m Ransley wrote:
Im not worried about myself but thought a major surge or lightning would
have nowhere to go without a ground, I would think my surge supressor
forces any spike to ground . Static is another reason to use a ground I
guess.

Ground for static electricity is not same ground for lightning.
Conductive paint inside a computer's plastic case connected to floor -
a ground for static electricity - would mean that electrical current
does not flow destructively through electronics.

Lightning needs a different ground - earth. Wire is not a perfect
conductor. For example, a wall receptacle safety ground may measure
less than 0.2 ohms resistance to the earth ground rod. But same 50
foot wire connected to breaker box might be 130 ohms impedance.
Electrical characteristics of that transient are important. A trivial
100 amp lightning transient might see (less than) 12000 volts between
wall receptacle and breaker box. Where is the protection? 12,000
volts would then find other (and destructive) paths to earth because it
was permitted near to electronics. Again, the word for this transient
is 'impedance' - and why lightning must be earthed where it enters a
building.

Grounding for lightning is where utility wires enter a building.
Effective lightning protectors ground to earth. Grounding for static
electricity means an electrical connection from hand to floor and shoes
that does not pass through electronics. That ground is somewhere in
that 'hand to floor' circuit.

Electrical switch specifications often claim protection from up to
20,000 volts. That means no static electricity passes from hand into
switch electrical contacts. What is not always obvious? That 20,000
volt protection does not exist if the switch body is not properly
connected to chassis ground. Again, what is the discharge path? If
electricity comes out of finger, then what is other side of that
'battery' or 'charged capacitor' that is being discharged? Only
relevant ground is a point in that circuit. For static electricity,
earth ground is not part of the circuit - not relevant.

For different types of destructive transients, first define the
complete electrical circuit. Only then is one point is that circuit
called 'ground'.