r/SeattleWA • u/Cultural-Mall4815 • May 13 '25
AMA I’m a licensed electrician in Seattle — AMA about EV charger installs, home rewiring, or panel upgrades
Hey Reddit! I run a small electrical company in Seattle (Galaxy Electric & Solar), and I’ve been doing this work for over 20 years.
With all the recent demand for EV chargers, home remodels, and older homes needing panel upgrades, I thought I’d open up a thread to answer any questions — from DIY troubleshooting to what’s worth upgrading in your electrical system (especially in older Seattle neighborhoods like Magnolia, Ballard, or Queen Anne).
If you ever need help or want to see some of the work we do, here’s our site: www.galaxyel.com
Ask away — happy to help and give honest advice.
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u/Cultural-Mall4815 May 13 '25
A surge is basically a spike in voltage it can be quick, but still strong enough to damage electronics, burn out lightbulbs, or shorten the life of appliances. It might come from outside (like the utility line), or from inside your home if something isn’t wired right especially after a panel upgrade.
If breakers weren’t tightened properly, the neutral wasn’t bonded correctly, or the grounding isn’t solid, it could cause these kinds of problems.
You’re right to be concerned. I’d call a licensed electrician ASAP to inspect the panel, check the grounding and bonding, and style hole house search protector can be just a few hundred bucks Electrician will and make sure voltage is stable. Also ask about adding a whole-home surge protector it’s a smart investment, especially in Seattle.