Serious question about those smart alarm panels that double as home hubs

Last week I was at a supply house and overheard two guys talking about how they keep getting callbacks on those all-in-one alarm panels that also control lights and door locks. One guy said he's had three panels burn out in six months because the power supply can't handle all the extra devices connected to it. It got me thinking about whether we're pushing these combo units too hard for residential installs. I did a job last month where the homeowner wanted a single panel to run the alarm, five smart locks, and twelve zwave light switches. Within two weeks the panel was freezing up and the alarm wouldn't arm remotely. Has anyone else run into this issue where the panel just can't keep up with all the extra features?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimw572d ago

Hold on a second, I disagree with this completely. These panels are built for exactly this kind of setup if you pick the right one and wire it properly. I have a three-year-old unit in my own house running the alarm, eight locks, and fifteen zwave switches and it has never once locked up or had a power problem. The issue is almost always bad installation or cheapskate homeowners buying the bottom-of-the-line panel and overloading it. If you size the power supply correctly and use quality gear, these combo units work just fine for most homes. Some of the callbacks you hear about are from guys who don't take the time to read the specs on what the panel can actually handle.

the_alex2d ago

Yeah, that tracks. People skip reading the manual then blame the gear.

jake7472d ago

See it differently with @the_alex on this one. Three years of no issues is great for you, but I've seen plenty of properly installed, mid-range panels have the Z-Wave radio or the logic board crap out right after the warranty ends.