Dropped $600 on a higher-end panel and it paid for itself in one tricky install

I usually grab the cheapest 8-zone panel I can find from the supply house, figure the customer just wants something that works. But last month I had a job in an old house in the suburbs with knob and tube wiring still in some walls, real headache. I went with a $600 Honeywell Vista panel that had built-in surge protection and better filtering for dirty power. That panel didn't false alarm once during the three days of testing, whereas my usual budget pick would have tripped out over every little voltage drop from the ancient AC unit kicking on. The customer was happy, I didn't have to go back for a service call, and I figure I saved myself at least a couple hundred bucks in labor and frustration. Has anyone else shelled out more for a panel and had it work out better than expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

terryk1025d ago

Dang, that dirty power filtering is the part that gets me. Did the surge protection actually save you any gear on that install, or was it more about peace of mind with the knob and tube still in there?

finley_price2424d ago

Idk I used to think surge protection was kinda overhyped but this install honestly changed my whole view on it.

jana_scott24d ago

Oh man, same here, I was a total skeptic until a power surge fried my TV and now I swear by them.