Keypad started flickering at 3am during a storm install

Last week on a big commercial job in Tampa, I was wiring up a brand new keypad when a lightning strike nearby made all the lights dim and the panel start beeping random codes. Took me 45 minutes to reset everything and figure out the transformer kicked the bucket. Has anyone else had a storm totally wreck their gear mid-install?

3 comments

3 Comments

hart.sage2d ago

Took me 45 minutes to reset everything" sounds about right for storm damage. I always keep a spare transformer and a few fuses in my truck for exactly this reason. After the first time lightning took out a panel mid-install, I started using a surge protector on the keypad power even before final trim out. It's saved me twice now on jobs where the house took a hit while I was still roughing in stuff.

the_william2d ago

Did a buddy have his panel fried mid-install by a sudden storm?

clairen852d ago

Did a buddy have his panel fried mid-install" is rough. That's just bad luck timing, hope his gear was covered. Sucks when a day on the roof turns into a salvage operation.