Chat with an old electrician changed how I wire panels

Honestly, I was talking to this retired electrician at a supply house in Phoenix last week. He told me to stop using zip ties on alarm panel wires and start using Velcro strips. Said it makes future service calls way easier and saves the wire insulation. I brushed it off at first but tried it on my last install and he was totally right. Has anyone else switched from zip ties to something else?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella_lane1mo ago

Used to think zip ties were the only way to keep it clean. Then I had to rip out a whole panel for a customer who wanted an upgrade and spent an hour cutting zip ties off. Switched to velcro on the next one and yeah, it's way better. Wire insulation stays intact and you can actually move stuff around without a cutter. Plus when you're working in a hot attic, fighting with a zip tie is the last thing you want.

scott.drew1mo ago

@stella_lane wait, you actually spent an hour cutting zip ties off one panel? Dude, I probably would have just taken a knife to the whole mess and started over. That's brutal. Velcro sounds like a no-brainer after that nightmare.