Whole-Building Surge Protection in Echo Park

Yes—whole-building SPDs still reduce damaging transients, but proper grounding and bonding are essential for them to perform effectively. During our assessment, we verify the grounding electrode system and add ground rods or bonding jumpers as needed. We’ll also flag any ungrounded branch circuits and discuss targeted upgrades for the best protection.

In most cases, yes. LADBS generally requires an electrical permit and inspection for service or panel work, including SPD installation at the main. We handle the permit and coordinate inspections, which typically adds 2–4 weeks for processing and scheduling. The on-site installation still takes about a half day once the permit is active.

SPDs clamp transient overvoltages that often accompany utility switching, nearby faults, or brownout recovery. While they don’t raise low voltage during a brownout, they protect sensitive electronics from spikes when voltage fluctuates, which is common on hot summer days with high A/C demand in Echo Park.

We recommend coordinated protection: a Type 1 SPD at the service, Type 2 at the main, and, when appropriate, additional SPDs at subpanels feeding solar inverters or EVSE circuits. This layered approach helps protect in both directions—utility-to-home and from inverter/charger back to the home’s electrical system.

We install SPDs inside panels when possible and route conductors discreetly. For grounding upgrades, we place rods near grade and conceal bonding where feasible to respect HPOZ aesthetics. We can provide photos and layout notes for HOA or HPOZ review when required.

Quality SPDs are designed to handle many surge events, but they do degrade over time. We select models with clear status indicators and recommend a quick annual check or after any known major event. If an indicator shows replacement is needed, swapping a panel-mount SPD is straightforward.