If my battery goes dead, will I lose my combination?

No. The combination is retained in the lock even after the power is lost. Simply install a new battery and operate the lock in a normal manner. Again, we highly recommend the use of high quality ALKALINE batteries from known brands ownly, preferably Duracell, Duracell Industrial or Duracell Energizer. They’ve been strenuously tested and proven to last longer during safe lock operation.