Hit 500 panel installs last Tuesday and it caught me off guard

I was just wrapping up a job in Tacoma on Tuesday, a basic DSC panel swap for a retired couple, and I happened to check my work log when I got back to the truck. That install put me at exactly 500 alarm panels installed since I started solo in 2018. I sat there for a minute doing the math in my head, like two panels a week average for years adds up way faster than you think. Each one had its own weird quirk too, like that one house with stucco walls where I had to drill through 4 inches of foam, or the time I ran wire through an attic in July and almost passed out. It just hit me that Ive probably spent over 2000 hours on ladders alone getting these things mounted and programmed. Anyone else ever stop and count up their total jobs and get surprised by the number?

2 comments

2 Comments

umathompson1mo ago

Actually the math might be off a little on those ladders. I mean 2000 hours on ladders sounds impressive but let's think about it. If you did two panels a week for about six years that's around 600 panels total not 500. But I get what you're saying about the time adding up. The real kicker is the attic time though. I've spent way more hours crawling through fiberglass insulation than I ever did on a ladder. That stuff sticks to your skin for days no matter how much you shower. So maybe it's more like 1500 hours on ladders and 500 hours in attics if you're being honest about it. Either way it's a crazy milestone to hit without realizing it.

jamesm481mo ago

Wait, did you just say 500 hours in attics? I always figured the ladder was the bulk of the time and attics were just a quick in and out. But now that you break it down like that, I can see it. I used to think those attic hours were just a minor part of the job, but you're right, it adds up. That fiberglass dust gets everywhere and it's awful. Like trying to get sawdust out of your clothes after a long day, but stickier and itches way worse. So yeah, I'm with you now. The ladder is a big deal but the attic is where the real grind is.

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