When Arlington Community Church learned that their older electrical infrastructure wasn’t up to par for safety, they trusted PRO Electric plus HVAC to do the entire project. We replaced the 10-year warranty breaker panel, added necessary safety equipment such as surge protectors and GFCI outlets, and boosted grounding with new water pipe bonding and ground rods. "With 13 new, energy-efficient light fixtures lighting their building, the church now has a clean and modern electric infrastructure that complies with all codes. They can be focused on their mission in the knowledge that their facility is secure and functional.

It was midnight, and Bob was sound asleep when something rocked his house. He heard a loud bomb and thought he had awoken to find himself in a war zone.

 

Except his lawn and garden weren’t in flames, so maybe he just dreaming?

Maybe the neighborhood teenagers had finally delved into some serious fireworks?

Smelling smoke and looking to his left, Bob discovered that his house was blacked out.

It turned out that a lightning strike had nailed his landscape light transformer and blew a fuse – or three – on his home.

The Incident:

Bob had descended the stairs to find his utility room full of smoke and his main breaker tripped. He panicked. He picked up the phone and called the ‘red light truck’ (the fire department), and a crew showed up with a hose in hand.

They took the hose around his yard in an impromptu water parade while he stood there in a stupor.

After some sleuthing and a lot of eye groping, the crew learned that two GFCI outlets had been fried, and Bob’s $150+ router was stone dead.

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The transformer supplying his landscape lights had blown up, and its innards were scattered across Bob’s lawn. Bob surveyed the carnage, his once-glowing garden ablaze and in ruins.

The Solution:

It went well beyond the need for a new router or two ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets.

This man needed Mother Nature keeping her mitts off his wiring and so into his life came the whole house surge protector: a home electrical hero who would shield Bob and his house not just from those occasional lightning strikes, not just from random power surges, but from whatever Mother Nature and I guess the universe had in store for him.

Results:

The whole‑house surge protector was installed, and Bob’s home is now protected.

It has a lifetime warranty and $100,000 in damage insurance.

Bob can sleep soundly, knowing his assets are safe and shielded from the dreaded electrical monster. And he also dodged the therapy bill for Sparky, the poor dog who still hasn’t recovered from the shock.

Conclusion:

Bob also knows first hand how a lightning strike on his wiring can suddenly turn the night into something out of an action movie – but now that he has a whole house surge protector, his next lightning strike won’t include an explosive wake-up call! Don’t want to wake up standing in the dark clutching the broken parts of your transformer? Take a page from Bob’s book! Get that whole house surge protector and keep those sparks confined – where they belong – inside your light bulbs, not your garden!

Hi, I’m Jason from Pro Electric LLC.

I installed a home EV charger and surge protector for a client in Arlington, Virginia.

The client bought an electric vehicle and required a home charging solution.

They also feared that power surges would harm their new charger and other electronics.

Understanding the Client’s Needs

The client wanted to charge their EV at home easily and quickly.

They also needed to safeguard their house against voltage spikes.

I recommended a Level 2 EV charging station for quicker charging and a whole-house surge protector for electric safety.

Our Solution

I assessed their electrical panel to ensure it could handle the additional load.

The panel was adequate, so no upgrades were needed.

We selected a convenient spot in their garage for the charger, keeping safety in mind.

I handled all necessary permits and ensured the installation met the National Electrical Code and local regulations for Arlington County.

Installation Steps

  1. Installing the EV Charger

    • Dedicated Circuit: I installed a new 240-volt circuit breaker in the electrical panel.
    • Wiring: Ran the appropriate wire from the panel to the charging station location.
    • Mounting: Secured the Level 2 charger on the garage wall.
    • Connections: Made all electrical connections securely and up to code.
  2. Installing the Surge Protector

    • Placement: The surge protector is mounted next to the electrical panel.
    • Integration: Connected it directly to the main service for maximum protection.
    • Testing: Verified that the surge protector was working correctly.

Results

The installation went well. Now, the client has a quick and dependable home EV charging station.

They have their whole house safeguarded from power surges.

They were satisfied with the prompt service and added peace of mind.

Why It Matters

A home charging station is convenient as electric cars become popular.

A competently installed Level 2 charger saves time.

A surge protector will prevent unexpected electrical issues with your charger and other electronics.

Final Thoughts

If you have an electric vehicle or plan to get one, consider installing a home charger.

Also, consider a surge protector to keep your home’s electrical system safe.

If you need help with the installation, feel free to contact me.

I’m here to assist!

Charge safely,

Jason
Master Electrician, Pro Electric LLC

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