Had a weird power surge fry a brand new panel in a Phoenix attic

I was finishing an install in a 90 degree attic last month, just about to power up a fresh DSC Neo panel. I plugged in the transformer, heard a pop, and saw smoke. The whole thing was dead. Turns out the homeowner had a faulty AC unit on the same circuit that was sending random voltage spikes. I had to pull the whole panel, drive 40 minutes to the supplier for a new one, and rewire everything on the spot. The worst part was explaining the delay and extra cost. Now I carry a basic outlet tester and check nearby loads before I plug anything in. Has anyone else run into weird power issues like that in an attic?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthew_wilson227d ago

Man, that's brutal. I've had a cheapo motion sensor get cooked from a bad ground in an old house, but a whole new panel is next level pain. That drive back to the supplier alone sounds like a special kind of torture, especially in that heat. It makes total sense to start checking the outlets now, I might have to steal that idea. Just a really expensive way to learn a lesson.

betty_scott187d ago

Yeah, that drive back is the worst part. Makes you want to just sit in the parking lot and stare into the middle distance.