Am I the only one seeing more alarm panels fried by power surges?

Last month, I went back to three jobs where the alarm panel was dead after a storm. Each time, the home had no surge protector on the system. I'm confused why this isn't standard practice yet. For example, one customer lost their whole security because a nearby lightning strike zapped the panel. Now I always recommend adding a surge protector to every install. It's a cheap fix that saves headaches later. What's your take on this, guys?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarahart16h ago

Calling surge protectors a "cheap fix" is kinda generous lol. The good ones aren't that cheap, but they're still way cheaper than replacing a fried panel.

davidschmidt12h ago

@tarahart, you're right about the cost comparison, but there's another side. Most people don't know that surge protectors can wear out after taking a few hits. So even a good one might fail when a surge actually happens. That means your panel could still get fried if you never check or swap them out. It's not just the first cost, it's the need to keep up with them over time. This turns the "cheap fix" into something that needs real attention to work.