After a lightning surge in the neighborhood one breaker would no longer turn on. Replaced the Eaton CH combo arc fault/ gfci breaker with a new one and it works great. Tested voltage on garage door receptacle, switch, and control wires.
Whole-home surge protection in Raleigh, Cary and Apex
Whole-home surge protectors installed at the panel for homes in Raleigh, Cary, Apex and the Triangle, plus repairs after lightning and storm surges.
- 4.8★★★★★280 Google reviews
- 2013Serving the Triangle since
- 1-yearwarranty on all work
When to call us
- Lightning or a storm has already damaged a TV, appliance or garage door opener
- A breaker won't reset, or several things stopped working at once after a storm
- You're getting a new panel, EV charger or heat pump and want to protect the investment
- Your home is full of electronics, smart devices and appliances with circuit boards
- Lights flicker or blink during storms
A whole-home surge protector sits at your electrical panel and clamps voltage spikes from the power line before they reach your appliances, HVAC, EV charger and everything with a circuit board. It’s one of the least expensive things you can add to a panel, and it protects some of the most expensive things in the house.
What the work involves
The protector is a Type 2 surge protective device, made to mount at the panel and connected to a two-pole breaker.
Placement matters. It works best on a breaker close to where power enters the panel, so we sometimes move a breaker or two to make room, then relabel the panel.
It works alongside plug-in surge strips, not instead of them. The panel device handles the large surges that come in on the line, such as lightning on a nearby pole, and plug-in strips handle small spikes at sensitive electronics.
Large motors in air conditioners, well pumps and shop tools cause smaller spikes inside the house every time they start, and a panel protector smooths those too.
How we do it
- We match the protector to your panel brand so it mounts cleanly and the breaker fits.
- We install it close to the incoming power, relocating breakers if needed.
- We show you its status light and what it means, so you’ll know if a surge ever uses it up.
In one Cary home we installed an Eaton whole-home protector in a 200-amp panel, moving two 20-amp breakers so the protector could sit closest to the incoming power.
What affects the cost
- Your panel brand and the matching protector and breaker
- Whether the panel has an open space near the incoming power, or breakers have to be moved
- Whether it’s installed on its own or as part of a panel replacement or new circuit
Permits
When a surge protector goes in as part of a panel replacement or service upgrade, it’s covered by that job’s permit. The National Electrical Code calls for one whenever a home’s service equipment is installed or replaced. For a stand-alone install, we check with your town whether it needs a permit. Each town page lists the right office.
Where we do this work
From our office in Cary, we serve homes and businesses across the Triangle, most often in Raleigh, Cary and Apex, and in nearby towns including Durham, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest.
Common questions
Does a whole-home surge protector replace my power strips?
It handles the big surges that come in from outside, like lightning on a nearby line, which a power strip can't stop. Plug-in strips still help with small surges at sensitive electronics, so the two work together. Most homes do fine with a panel protector plus strips at the TV and computer.
Where does the surge protector go?
In or next to your main panel, wired to a two-pole breaker as close to the incoming power as possible. That placement matters, so we sometimes move a breaker or two to make room, and we relabel the panel when we do.
Can you add surge protection to the panel I already have in Cary or Raleigh?
Almost always. We match the protector to your panel brand, such as Eaton CH or BR, Square D or Siemens, so it mounts cleanly and the breaker fits. If the panel is full we can usually free up space with a tandem breaker.
Something stopped working after a lightning storm. Is it the surge protector's fault?
Usually it's a surge that got through before any protector was installed, or a protector that did its job and sacrificed itself. We test the panel, breakers and the affected circuit, replace what's damaged, and check whether the protector's indicator shows it still has life left.
What customers say about our surge protection work
4.8 on Google from 280 reviews
Bobby and Spencer installed a whole house surge protector in my panel. They relocated existing breakers to place the protector at the top of the bus bar. They also relabeled the affected breakers. The whole procedure only took 20 minutes. I highly recommend these guys!
Other folks might have just popped in the protector at the bottom of the panel but they did the right thing. I will definitely use them in the future!
Ed H., Cary August 2026
Had a generator inter-connect installed for my circuit breaker. Came out quickly, made extra effort to get it done before the storm, worked well when tested. Roy is the only electrician I call.
James B., Apex January 2026
Quick response and went out of his way to get my lights back on after a power surge. Many thanks
Mike O. October 2024
Recent surge protection projects in Raleigh, Cary and Apex
Relocated 2 20A Circuit breakers & Installed a new Surge protector closest to the incoming power on this 200A Main Eaton CH panel.
We were called out to install an Eaton CH whole home surge protector in the main panel. In order to place the devicev in the proper place we had to move two twenty amp circuits and relabel the panel accordingly.
Installed surge protector
Need an electrician?
Call or text our office, or send us the details and a photo and we'll follow up to schedule a visit.