blueman wrote:
"Mark" writes:

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.



I agree that a whole house surge suppressor is the best solution
though as you pointed out, it would not protect against transients
entering via the invisble fence.

However, couldn't the OP either buy (or if not available jury rig) a
separate surge suppressor going across the wires to the invisible
fence. Basically, you need a couple of MOVS across the two wires to
the fence and to a good ground. That should surve to stop inbound
transients along the dog wiring.

Yes you can do that, and you can even double up (parallel) on the MOVs
to make it stronger. Hook it up to a ground and go the extra mile and
drive a 10 foot ground rod where the wires enter the house and also
ground to that.

That electric fence is just a big antenna begging to get zapped again.