Surge Protection

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Ask the Electrician: 2023 NEC Code Changes

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Q: What are some upcoming code changes and how will they impact job requirements in North Carolina?

A little NEC background:

The National Electrical Code - NFPA 70 (NEC) is a set of safety regulations established as part of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Established in 1897 the National Electrical Code is updated every three years. These rules for safety apply to both new construction as well as remodel and repair work for both residential and commercial buildings. It can be an intensive process to see new standards arrive in the NEC. 

  • Government agencies and consumer groups gather data and research emerging safety concerns and hazards, anyone may submit suggestions for alterations to the code.

  • New technology and products are developed and then tested by independent laboratories like UL or ETL.

  • These new technologies and procedures are then presented to the NEC. 

  • Next is a period of testing and gathering feedback from experts, consumers and other entities.

  • Only after this feedback has been reviewed by NFPA/NEC and other regulatory committees is new code written and becomes part of the NEC. 

  • The new NEC is now sent to the individual states for review and adoption.

  • The new codes are not enforced until they have been adopted by the state, and they may be amended.

  • Municipalities may require a “stronger” code at their discretion. The Town of Chapel Hill, for example, has had different ordinances for underground lines due to the heavy tree coverage in our area for years.

It’s 2025, why are we talking about 2023 standards now??

Actual adoption of the NEC code is tricky, North Carolina for example, hasn’t fully updated the residential electrical code since 2014. Since 2017 the legislature has amended out many new residential electrical requirements or did not accept them outright. Now we’re catching up all at once and there are going to potentially be a bunch of changes.

It’s a tough job balancing life safety with economics so it is at the discretion of the state to adopt the NEC code fully or with amendments according to how they feel the changes may impact their state’s specific needs and requirements. Most often this is to allow additional time for tradespeople, lobby groups and regulating agencies to evaluate how specific new codes or standards should be implemented and enforced fairly.  

The 2023 code is scheduled for adoption on July 1, 2025. This will override the amendments to previous years standards and will bring substantial changes across several areas.

Some key areas impacted by this are:

  • Surge Protection all residential new construction & all replacement (new panel, upgrade to service)

  • AFCI - arc fault protection to all habitable rooms/living areas - either device or panel level

  • GFCI - huge expansion here, especially for 240v outlets so almost all major kitchen appliances, car chargers, and by 2027 this will extend to air conditioning

Jobs/Projects that will fall under these coming regulations:

  • Anything that is permitted and requires inspection

  • Panel Replacement

  • Service Upgrades

  • Rewiring your home

  • Service and subpanels to garages and outbuildings

  • New circuits for kitchen and outdoor appliances

It’s for the best reasons:

Nobody likes the idea of added expense or hassle for updates made to our homes but it’s important to realize that changes to the NEC have your safety at the forefront. Over the years the NEC code changes have dramatically reduced both workplace and accidental electrocution deaths across the country. It’s best to make sure any home improvements you do meet the current code and standards. Ignoring or skirting these code requirements may cause issues with home inspections, system compatibility or even worse an accident in your home. 

It’s our job as electricians to stay current on these changes, we are consistently training our team and reviewing new requirements to fully understand what best practices and laws will require. If you’re planning home improvements for this summer, now is a great time to get in touch and discuss how upcoming code changes may impact your project. It all starts with an estimate.

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Ask the Electrician is a column we publish with our advertising partner WCHL/Chapelboro. In “Ask The Electrician,” Scott answers common questions about electrical work, from switches and outlets to safety issues and preventative maintenance. If you have a suggested question for us to answer – or need an electrician – please reach out to our office.

See the article on Chapelboro.com: 2023 NEC Code Changes

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Ask the Electrician: Surge Protection

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Q: Gone are the days of the power strip protection, what do I need now?

Power surges are a fairly common occurrence, they can originate from lightening strikes, arc faults or minor short circuits within the home or just surges/irregularities from the power supply itself. (This is a common reason for a surge.)

Why is surge protection more important in the “modern” world?

Twenty years ago, our worlds had just a few complex “electronic” devices. Power surges still happened just as frequently but the consequences were not as evident. A blown light bulb does not have the same impact as a suddenly useless smart phone.

Today we have all kinds of “small computers” and sensitive electronics in every room of our homes; kitchen appliances, led lighting fixtures, phones, televisions, actual computers and all the other gadgets of modern life. These sensitive electronics can be easily damaged or completely ruined by a common or even relatively small surge in voltage. Now instead of a few dollars for a new light bulb, you are looking at $600 for a new phone, $1000 for a new TV, $800 to replace the dishwasher, etc. No fun.

I’ve got my electronics on a “power strip” – Why isn’t that enough?

Many of us have surge protected power strips that are great for turning on/off a group of devices but they only protect against smaller surges. Most household level surge are rated as low as 200 joules and up to 3000 joules so can protect from a small surge or “short circuit” but may not stand a chance against a larger surge or lightening strike (A billion joules on average). Additionally they have a limited lifespan and should be replaced every few years, be sure to keep an eye on the indicator light to see if your surge power strip is still providing protection. These devices work well for in an office or media stand but it may not be realistic to use them at every outlet or for smart appliances that are “everywhere” now.

Home Surge Protection:

Whole Home Surge Protectors work by regulating the voltage coming through your main electrical line to your meter or main electrical panel. Voltage spikes and surges are blocked from reaching your appliances by pushing (shorting) the excess voltage to your grounding system. The whole home surge protector acts like a pressure release valve, if excess voltage is sensed on the line, the surge protector stops it and sends it to ground, protecting your home wiring and appliances/devices inside the home.

Costs & Considerations:

Home surge protection is not expensive when you consider the cost of replacing a single major appliance, smart phone or other damaged device. Depending on your needs, home surge protection costs range from about $350-$650. You will need to have a minimum of two empty breaker slots available and space beside the breaker box for the unit itself. The other common addition we see is the need to add a second ground rod to meet current building codes. (If your home was built before 2008, it s common to have only a single ground rod.)

As far as the units themselves, we like Eaton or Intermatic as brands. Homeowners should do some research on available features as well as the warranty and coverage offered by the company should a unit fail before making your choice.

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Ask the Electrician is a column we publish with our advertising partner WCHL/Chapelboro. In “Ask The Electrician,” Scott answers common questions about electrical work, from switches and outlets to safety issues and preventative maintenance. If you have a suggested question for us to answer – or need an electrician – please reach out to our office.

See the article on Chapelboro.com: Surge Protection

Do I still need power strips if I install a Home Surge Protector?

Once you have installed a Home Surge Protector, your power strips become redundant. Some customer may choose to keep these for the convenience of turning off a group of lights or for offering battery back-up while a computer shuts down but many of these tasks are now handled via Smart Home features or no longer needed. A Whole Home Surge Protector replaces all of these devices with much more effective protection against power surges.

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What about Point of Use Surge Protection?

We all have seen or used a power strip that has a "surge protector" built into it for certain appliances or electrical equipment. Some of these may include a battery back-up function allowing computers to automatically turn off when the power is out without losing valuable information. These are designed to protect against small surges only for the devices plugged into the strip or unit itself. These are a great option for items like computers but as more and more devices have circuit boards or other software built in, it becomes hard to install point of use devices.

Note: Point of Use Surge Protection devices become less effective over time. In reality, your 10 year old power strip may have outlived it's useful life for surge protection.

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What is the warranty or coverage offered by a Whole Home Surge Protector?

In this case, not all surge protectors as created equal. Be sure to read the warranty and coverage information carefully as it varies quite a bit model from model. 

We recommend Intermatic & Eaton brands specifically for both the quality of the equipment being installed as well as the warranty from the manufacturer. They both offer up to generous coverage in the event of a surge as well as offer a long warranty on the equipment itself.

We specifically like these two models for residential use:

EATON Ultimate Surge Protection ( CHSPT2ULTRA ):

Great low cost solution for residential needs. Limited lifetime warranty on equipment and  $75,000 coverage for connected devices. Must be replaced after a surge event.

Intermatic Smart Guard Whole Home Surge Protector (IG2240-IMSK):

Intermatic is backed by a great warranty & quality equipment, & solid customer service. There is a 10 year product warranty and coverage for up to $50,000 on connected equipment. Modules can be replaced after a surge.

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Why isn't my grounding rod enough?

We often see homes that meet modern grounding standards still lose thousands of dollars of electrical equipment and appliances to surges from indirect lightning strikes and power company line surges.

 Home built before 2008 commonly have a single ground rod, new building codes require at least 2 ground rods to offer extra redundancy & protection to this home system but this still only limits the voltage and provide a way to send it safely into the earth.

The electrical industry agrees that the best protected home is one with a good grounding system, and good surge protection working together.

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Does my homeowners policy cover power surges?

The answer here is maybe, in general most homeowners policies cover surges and damage caused directly by lightening but this may only apply to a direct or obvious strike.  Coverage can vary for surges caused by less direct factors or may not be covered at all. It's best to check your specific coverage with your insurance company.

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Which Home Surge Protector should I buy?

There are a wide variety of options available both at home improvement stores and online for home surge protection and in a wide variety of price ranges. The best kind will clearly list their interrupting rating, have an indicator light to let you know that they are still working and have not been blown by a direct strike, and have a good manufacturer warranty. Quality manufacturers provide a warranty covering all the in home devices and appliances that could be damaged by a surge or indirect strike.

 We specifically recommend and frequently install the following 2 units, the Eaton unit is a bit moe affordable but the Intermatic offers the ability to replace modules in the event of a surge event by yourself, both are quality products.

EATON Ultimate Surge Protection ( CHSPT2ULTRA ):

Great low cost solution for residential needs. Limited lifetime warranty on equipment and  $75,000 coverage for connected devices. Must be replaced after a surge event.

Intermatic Smart Guard Whole Home Surge Protector (IG2240-IMSK):

This unit comes with both a protection status light for easy checking and replaceable modules (can be done by homeowner) to reset the unit after a surge event.

Intermatic is backed by a great warranty & quality equipment, & solid customer service. There is a 10 year product warranty and coverage for up to $50,000 on connected equipment.

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What does Whole Home Surge Protection cost?

Given the cost of losing a single major appliance or piece of equipment, whole home surge protection is remarkably affordable. It is one of the most common upgrades we suggest to residential customers. 

Depending on the model selected and installation requirements of your home a home surge protector costs roughly $425-$700 depending on your home’s needs and existing electrical situation.

Bear in mind; you will need a minimum of two empty breaker slots available in your panel box and room to locate the surge protector immediately beside your electrical panel (rarely a problem).  Additionally,  if you home was built before 2008, you may need to upgrade your grounding system to include 2 ground rods as this is required by building code now. These items may increase the cost of installing Home Surge Protection on a case by case basis but it is still minor to the cost of replacing a major appliance or electronic device.

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