A whole house protector wouldn't have protected your invisible fence, for
basically the reason the fence people told you - it was fried from the
near-direct lightening hit. I think it would have protected the Cable TV
and other electronic equipment, assuming the surge was coming via the
electric wiring and not a similar issue to the fence - down the cable line.
I don't think the whole house protectors care whether the surge is coming in
via the wire from the meter, or a wire from so circuit such as an outside
pole light, or in your case the one the fence was connected to. The
exception might be things on the same circuit with the fence since they
would be 'up stream' from the panel where the protection would be.

As for the cost, you are probably best getting a couple estimates - just be
sure they are apples-to-apples comparisons. Equipment does very and so will
the cost.

Whole house protection could be a sales plus if you sell the house, but for
$400 you can buy a lot of plug-strip type protectors for your electronic
equipment, which you can take with you if you move. They also make small
single outlet models that are used for things like microwave ovens, stove,
and other places where you may not need or want a regular plug-strip.


"Dimitrios Paskoudniakis" wrote in message
...
A couple of weeks ago, lighting struck a tree near my house, hit the
ground, entered my underground invisible dog fence, ran through the wire to
the outlet in the garage where the control unit is plugged in including a
lighting protector, scorched the outlet and wall underneath, tripped that
circuit breaker, and also fried the cable (cable TV and internet) at the
first splitter.

Fortunately the cable repair was free, but I paid over $240 for the
invisible fence repair. I asked the invisible fence company if a whole
house surge protector would have helped, and they said not in this case,
that the circuit was fried from the outside to the outlet, not from the
utility power.

So I'm debating whether to invest in a whole house surge protector or not,
and if so, to buy or "lease". I have two circuit panels and received an
electrician's estimate of over $400 installed since I have two panels.
Another company will install a whole house surge protector for free, I
just get $8.50 added to my electric bill each month, about $100 per year.
It would take four years for the first option to be better. I'm not sure
I'll be here much past six years, when my youngest starts college and we
want to downsize.

So, should I invest in a whole house surge protector? Does it not protect
against lighting? Do I buy the $400 version or "lease" for $8.50 per
month?

Inquiring minds want to know.