Originally Posted by BellaBoo
Surge protectors wear out very fast. All power surges and with each surge the protector gets weaker. They should be replaced every year and every time the circuit breaks due to a power surge. The industrial protectors are the best but look pretty ugly and they are big.
Your telco's $multi-million switching computer is connected to overhead wires all over town. Suffers about 100 surges with each thunderstorm. And is damaged with each storm. That is why your town is without phone service for four days while they replace that computer.
Or those 'woe is me' myths about damage are bogus. Telcos suffered direct lightning strike without damage – even 100 years ago. If using plug-in protectors, then those fears and 'replace it every year' myths are easily promoted.
Some have noted value from one 'whole house' protector. Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Either a surge is harmlessly absorbed in earth - outside the building. Or that surge is inside - hunting for earth destructively via appliances. You make that choice. Either a 'whole house' protector makes the short connection to single point earth ground. Or spend tens or 100 times more money on plug-in protectors that do not even claim to do protection. No plug-in protector will avert the hunt if you let a surge inside the building. A properly earthed 'whole house' protector means no appliance damage.
Destructive surges occur typically once every seven years to homes. A number that can vary significantly even within the same town. Your telco’s computer may suffer 100 surges with each thunderstorm - and no damage. Install what telcos use for about $1 per protected appliance. Avoid companies mostly promoted by hearsay and myths such as APC, Tripplite, Belkin, and Monster. 'Whole house' protectors from more responsible companies include Siemens, General Electric, Square D, Leviton, Polyphaser, and Intermatic. Or an effective Cutler-Hammer protector can be purchased in any Lowes or Home Depot for less than $50. It is that simple - as long as the one protector makes a short ('less than 10 foot') connection to single point ground.
Effective protection means using 100 year old technology with today’s even better devices and earthing. Effective protection means no unplugging. Protectors are located where most effective - at the breaker box; not inside rooms or adjacent to appliances. And the most critical point. No earth ground (plug-in protectors) means no effective protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Ineffective plug-in protectors have no earth ground. Do not even claim protection in their specificatons. Effective protection means surge energy dissipates harmlessly outside the building. Means nobody even knew a surge existed.