After buying your electric vehicle, you are probably thinking about installing a Level 2 EV charger in your home. You're making a smart move toward energy efficiency and convenience, but here's something many homeowners overlook: EV chargers, like any modern appliance, are vulnerable to power surges.
Whole-home surge protection isn't just for your laptop or refrigerator anymore. With the growing number of high-voltage devices in today’s homes, surge protection is now an essential safeguard—especially for your EV charging station.
A whole-home surge protector is a device hardwired into your main electrical panel. It acts like a gatekeeper, monitoring the electrical current entering your home. If a power surge occurs, whether from a lightning strike or a utility grid spike, it redirects the excess voltage safely to the ground before it can damage your appliances or systems.
Think of it as a much more powerful version of the surge strips you use behind your TV or computer—but for your entire home.
EV chargers are sophisticated pieces of equipment designed to deliver high amounts of power quickly and safely to your vehicle. However, that same sensitivity also makes them vulnerable. A sudden voltage spike could:
In some cases, a surge can even damage the circuit breaker or wiring supporting the charger, creating more costly and hazardous issues.
Yes—especially during Indiana's stormy spring and summer seasons. Lightning strikes, downed power lines, and even routine utility work can cause voltage surges. And they don’t have to be major events; even small, frequent surges over time can degrade your charger’s performance and shorten its lifespan.
Indianapolis homes are no strangers to erratic weather patterns, and with many neighborhoods still operating on aging electrical infrastructure, the risk is real.
When installed correctly, surge protection helps safeguard:
This makes it one of the best all-around investments you can make in your home’s electrical system.
In Indianapolis, the cost of installing a whole-home surge protector typically ranges from $300 to $800, depending on:
Many of our customers bundle surge protection with other upgrades to save on labor and avoid multiple trips or permits.
When’s the Best Time to Install It?
The ideal time to install a surge protector is when:
Surge protection takes only a couple of hours to install and doesn’t require major modifications—just a trained electrician and the right equipment.
You’ve invested in sustainable tech. Don’t let one lightning storm or utility issue fry your investment. At Zimmerman Electric, we help Indianapolis homeowners add whole-home surge protection as part of their EV charger installation or electrical system upgrades.
Contact us today to learn more about bundling surge protection with your EV charger install. Your car—and your home—will thank you.