On Mar 21, 1:47*am, "Existential Angst"
wrote:
Awl --

On the main breaker box, for the whole house.

First Q: *Is surge protection strictly lightning-related?

Holmes on Homes was emphasizing this, saying $500 wasn't much for the
protection it affords.
$500?????????????? * * * Holy ****.....


EA

This has blown out to heaps of replies, so its probably got political.
And someone has maybe given you an answer thats of use. Dunno. Wont
add to that. Based solely on my experience as a working electronics
tech, I can say the following from experience. No theory involved.

Their called MOV's - Metal Oxide Varistors. Designed to short out when
overvoltaged by......you choose the tolerance...
Come in 2 sizes - big and little.
Big ones are on the side of your house near the switchboard. In
cartridges, so they are replaceable. These have a dirty big earth wire
connected to them - the theory is that so much current will flow that
the supply authority fuse at your cable entry blows and protects your
house stuff.
Little ones - in lotsa things, and should be more of em. You can buy
plug in ones for a few bucks - and remember, you gets what you pay
for. Getting popular combined into home entertainment power boards.
Also inside things.
Good example is the microwave oven - have them across the mains input
to the control panel. Fitted after the fuse, and the tracks running up
to it are thin, designed to fuse. Works well, usually protects things
on the same wiring circuit.

With a lightning strike, all bets are off. Anything can happen, but
mostly total destruction no matter what protection you have installed.

Hope that helps,

Andrew VK3BFA.