Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
Just to clarify, a surge protector has nothing to do with lightning or safety. It only protects your electronic equipment from damage due to an unexpected power surge. A whole house surge protector is less effective than a simple ten dollar power strip located where you plug in the equipment. Also, power surges are less likely to occur now than ever before because of the more reliable and consistent power company service. If you really want to protect your house from lightning, you would need to install lightning rods on the roof connected to a wiring system that goes into the ground. Totally unnecessary, in my opinion.
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Be wary of the term "whole house surge protection". You may be protected from INDIRECT lightning with the SECO surge protection device on the electric meter but there is always the chance that some voltage will get through that will be enough to fry your electronics. You need secondary point-of-use protection on anything you value like computers, TVs, microwave, refrig, tele ans machine, garage door operators, etc. Be sure that the cable for TVs and telephone lines for computers also goes though a surge protection device. Remember Lightning Loves Technology!
If your concern is a less frequent but more sever DIRECT strike to your home consider a lightning protection system, commonly called lighting rods, from a qualified installer. To date this year we have not had any homes destroyed by lightning. In 2015 we had four and in 2014 we had three. The decision to provide lightning rods should be based on your tolerance for risk. Apparently, you have a high tolerance for risk and have chosen not to install them. The odds of being struck is very very low. However, if you have a low tolerance for risk you install them for peace of mind for the safety of your family, your pets, your home, your possessions, and your vehicles.