Surge Protection Installation Geelong
Switchboard surge protection for homes across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, by CabledIN
CabledIN Electrical Solutions is a licensed electrician based in North Geelong that fits whole-home surge protection at the switchboard for homes across greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Werribee.
Surge protection installation in Geelong means fitting a surge diverter inside your switchboard, so one device covers the circuits fed from it. When a voltage spike arrives on the supply, the device diverts the excess to earth before it reaches the appliances and electronics on your circuits. Our licensed electricians (REC 30925) fit, test and certify it.
We price the job once we have seen the board. On a modern board with spare space it is a short job.
- What it is
- Whole-home surge protection: one surge diverter at the switchboard
- Where it goes
- Inside the switchboard, covering the circuits fed from it
- What it is not
- A safety switch. It does not protect people from electric shock
- Paperwork
- Certificate of Electrical Safety for the work
- Who fits it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925
What whole-home surge protection is and how it works
A power surge is a short spike in voltage, well above what your appliances are built for. It lasts a fraction of a second. A big one can destroy electronics outright. Small, repeated ones wear components down over time.
Whole-home surge protection is a surge diverter in your switchboard, between the incoming supply and your circuits. At normal voltage it does nothing. When the voltage spikes, it gives the excess an easy path to earth, so far less of it travels on to what is plugged in. Because it is fitted at the board, it covers the circuits fed from that board, including hard-wired appliances that a plug-in surge board can never protect.
What causes power surges
- Lightning. A strike on or near power lines can send a spike along the network and into homes some distance away. Our guide to electrical safety in stormy weather covers what to do when a storm is coming.
- Faults and switching on the network. Damaged lines, fallen branches and network switching can all cause spikes.
- Power coming back after an outage. The moment supply is restored is a common time for a surge.
- Large appliances inside the home. Motors and compressors switching on and off create small surges on your own wiring.
You cannot prevent the first three. Powercor runs the network for the Geelong region, and what happens on it is outside your control. What you can control is what stands between the supply and your appliances.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
What surge protection does and does not protect
It helps protect
- Televisions, computers, modems and home office gear.
- Fridges, washing machines, ovens and other appliances with electronic controls.
- Hard-wired equipment such as EV chargers and smart home controllers.
- LED lighting and drivers.
It does not do this
- Protect people from electric shock. That is the job of a safety switch.
- Stop overloads or short circuits. That is the job of a circuit breaker.
- Guarantee survival of a direct lightning strike on the house.
- Stop surges that arrive on phone, data or antenna cables.
Energy Safe Victoria is clear that surge diverters are not safety switches. A well-protected board has all three devices: circuit breakers for the wiring, safety switches for people and a surge diverter for equipment. A surge diverter also will not stop a safety switch from tripping. If that is your problem, read why does my safety switch keep tripping?
Switchboard surge protection or a surge-protected power board?
They do different jobs, and they work best together.
- Switchboard surge diverter. Fitted by an electrician. Takes the worst of a surge at the point where power enters your circuits. Covers hard-wired appliances as well as everything plugged in.
- Surge-protected power board. Bought off the shelf and plugged in. Protects only what is plugged into it, and adds a second layer close to sensitive equipment.
For most homes we suggest the switchboard device first, then a good surge-protected board at the home office and the television. If those spots already run off double adaptors and extension leads, extra power points are worth doing at the same visit.
Surge protection installation in Geelong: what happens on the day
- We check the board. The device needs space in the enclosure and a sound earthing system to divert surges into. We check both.
- The price. You see what is being fitted and why, and you know the price before any work starts.
- Power off, device in. The surge diverter is fitted in the switchboard with its own protection and connected to the supply side of your circuits.
- Testing. The work is tested before the power goes back on.
- Handover. We show you the status indicator on the device and what it looks like when the device needs replacing. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
If the board is an old fuse board with no spare room, a surge diverter cannot simply be added. The first step is a switchboard upgrade, and the surge device is fitted as part of it.
That is what we see most on our own jobs. Our job records show more than 60 completed surge protection jobs, more than 55 of them whole-home surge protection at the switchboard, and most went in alongside other switchboard work, such as new safety switches or a full upgrade. They are spread across the region, most often in Corio, Bell Park, Ocean Grove, Lara, Leopold, Torquay and Whittington.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Is whole-home surge protection worth it for your home?
It is worth considering if any of these apply:
- You work from home and rely on computers, a modem and network gear.
- You have invested in a large television, audio system or smart home equipment.
- You have an EV charger, an induction cooktop or other appliances with electronic control boards, which cost far more to repair than older, simpler appliances.
- You have already lost an appliance or a modem after a storm or an outage.
- You are getting a new switchboard anyway.
No surge device can promise that nothing will ever be damaged. It reduces the risk and the size of the surge that gets through.
Looking after a surge diverter
A surge diverter wears a little each time it absorbs a surge. It has no fixed lifespan: one large event can finish it, or it can sit for years doing very little. Most devices have a small status window that changes colour when the device has reached the end of its life.
- Look at the indicator after a major storm or a long outage.
- Check it when you do your three-monthly safety switch test.
- If the indicator has changed, call us to replace the device. The rest of the board keeps working, but you no longer have surge protection.
CabledIN is a licensed Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) based in North Geelong, with more than 20 years' experience, a lifetime workmanship warranty and 2,000+ five-star Google reviews.
Frequently asked questions
What is whole-home surge protection and how does it work?
Whole-home surge protection is a surge diverter, sometimes called a switchboard surge protector, fitted inside your switchboard. At normal voltage it does nothing. When the supply voltage spikes, it gives the excess an easy path to earth, so far less of the surge reaches the appliances and electronics on the circuits that board feeds, including hard-wired ones.
Do I need surge protection at the switchboard?
It is your choice. Whole-home surge protection is most worthwhile if you have expensive electronics, work from home, have an EV charger or an induction cooktop with electronic control boards, or have already lost an appliance after a storm or an outage. It is easiest to add when the switchboard is being upgraded anyway.
What causes power surges?
Lightning on or near power lines, faults and switching on the network, power returning after an outage, and large appliances with motors or compressors switching on and off inside the home. The first three come in from the network and are outside your control, which is why surge protection goes at the switchboard, where the supply enters your circuits.
Will surge protection stop lightning damage?
Whole-home surge protection greatly reduces the surge that reaches your circuits from a lightning strike on or near the power lines. No device can guarantee protection against a direct strike on the house, and a switchboard device does not stop surges that arrive on phone, data or antenna cables.
Is a surge protector the same as a safety switch?
No. A safety switch, or RCD, protects people by cutting the power when it detects electricity leaking to earth. A surge diverter protects equipment from voltage spikes. Energy Safe Victoria states that surge diverters are not safety switches. A well-protected switchboard has both, plus circuit breakers for the wiring.
Will a surge protector stop my safety switch from tripping?
No. A safety switch trips when it detects electricity leaking to earth, usually from a faulty appliance, moisture or damaged wiring. A surge diverter does nothing about that leak. The two do different jobs, and a well-protected board has both.
Can surge protection be added to my existing switchboard?
Usually, if the board is modern, has spare space in the enclosure and has a sound earthing system for the device to divert surges into. Old fuse boards and full enclosures need to be upgraded first, and the whole-home surge protection is then fitted as part of the switchboard upgrade.
Does switchboard surge protection cover every appliance?
It covers the circuits fed from that switchboard, including hard-wired appliances such as ovens, hot water units and EV chargers, which a plug-in surge board can never protect. It does not stop surges arriving on phone, data or antenna cables.
Are surge-protected power boards enough on their own?
They only protect what is plugged into them, and they do nothing for hard-wired appliances like ovens and hot water units. They work best as a second layer behind a switchboard device.
How long does a surge diverter last?
There is no fixed lifespan. It depends on how many surges it absorbs and how large they are: one large event can finish it, or it can last for years. Most have a status indicator that shows when the device needs replacing, so check it after a major storm or a long outage.
How long does surge protection installation take?
On a modern switchboard with spare space, fitting whole-home surge protection is a short job, with the power off for part of the visit. It takes longer if the enclosure needs replacing or the switchboard needs upgrading first, and we tell you which before any work starts.
Can I install a surge protector in my switchboard myself?
No. DIY electrical work is illegal in Victoria. A licensed electrician must fit it and give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Plug-in surge boards are the only kind you can set up yourself.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.