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A walk through a new housing development changed my mind on wireless sensors
I toured a 200-unit complex going up near Huntsville last week and saw they ran conduit to every single window and door for hardwired alarms. The foreman said they save $80 per unit going wireless now with the new lithium batteries lasting 5+ years, and that got me thinking about my own installs. Has anyone else made the switch on larger jobs?
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marybutler16d ago
That "$80 per unit savings" gets eaten up fast when those lithium batteries start dying at year 4 instead of 5. I've seen it happen. Suddenly you're running around with a ladder changing 200 batteries on a hot Saturday because the homeowner cheaped out on the sensor brand. Hardwire is a pain to install but it just works forever. No dead zones, no interference from neighbor's garage door opener. Call me old school but I'll take the conduit every time.
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jessica92116d ago
Battery tech gets all the attention but nobody talks about how wireless sensors make future remodeling way harder. If that homeowner decides to swap out windows or add a new door in 10 years, they're stuck matching discontinued wireless gear or ripping out drywall anyway. Hardwire gives you flexibility down the road that wireless just can't match.
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We see this same pattern everywhere. People buy furniture that's "quick assembly" but five years later the laminate is peeling and you can't find replacement hardware. Or they go with those modular kitchens that snap together, then wonder why the cabinets wobble after a couple hot summers. It's all about saving ten minutes today but costing you five hours tomorrow. The smartest stuff is almost always the most boring stuff that just works.
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