Whole-home surge protection

Whole Home Surge Protection with Electricians on the Go

Electricians on the Go provides comprehensive surge protection for your entire home. Your appliances hold significant value, representing a considerable investment that you want to safeguard against potential damage. Power surges can inflict irreparable harm on these devices. Losing a brand-new phone to a surge is not only frustrating but also a financial setback that can strain your budget.

Power surges, also known as voltage spikes, occur when an excessive amount of voltage flows through your electrical wires, surpassing standard household levels. Most appliances typically operate within a voltage range of 110V to 220V. Any voltage exceeding 220V can lead to appliance damage, and the effects can manifest gradually or suddenly based on the intensity of the surge.

What Triggers These Dreadful Power Surges?

There are numerous factors that can cause power surges, some of which are beyond your control, while others may stem from issues within your home. Common culprits include:

Lightning strikes
Power fluctuations in your area
Faults in your home’s electrical system
Large electronic devices cycling on and off

Surges can occur throughout the day, often going unnoticed until a significant one damages an appliance.

To shield your home and family from these harmful power surges, consider installing whole-house surge protectors.

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In North Carolina, the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires surge protection for all dwelling unit services. This means a surge protective device (SPD) (either Type 1 or Type 2) must be installed at or near the service equipment. This is a new requirement in the 2020 NEC, and applies when replacing existing service equipment as well. Key points about NC code recommendations for house surge protectors:

NEC 230.67 mandates surge protection: This section specifically addresses surge protection for dwelling units.
Type 1 or Type 2 SPD required: The code specifies that either a Type 1 or Type 2 SPD must be used.
Location: The SPD should be either part of the service equipment or located immediately adjacent to it. An exception allows for locating the SPD at the next level of downstream distribution equipment.
Replacement of service equipment: If the existing service equipment is replaced, the new requirements for surge protection must be followed.
Whole-house surge protection is recommended: While not explicitly required by the code, using a whole-house surge protector is considered a best practice for protecting sensitive electronics and appliances.
Considerations for whole-house surge protectors:
- kA (kiloamp) rating: Larger homes or those with more electronics may require a higher kA rating (e.g., 100kA-120kA).
- Joule rating: For plug-in protectors, a minimum of 600 joules is recommended, with higher ratings offering better protection.
- Clamping voltage: The clamping voltage for permanently installed surge protectors should be no more than 400 volts.
- Proper grounding: A home's wiring must be properly grounded to ensure the surge protector can effectively divert current.
Professional installation: It's recommended to have a qualified electrician install the surge protection device to ensure proper grounding and compliance with the code.

Whole-home surge protection

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