Whole House Surge Protector Installation Raleigh

108 kASurge current capacityEaton CHSPT2ULTRA

20 kANominal dischargeTwice the NEC’s 10 kA minimum

LifetimeDevice warrantyFrom Eaton

$75,000Equipment coverageEaton connected-equipment warranty

Where surges come from

Lightning is only one source

A surge is a brief spike in voltage, over in a fraction of a second, far above the 120 or 240 volts your home is built for. Big ones fry equipment on the spot. Smaller, everyday ones wear down electronics a little at a time.

From outside the home

On the power company’s lines

Power outages and restoration. When power drops out or comes back on, the lines can carry a surge into the house.
Grid switching and disruptions. The utility rerouting power, a transformer failing, a car hitting a pole.
Construction and utility line work. Crews working on the lines, and new construction tying into the grid nearby.
Nearby lightning. A strike near the lines can send a surge into every home they feed.

From inside the home

From your own equipment

Motors starting and stopping. HVAC compressors, well and pool pumps, refrigerators and garage door openers all create small surges every time they cycle.
Faulty equipment. A failing appliance or motor can send surges into the rest of the house.
Faulty or loose wiring. Poor connections can cause voltage spikes on the circuits around them.

What’s at risk

Almost everything in a modern home has a circuit board

Twenty years ago a surge might take out a TV. Today the same surge can reach the control boards in equipment that costs thousands to repair.

HVAC systemsVariable-speed heat pumps and their control boards
Kitchen appliancesRefrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves
LaundryWashers and dryers with electronic controls
EV chargersAnd the car plugged into them
Home office & TVsComputers, routers, TVs, gaming systems
Smart homeThermostats, cameras, doorbells, lighting controls
Pools, spas & pumpsPool pumps and heaters, hot tubs, well pumps
Garage door openersOne of the most common surge casualties

How it works

One device at the panel, guarding every circuit

A whole-house surge protector connects to your electrical panel on its own breaker. In normal operation it does nothing. When a surge arrives, it reacts in a fraction of a second and sends the excess voltage to ground, before it can travel down the circuits to your equipment.

It’s a Type 2 device, installed at the panel on the load side of your main breaker. (Type 1 devices go ahead of the main, at the meter; Type 3 are the plug-in strips at the outlet.)

Installation matters as much as the device. Eaton’s instructions call for the shortest, straightest wires possible, 12 inches or less and twisted together, because long leads and sharp bends weaken the protection. That’s why we mount it right at the panel, and why its outdoor-rated enclosure is such an advantage.

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA whole-house surge protector with status LEDs — The Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA. Two status lights on the front: when both are lit, you’re protected.

See it work

Eaton’s surge demonstration

Eaton explains the most common causes of surges, then puts the CHSPT2ULTRA on a surge generator to show what it stops.

Video: Eaton. About 2 minutes.

The numbers

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA specifications

From Eaton’s published specifications. Here’s what the key ones mean, and the full list.

Surge current capacity: 108 kA

The biggest single surge the device can absorb. More capacity means more headroom for a large event and a longer life through many small ones.

Nominal discharge: 20 kA

The surge it’s tested to handle over and over and keep working. The NEC requires at least 10 kA; this is twice that.

Voltage protection rating: 600 V

How high the voltage can get before the device clamps it, measured under a standard test surge. Lower is better; 600 V line-to-neutral is a strong rating.

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA
Device type	Type 2 surge protective device (SPD), UL 1449 listed, cUL certified
Surge current capacity	108 kA
Nominal discharge current (In)	20 kA, twice the 10 kA minimum the NEC sets for dwelling-unit SPDs
Voltage protection rating (VPR)	600 V line-to-neutral · 1,000 V line-to-line · 800 V neutral-to-ground · 600 V line-to-ground
Max. continuous operating voltage (MCOV)	150 V line-to-neutral · 300 V line-to-line
Short-circuit current rating (SCCR)	22 kA
System	120/240 V, single-phase, 60 Hz: the standard North Carolina home
Enclosure	NEMA 4, rated for indoor or outdoor installation
Operating temperature	−40°F to 122°F (−40°C to 50°C)
Status indicators	Two LEDs: protected when both are lit
Connection	Dedicated 2-pole 50 A breaker, which Eaton specifies for the device’s full published ratings
Panel compatibility	Any manufacturer’s panel: Square D, Eaton, Siemens, GE and others
Mounting	On the panel, surface-mounted beside it, or flush in a finished wall with Eaton’s flush-mount lid
Size	7 in × 5 in × 2.5 in, about 1 lb
Device warranty	Limited lifetime (Eaton)
Connected-equipment warranty	Up to $75,000 (Eaton, on valid claims; terms below)

Source: Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA product specifications and Eaton instruction bulletin IB00414001Y.

How it compares

Not all surge protectors are equal

Here’s the CHSPT2ULTRA next to Eaton’s own step-down model, a basic unit that just meets code, and the plug-in strip most homes rely on.

	What ARC installsEaton CHSPT2ULTRA	Eaton CHSPT2SURGE10	Code-minimum Type 2 SPD	Plug-in surge strip
What it protects	The whole home, from the panel	The whole home, from the panel	The whole home, from the panel	Only what’s plugged into it
Protects hardwired equipment (HVAC, range, water heater, EV charger, well pump)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Surge current capacity	108 kA	60 kA	Not set by code	Rated in joules, not kA
Nominal discharge current (In)	20 kA	10 kA	10 kA minimum (NEC 230.67)	Not rated
Device warranty	Limited lifetime	10 years	Varies by maker	Varies by maker
Connected-equipment coverage	Up to $75,000	Up to $50,000	Varies, often none	Varies
Indoor / outdoor	NEMA 4, both	—	Varies	Indoor only
Status indicator	Two LEDs	—	Varies	Usually one light

Eaton figures from Eaton’s whole-home surge protection brochure. “Code-minimum” means an SPD that meets only the NEC 230.67 requirement; ratings and warranties vary by brand. Eaton’s surge breakers carry a 5-year warranty and its plug-on modules 1 year.

Why we use it

Why ARC installs the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA, and only the CHSPT2ULTRA

We could install a cheaper surge protector and pocket the difference. We don’t, because a surge protector only matters on the worst day, and on that day we want the best one on your wall. The CHSPT2ULTRA is the top of Eaton’s whole-home line: 108 kA of surge capacity where its step-down model has 60, a 20 kA nominal rating that’s double what code requires, and a NEMA 4 enclosure that lets us mount it right at the panel, indoors or out, with the short, straight wiring that makes a surge protector actually perform. It works with every brand of panel, so every customer gets the same protection, and its two status lights tell you at a glance that it’s still on guard. Then there’s the backing: Eaton covers the device for life and stands behind the equipment it protects with up to $75,000 of connected-equipment coverage, and we back our installation with our own 5-year workmanship warranty. As an Eaton Certified Contractor, it’s the one we’d put in our own homes.

Get my free surge protection quote (919) 888-3500

ARC Electric is an Eaton Certified Contractor, listed in Eaton’s Certified Contractor Network.

Warranty

Two warranties: Eaton’s and ours

Eaton

Lifetime device warranty

Eaton warrants the CHSPT2ULTRA against defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product, in normal residential use.

Eaton

Up to $75,000 in equipment coverage

If a surge gets past a properly installed CHSPT2ULTRA and damages UL- or CSA-listed equipment connected to it, Eaton reimburses up to $75,000 on a valid claim. Claims are filed with Eaton within 30 days, with a dated receipt.

ARC Electric

5 years on our workmanship

If there’s ever a problem with our installation, we cover the parts and labor to fix it for five years. One call to (919) 888-3500.

Our warranty terms

What Eaton’s warranty doesn’t cover: direct lightning strikes, temporary overvoltage, acts of God, misuse and commercial use, and it doesn’t reimburse labor or installation costs. Read the full Eaton surge warranty.

Installed by ARC

On the panel, beside it, or in the wall

Where it goes depends on your panel. We pick the spot that keeps the wiring shortest.

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA surge protector installed by ARC Electric below an outdoor electrical panel — Mounted directly below an outdoor panel. The NEMA 4 enclosure is built for it.

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA with flush-mount lid on an Eaton training display — For finished walls, a flush-mount lid sets it neatly into the wall. Shown at Eaton training.

Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Type 2 surge protective device, angled view — Compact: 7 by 5 inches and about a pound.

We’ve added one on panel jobs like the Cary meter combo and the 1969 Cary aluminum-wiring home.

Good times to add one

When it makes the most sense

During a panel job

The panel is already open. It’s the easiest, lowest-cost time. Panel upgrades

New construction

It’s required on new homes under the electrical code.

New big-ticket equipment

A new heat pump, EV charger, generator or appliance package deserves protecting. EV chargers

After a close call

Lost a garage door opener or a control board in the last storm or outage? Protect what’s left.

Best protection is layered. The whole-house unit stops the big surges at the panel and protects hardwired equipment. Keep quality plug-in strips on computers, TVs and home office gear for what’s left at the outlet.

Surge protection across the Triangle

We install whole-house surge protectors in Raleigh, Cary, Apex and all of Wake County, plus Durham, Chapel Hill and Johnston County.

Related services

The ARC Promise

Every install is covered by the ARC Promise.

We started ARC because nobody we met was happy with the last electrician they hired. So we set three rules and put them in writing.

Read the Promise

Free in-home quotes. No trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation.
No commission. Our electricians are paid the same whether you spend $150 or $15,000.
Free second opinions. Got a quote from someone else? We’ll look at it, in person, for free.

Whole-house surge protector questions

Do I need a whole-house surge protector?

If your home has an HVAC system, appliances with control boards, an EV charger or electronics you care about, it’s one of the least expensive ways to protect all of it at once. Every one of those has electronics that a surge can damage.

Is a whole-house surge protector required by code?

It’s required on new construction under the National Electrical Code (230.67), which sets a 10 kA minimum rating. When we replace an existing panel it isn’t mandatory, but we highly recommend it: the panel is already open, and one device protects every circuit.

Where do surges come from?

Outside the home: the power company switching lines, outages and the surge when power is restored, construction and utility line work, and nearby lightning. Inside the home: motors starting and stopping in HVAC systems, pumps and appliances, and faulty equipment or wiring.

Will it protect my home from lightning?

It helps a great deal with surges from nearby lightning coming in on the power lines. No surge protector can stop a direct lightning strike to your home, and Eaton’s equipment warranty excludes direct strikes.

Do I still need plug-in surge strips?

For sensitive electronics like computers and TVs, yes: a whole-house unit and point-of-use strips work best together. The whole-house unit takes the big hit at the panel and protects hardwired equipment that a strip never could; the strip handles what’s left at the outlet.

How do I know it’s working?

Look at the two LED lights on the front. When both are lit, you’re protected. If they go out, the unit has done its job absorbing a surge or has reached the end of its life, and it needs to be replaced. Give us a call.

Will it work with my panel?

Yes. The CHSPT2ULTRA works with any manufacturer’s panel. It connects to a dedicated 2-pole breaker, so your panel needs two open spaces or room we can make.

Can it be installed outside?

Yes. Its NEMA 4 enclosure is rated for outdoor use, which lets us mount it right at an outdoor panel or meter main, where the wires to it stay short.

What does the warranty cover?

Eaton covers the device for life and reimburses up to $75,000 for damaged connected equipment on a valid claim. Our own 5-year warranty covers our workmanship: parts and labor. The full Eaton terms are linked on this page.

How much does it cost?

We quote it in writing, for free. It depends on your panel, whether it needs a new 2-pole breaker or space made for one, and where the unit mounts. It’s often added during a panel replacement, when the panel is already open.

Contact us to get a whole house surge protector installed today!

tell us some information and we’ll call to set a time. Or skip the form and call now; our dispatcher answers.

No trip charge, no estimate fee, no obligation
Price in writing before work starts
Licensed electricians, not paid on commission

(919) 888-3500