destroying the box, and at that point a replacement is the cheaper answer. Keep a note of the code somewhere that is not the property the key belongs to.
What is the right way to close it up?
Take the key, close the drawer, then scramble the dials and slide the cover back over them. Scrambling first and closing after leaves the mechanism where you want it but the dials where you do not. Make it a habit, especially if several people use the box - one person leaving the code showing tells anyone walking past what the other four digits were.
Take the key, close the drawer, then scramble the dials and slide the cover back over them. Scrambling first and closing after leaves the mechanism where you want it but the dials where you do not. Make it a habit, especially if several people use the box - one person leaving the code showing tells anyone walking past what the other four digits were.
How often should the code be changed?
Whenever the group of people who know it changes. Between guests in a holiday let, after a trade or cleaner finishes a job, when a housemate moves out, or the moment you suspect someone has watched the dials. Because the change is done on the unit in under a minute, there is no practical reason to put it off.
Whenever the group of people who know it changes. Between guests in a holiday let, after a trade or cleaner finishes a job, when a housemate moves out, or the moment you suspect someone has watched the dials. Because the change is done on the unit in under a minute, there is no practical reason to put it off.
Security and Everyday Use
Is a key box actually secure?
It is a controlled-access device, not a safe. ABUS quotes no attack-resistance class, insurance approval or security grade for the mechanical KeyGarages, and we will not imply one. What it does do is take the key out of the obvious hiding places and put entry behind a code you can change - a large improvement on a flowerpot, and the reason the traditional methods do not work. The wider question of what "secure" means for any of this is covered in our Buyer's Guide security FAQ.
It is a controlled-access device, not a safe. ABUS quotes no attack-resistance class, insurance approval or security grade for the mechanical KeyGarages, and we will not imply one. What it does do is take the key out of the obvious hiding places and put entry behind a code you can change - a large improvement on a flowerpot, and the reason the traditional methods do not work. The wider question of what "secure" means for any of this is covered in our Buyer's Guide security FAQ.
Which key should I actually leave in it?
The one that opens the least. A key that gets someone through one door is a smaller problem than a full set with a car key and a garage remote attached, and a restricted key that cannot be copied at a kiosk is better again. Our blog sets out the best-practice version of that decision.
The one that opens the least. A key that gets someone through one door is a smaller problem than a full set with a car key and a garage remote attached, and a restricted key that cannot be copied at a kiosk is better again. Our blog sets out the best-practice version of that decision.
Does it need a battery?
No. The KG797C is entirely mechanical - no battery, no charging, no firmware, nothing to go flat at the wrong moment. The only model in the family with a battery in the lock is the Bluetooth KG787BTC; the LED versions such as the KG797LEDC carry a cell for the light only, and the lock still works without it.
No. The KG797C is entirely mechanical - no battery, no charging, no firmware, nothing to go flat at the wrong moment. The only model in the family with a battery in the lock is the Bluetooth KG787BTC; the LED versions such as the KG797LEDC carry a cell for the light only, and the lock still works without it.
Capacity and What Fits
How many keys does it really hold?
Up to 20 keys or 14 access cards, which assumes ordinary flat keys hung on the removable hooks. Chunky heads, plastic fobs, tags and split rings all eat into that. As a rule of thumb, if you are storing a working set for one property you will not get near the limit; if you are storing sets for several, look at the KG787BIG instead.
Up to 20 keys or 14 access cards, which assumes ordinary flat keys hung on the removable hooks. Chunky heads, plastic fobs, tags and split rings all eat into that. As a rule of thumb, if you are storing a working set for one property you will not get near the limit; if you are storing sets for several, look at the KG787BIG instead.
Will it take swipe cards and fobs?
Yes - up to 14 plastic access cards, which is what makes these boxes popular in apartment buildings and managed sites where the credential is a card rather than a key. Cards lie flat in the cavity; take the hooks out if you are storing cards only and want the full space.
Yes - up to 14 plastic access cards, which is what makes these boxes popular in apartment buildings and managed sites where the credential is a card rather than a key. Cards lie flat in the cavity; take the hooks out if you are storing cards only and want the full space.
Outdoors, Weather and Gold Coast Conditions
Is it weatherproof?
It is built for indoor use or protected outdoor areas, and no IP or weather rating is quoted for it. The retractable plastic cover keeps dust and splash off the dials, which is not the same as sealing the box. Under an eave, inside a porch or on the sheltered face of a gate post is the right kind of spot; fully exposed to driving rain and all-day sun is not.
It is built for indoor use or protected outdoor areas, and no IP or weather rating is quoted for it. The retractable plastic cover keeps dust and splash off the dials, which is not the same as sealing the box. Under an eave, inside a porch or on the sheltered face of a gate post is the right kind of spot; fully exposed to driving rain and all-day sun is not.
What about salt air near the beach?
Salt air is hard on any mechanism with moving parts, and a key box hanging on a gate a few streets back from the water gets the full benefit of it. Rinse it with fresh water now and then, work the dials so they do not seize, and keep the cover closed when the box is not in use. Our blog has a practical section on keeping a key box working in coastal conditions.
Salt air is hard on any mechanism with moving parts, and a key box hanging on a gate a few streets back from the water gets the full benefit of it. Rinse it with fresh water now and then, work the dials so they do not seize, and keep the cover closed when the box is not in use. Our blog has a practical section on keeping a key box working in coastal conditions.
Alternatives and Upgrades
What if I want to see who opened it?
A mechanical box cannot tell you that - everyone who has the code looks the same to it. For individual codes and a record of entries you need an electronic box: the wall-mounted ABUS KG787BTC Smart Bluetooth, or the portable Master Lock 5440EC Enterprise if you want to keep the hanging format.
A mechanical box cannot tell you that - everyone who has the code looks the same to it. For individual codes and a record of entries you need an electronic box: the wall-mounted ABUS KG787BTC Smart Bluetooth, or the portable Master Lock 5440EC Enterprise if you want to keep the hanging format.
What else should I compare it against?
The closest like-for-like is the Carbine Shackle Mounted Key Safe - Dial Combination (Large), same idea and same format. The Burg-Wachter Key Safe 50 takes a different approach with a detachable shackle so it can go either way, and the FK Surf Deluxe Keysafe is the vehicle-focused option. All of them sit together in Key Storage.
The closest like-for-like is the Carbine Shackle Mounted Key Safe - Dial Combination (Large), same idea and same format. The Burg-Wachter Key Safe 50 takes a different approach with a detachable shackle so it can go either way, and the FK Surf Deluxe Keysafe is the vehicle-focused option. All of them sit together in Key Storage.
I would rather not leave a key outside at all.
Fair enough - and the honest answer is that a key box is a compromise you accept for the convenience of unattended access. The alternative is putting the code on the door instead of in a box beside it: a battery-free mechanical keypad lock does that with no key to store and nothing to go flat. Those are a different product class, not a bigger key box, and they live in Digital Mechanical Locks.
Fair enough - and the honest answer is that a key box is a compromise you accept for the convenience of unattended access. The alternative is putting the code on the door instead of in a box beside it: a battery-free mechanical keypad lock does that with no key to store and nothing to go flat. Those are a different product class, not a bigger key box, and they live in Digital Mechanical Locks.
Related Products, Guides and Chapters
The rest of the ABUS Key Garage range: KG797LEDC (this box with lit dials) · KG777C (push-button, shackle) · KG737C Mini · KG787C (wall-mounted dial) · KG787LEDC · KG787BIG · KG767C · KG747LC · KG787BTC Smart Bluetooth
Accessories for this box: KGCABLEC flexible cable shackle · KG777AD automotive window adaptor
Comparable key boxes from other brands: Carbine Shackle Mounted Key Safe - Dial Combination (Large) · Burg-Wachter Key Safe 50 · FK Surf Deluxe Keysafe · Master Lock 5440EC Enterprise Bluetooth Key Safe
Browse the range: Key Storage · Digital Mechanical Locks · everything we stock from ABUS
Guides and chapters: How a combination key lock box works · Storing the override key outside the house · Buyer's Guide Ch 10 - commercial and institutional brands · Buyer's Guide Ch 13 - practical use · Ask our team for a recommendation
What's in the Box - ABUS Key Garage KG797C
- 1 x ABUS Key Garage KG797C, with the 10 mm shackle fitted
- Removable key hooks, fitted
- Fixing kit
- Installation and operating instructions - the multilingual fold-out leaflet that covers both the wall-mounted 787 and the shackle-mounted 797, including the code-change procedure
Not included
The KGCABLEC flexible cable shackle and the KG777AD automotive window adaptor are sold separately, and each replaces the standard shackle rather than adding to it. No battery is needed or supplied - the KG797C is fully mechanical. The box arrives on the factory code 0000; set your own before you use it.
The KGCABLEC flexible cable shackle and the KG777AD automotive window adaptor are sold separately, and each replaces the standard shackle rather than adding to it. No battery is needed or supplied - the KG797C is fully mechanical. The box arrives on the factory code 0000; set your own before you use it.
ABUS Key Garage KG797C - Dimensions
Internal cavity, external body, and shackle clearance dimensions. External height includes the shackle. Internal dimensions do not include protrusion of the locking mechanism. The catalogue gives the external size as 84 x 180 x 44 mm (W x H x D) with a 10 mm shackle, at 915 g.
ABUS Key Garage - Product Brochure
About this brochure
This is an earlier edition of the Key Garage range brochure, kept here because it shows the whole family side by side and is the only document that pictures the KG777AD adaptor in place. Some figures printed in it differ from the current catalogue - where they do, the Specifications on this page are the ones to go by. If a particular measurement or capacity matters to your job, check with us before you order.
This is an earlier edition of the Key Garage range brochure, kept here because it shows the whole family side by side and is the only document that pictures the KG777AD adaptor in place. Some figures printed in it differ from the current catalogue - where they do, the Specifications on this page are the ones to go by. If a particular measurement or capacity matters to your job, check with us before you order.
Page 1 - Cover: safely store your keys and other valuables
Page 2 - The range: wall-mounted and padlock versions, push-button or dial
Page 3 - Push button, large capacity
Page 4 - Push button: the wall-mounted KG767C and the shackle-mounted KG777C
Page 5 - Dial type: the compact KG737C Mini
Page 6 - Dial type: the wall-mounted KG787C and this product, the shackle-mounted KG797C
Page 7 - Auto adaptor: the KG777AD stainless bracket that replaces the shackle
Page 8 - Back cover
PDF Files - ABUS Key Garage KG797C
ABUS KeyGarage 787 and 797 - Installation and Operating Instructions (PDF)
The leaflet supplied in the box, in eleven languages with line drawings: opening the key drawer, the factory code of 0000 and the warning that a lost code cannot be recovered, the four-step code change on the reset button, wall mounting the 787, and releasing and hanging the 797 shackle.
The leaflet supplied in the box, in eleven languages with line drawings: opening the key drawer, the factory code of 0000 and the warning that a lost code cannot be recovered, the four-step code change on the reset button, wall mounting the 787, and releasing and hanging the 797 shackle.
ABUS KeyGarage and KeySafe Key Storage Catalogue (PDF)
The 2023 range catalogue, and the specification source for this page: a comparison table covering dials, key and card capacity and mounting across every model, a dedicated 797 and 797 LED spread on printed pages 14-15, and the built-in stainless KeySafe range at the back.
The 2023 range catalogue, and the specification source for this page: a comparison table covering dials, key and card capacity and mounting across every model, a dedicated 797 and 797 LED spread on printed pages 14-15, and the built-in stainless KeySafe range at the back.
ABUS Key Garage Range Brochure (PDF)
An earlier-edition range brochure arranged by mechanism, with the KG787C and KG797C together on page 6 and the KG777AD automotive adaptor on page 7. Useful for seeing the family side by side; some of its figures predate the current catalogue.
An earlier-edition range brochure arranged by mechanism, with the KG787C and KG797C together on page 6 and the KG777AD automotive adaptor on page 7. Useful for seeing the family side by side; some of its figures predate the current catalogue.
ABUS Warranty
ABUS products sold by Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries are backed by a manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, together with your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Warranty periods vary by product line - refer to your product packaging or contact us at the time of purchase for the period that applies to your specific model.
Warranty Summary
How to Make a Warranty Claim
For full returns and warranty claim procedures, visit our Returns & Warranty page - this is kept up to date and is the authoritative reference for current claim steps.
- Contact Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd at your original place of purchase first - all warranty claims must be directed to the retailer where the product was purchased.
Phone: 07 5601 1867
Visit: U9/2 Prosper Crescent, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 - Have your proof of purchase ready (receipt or order confirmation).
- If the fault is not immediately visible in person, provide clear photos showing the defect so the item can be assessed before a Return Merchandise Authorisation (RMA) is approved.
- Do not return the item before receiving RMA approval - items returned without approval may be sent back to you at your cost.
- Once approved, you will receive return instructions. If the item is confirmed faulty, a prepaid return freight label will be provided to cover return shipping costs.
What the Warranty Does Not Cover
- Normal wear and tear
- Damage caused by misuse, abuse, or improper installation
- Damage caused by neglect or failure to follow product instructions
- Products not purchased from an authorised retailer
Important Note
Warranty claims must be lodged with the retailer where the product was originally purchased. ABUS products purchased from another retailer or website cannot be returned to Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries for warranty assessment.
Warranty claims must be lodged with the retailer where the product was originally purchased. ABUS products purchased from another retailer or website cannot be returned to Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries for warranty assessment.
Confused? Overwhelmed? We get it.
Choosing the right smart lock can be genuinely tricky - door types, backsets, app platforms, compatibility with your existing hardware... there is a lot to consider. We have decades of experience fitting locks of all types, including smart locks, and we are happy to help.
Our expert recommendation service is free. Upload a few photos of your door and describe what you need, and one of our qualified locksmiths will give you a personalised recommendation.
Get Your Free Recommendation →How it works - three easy steps:
1. Upload photos
A few clear shots of your door, lock and frame - inside and out.
2. We assess
Our locksmith reviews your setup and requirements - door type, weather exposure, how you want to use it.
3. You get a recommendation
A personalised recommendation tailored to your door, budget and needs. No pressure, no upsell.
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