⚡ Hudson County, NJ · Licensed & Insured
Whole-Home Surge Protection in NJ
One surge can destroy your EV charger, smart home system, HVAC controls, and every appliance in your home. A whole-home surge protector installed at your panel stops voltage spikes in microseconds — for less than the cost of replacing one appliance.
NJ Licensed & Insured
Free Estimates
1–2 Hour Install
2020 NEC Compliant
What We Install
✓Type 2 SPD at main panel
✓Leviton, Siemens & Eaton devices
✓Rated to IEEE C62.41 standard
✓Status indicator light included
✓Permit pulled when required
✓Compliant with 2020 NEC §230.67
✍️ By Michael Malfettone, Licensed Master Electrician📋 NJ Electrical Contractor License #17130🕐 Last updated May 2026
Is Your Home at Risk?
You Need Whole-Home Surge Protection If…
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You Have an EV Charger
Level 2 EV chargers are sensitive electronics. A surge that comes through the panel can damage the charger and void the warranty.
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Smart Home Devices
Nest thermostats, Ring cameras, Lutron dimmers, and smart panels all contain microprocessors that are vulnerable to voltage transients.
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Home Office Equipment
Computers, monitors, NAS drives, and networking equipment are expensive to replace and often hold irreplaceable data.
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You're in a Storm-Prone Area
Hudson County averages 25+ thunderstorm days per year. Even indirect lightning strikes create damaging surges on the utility grid.
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New HVAC or Appliances
Modern variable-speed HVAC systems, heat pumps, and smart appliances contain sensitive circuit boards that a surge can destroy instantly.
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Solar or Battery Backup
Solar inverters and home battery systems (like a Tesla Powerwall) are expensive equipment that needs protection at the panel level.
How It Works
From Call to Protected in Under a Day
1
Free Estimate
We assess your panel, available breaker space, and grounding system — and give you a written quote before any work begins.
2
Device Selection
We recommend a properly-rated SPD (we use Leviton, Siemens, and Eaton Type 2 devices) matched to your panel brand and service size.
3
Installation
The SPD mounts at your main panel and wires into a 2-pole breaker. Most installs are done in under 2 hours with no extended outage.
4
Permit if Required
On panel upgrade jobs, surge protection is part of the permitted scope. Standalone installs may or may not require a permit depending on your municipality — we handle this.
5
Walk-Through
We show you the installed device, explain the indicator light (green = protected), and answer any questions before we leave.
Common Questions
Surge Protection FAQs
What does a whole-home surge protector actually do?
A whole-home surge protector (technically a Type 2 Surge Protective Device, or SPD) installs at your main electrical panel and intercepts voltage spikes before they reach your outlets and devices. It clamps the voltage to a safe level in microseconds, protecting everything plugged into your home — appliances, HVAC equipment, TVs, computers, smart home devices, and EV chargers.
Is a whole-home surge protector required by code in NJ?
The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), which New Jersey has adopted, requires surge protection on new service entrance installations and panel replacements. If you are having your panel upgraded or replaced, surge protection is now part of the code-compliant installation. For existing homes without recent panel work, it is not currently required — but it is strongly recommended, especially with the proliferation of sensitive electronics and EV chargers.
Do I still need power strips with surge protectors if I have whole-home protection?
Yes — a layered approach is best. The whole-home device handles large spikes (like lightning near your home or utility switching events). Point-of-use surge protectors on sensitive electronics like computers and TVs provide a second layer of defense against smaller, more frequent transients that originate inside the home from motors, HVAC cycling, and appliances. Think of it like a car's seatbelt and airbag — both do different jobs.
How long does installation take?
Most whole-home surge protector installations take 1–2 hours. The device mounts in or near your main panel and connects to a dedicated 2-pole breaker. If your panel is easily accessible and has available breaker space, the job is straightforward. We will let you know during the estimate if there are any complicating factors.
Can a whole-home surge protector be added to any existing panel?
In most cases, yes — as long as your panel has space for a 2-pole breaker. If your panel is full or has a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel (which we recommend replacing for safety reasons anyway), we will discuss options during the estimate. Often, surge protection is most economically installed at the same time as a panel upgrade.
How much does whole-home surge protection cost in NJ?
Whole-home surge protector installation in Hudson County typically runs $350–$650, including labor, the device, and permit if required. The device itself (a quality SPD from Leviton, Siemens, or Eaton) runs $100–$250. When installed alongside a panel upgrade, the added cost is typically $200–$350 since the panel is already open and accessible.
Who Wrote This
Third-generation owner of Malfettone Electric, the family business his grandfather started in 1977. Michael has personally run panel upgrades, service changes, and rewires across Hudson, Essex, and Bergen Counties — pulling the UCC permits, filing the PSE&G and JCP&L applications, and meeting the inspectors himself. The pricing and timelines on this page come from our own recent jobs.
NJ Electrical Contractor License #17130 · Family-owned since 1977 · Hudson & Essex County · Read Michael's full bio →
Protect Your Home Before the Next Storm
Summer storm season in Hudson County brings dozens of thunderstorms. A whole-home surge protector installed today protects every device in your home — and pays for itself the first time it stops a surge.