Just realized how much easier new panels are to mount than the old metal boxes

I've been doing alarm installs for about 8 years now, and the last few months I've switched almost entirely to those plastic panel enclosures from the big brands. With the old steel boxes, I used to spend a good 20 minutes just drilling pilot holes and dealing with the metal shavings everywhere. Now I can mount the plastic base in under 5 minutes with some self tapping screws and a screwgun. But what really hit me was last week when I had to go back and swap an old DSC PC1550 for a new wireless panel. That old metal box had rusted inside from basement moisture, and the screw holes were all stripped out. It took me over an hour just to get the thing off the wall without tearing the drywall apart. I never really thought about how much time I wasted on those old metal enclosures until I had to deal with one again. Anyone else notice the same thing when they go back to older installs?

2 comments

2 Comments

diana_flores2523d ago

Ha, yeah nothing like wrestling with a rusted out metal box to make you appreciate modern plastic. I swear those old steel ones had a personal vendetta against me.

derek_dixon7823d ago

Did you ever get one of those bolts that just absolutely refused to break loose no matter what you did? I swear those things were welded on from the factory just to mess with us.