I agree, not good for electric and electronic stuff. We had the same problem with an electronic gate opener a year or so ago.
Btw, I just put a mothball or two in the control box now and the ants stay away.
But as far as harming plants, I haven't found any problems with ants besides the farming of aphids and such. Wash the plants off with the hose occasionally, (or a really good rain storm) and it takes care of that problem too.
I know in Mexico and other hotter places they have a variety of ants called leafcutters, but even they don't actually eat the plants. They cut pieces of the leaves to carry away and make nesting areas out of. Seldom enough damage to kill a plant.
