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Surge Protector Needed?

Shorisha

Shorisha

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2025 Lucid Air
We recently purchased the Lucid Connected Home Charging Station, which supports charging up to 80 amps. We're looking to ensure proper surge protection for both the charger and our vehicle. Does the Lucid charger have built-in surge protection, or do we need to install an external surge protector? If so, what type of surge protection (e.g., whole-home surge protector, panel-mounted, or inline) would be recommended for optimal safety and performance? Would love to hear what other owners have done!
 
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Shorisha said:
We recently purchased the Lucid Connected Home Charging Station, which supports charging up to 80 amps. We're looking to ensure proper surge protection for both the charger and our vehicle. Does the Lucid charger have built-in surge protection, or do we need to install an external surge protector? If so, what type of surge protection (e.g., whole-home surge protector, panel-mounted, or inline) would be recommended for optimal safety and performance? Would love to hear what other owners have done!
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My bias is: If I can afford it, I would not hesitate to get whole-house and point-of-use surge protectors.

Most likely I don't need it because I haven't won a lottery ever in my life, so I might not get any lightning strikes anytime soon, but it's just like insurance for peace of mind.
 
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Tâm said:
My bias is: If I can afford it, I would not hesitate to get whole-house and point-of-use surge protectors.

Most likely I don't need it because I haven't won a lottery ever in my life, so I might not get any lightning strikes anytime soon, but it's just like insurance for peace of mind.
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👉 Cảm ơn bạn
 
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I had whole-home surge protection installed the last time an electrician was inside my main electrical panel. It's not expensive - parts cost is around $100-150 and installation is fast and easy. Good for peace of mind in a lightning or wind storm.
 
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DeaneG said:
I had whole-home surge protection installed the last time an electrician was inside my main electrical panel. It's not expensive - parts cost is around $100-150 and installation is fast and easy. Good for peace of mind in a lightning or wind storm.
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A friend of ours in Chicago recently told us that his washing and drying machines were fried in a surge even though they weren't being used, making a strong case for whole house-surge protection.
What would happen if the Lucid is being charged at home or DCFC and a surge occurs? Would the car's batteries and electrical components be destroyed like the washing machine?
Hearing the aforementioned story makes me wonder if I should disconnect the charging cable as soon as the home session is completed, instead of leaving it plugged in as recommended by Lucid (I could be wrong on this, though).
 
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I have a whole home surge protector and recommend it. One fried my pool heater once.
 
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borski said:
I have a whole home surge protector and recommend it. One fried my pool heater once.
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Thanks, but I was hoping a Tim the Beaver's techno guy'd give me a discourse on my question.
 
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EVCar said:
...What would happen if the Lucid is being charged at home or DCFC and a surge occurs? Would the car's batteries and electrical components be destroyed like the washing machine?..
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Tim here.

It depends on the magnitude of the surge. Mains-connected AC appliances (and cars) are designed and tested to withstand electrical surges up to a certain energy level. If lightning strikes your home while you are charging, IMO stuff in the car may be damaged. But an electrical short on a power line in your neighborhood may or may not cause a problem. Personally, I'd have a whole-home surge suppressor installed by an electrician, and then not worry about it.

Without that, I would unplug the car during a big storm.
 
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DeaneG said:
Tim here.

It depends on the magnitude of the surge. Mains-connected AC appliances (and cars) are designed and tested to withstand electrical surges up to a certain energy level. If lightning strikes your home while you are charging, IMO stuff in the car may be damaged. But an electrical short on a power line in your neighborhood may or may not cause a problem. Personally, I'd have a whole-home surge suppressor installed by an electrician, and then not worry about it.

Without that, I would unplug the car during a big storm.
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Thanks, Tim :)
I'll have the thing installed Monday and the home scenario is taken care of.
What about when we're at EA stations, Tesla CS?
I guess to be safe, one might not want to charge during a thunderstorm.
 
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EVCar said:
Thanks, Tim :)
I'll have the thing installed Monday and the home scenario is taken care of.
What about when we're at EA stations, Tesla CS?
I guess to be safe, one might not want to charge during a thunderstorm.
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Both DCFC chargers and your vehicle have surge protection built-in as part of their incredibly strict safety guidelines.

The Faraday cage effect, where EM waves prefer to travel the path of least resistance (in this case, the metal exterior of your vehicle, versus the interior where there are far more materials that are non-conductive), means a lightning strike would most likely exit through the four rubber tires, rendering it harmless. Charging handles and cables are also made of plastic and rubber, both of which are insulators that will “stop” the spread of electricity.

In the worst case scenario, the charging station will shut off and/or your car will disconnect power to the HV battery, saving you and (hopefully) it.

At home though, use a whole home surge protector to be extra safe.

Better? :p
 
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borski said:
Both DCFC chargers and your vehicle have surge protection built-in as part of their incredibly strict safety guidelines.

The Faraday cage effect, where EM waves prefer to travel the path of least resistance (in this case, the metal exterior of your vehicle, versus the interior where there are far more materials that are non-conductive), means a lightning strike would most likely exit through the four rubber tires, rendering it harmless. Charging handles and cables are also made of plastic and rubber, both of which are insulators that will “stop” the spread of electricity.

In the worst case scenario, the charging station will shut off and/or your car will disconnect power to the HV battery, saving you and (hopefully) it.

At home though, use a whole home surge protector to be extra safe.

Better? :p
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Yes, absolutely outstanding.
This is exactly what I was hoping to learn.
Thank you and the NPR Car Guys' talk show hosts would be proud of you.
 
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Right now, it is building code for Utah. We installed a whole home surge protector when installing the Lucud hone charger circuit. There are two little green lights on the box. If it is building code, that is a huge deal and seems like a must have.
 
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boydracing said:
Right now, it is building code for Utah. We installed a whole home surge protector when installing the Lucud hone charger circuit. There are two little green lights on the box. If it is building code, that is a huge deal and seems like a must have.
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The green lights indicate there is protection engaged on both poles of your circuit. If the green light goes out, no protection, unit has given it's life to save your system. Replace unit. It has absorbed a major surge that it cannot divert to ground. If that happens, the device probably saved something in your house: washer, fridge.

I am partial to the Siemens units. Industrial grade.it focuses on engineering integrity not Chinese profit margins. State of the art engineering. The units divert both internal and external surges.

Months ago, I came home to find the Siemens SPD unit on the Service Equipment and panel in the garage with no lights. Two idiots were street racing a block away, didn't make the turn, and took out a power pole with transformers. I am told the shorting transformers sounded like a bomb going off with fireworks. The SPD took the bullet.
 
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Worldwide Beagle said:
I am partial to the Siemens units. Industrial grade.it focuses on engineering integrity not Chinese profit margins. State of the art engineering. The units divert both internal and external surges.
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Do you happen to have the link for this?
Thanks.
 
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EVCar said:
Do you happen to have the link for this?
Thanks.
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Siemens Residential SPD

www.siemens.com

Low-voltage power distribution | Siemens

Plan, build and operate safe, cybersecure and energy-efficient low-voltage power distribution with integrated hardware, software and systems from Siemens.
www.siemens.com www.siemens.com

Siemens FSPD Brochure


They come in 60, 100 and 140 kva sizes. Referred to as Siemens Boltshield. Amazon, HD now sell them. I have a 140 by the service entrance and a 100 on the basement distribution panel.
 
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Worldwide Beagle said:
Siemens Residential SPD

www.siemens.com

Low-voltage power distribution | Siemens

Plan, build and operate safe, cybersecure and energy-efficient low-voltage power distribution with integrated hardware, software and systems from Siemens.
www.siemens.com www.siemens.com

Siemens FSPD Brochure


They come in 60, 100 and 140 kva sizes. Referred to as Siemens Boltshield. Amazon, HD now sell them. I have a 140 by the service entrance and a 100 on the basement distribution panel.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, Peter.
My electrician now has the info.
If this were smaller and fit inside the panel, I might attempt to do it myself.
 
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Better outside the panel. So you can see the green functing lights.
IMG_0408.webp
 
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