In article , Paul
Hutchings writes

It's be nice if any explanations could be "plain english", and not turn
into a "whole house protection" argument as seems to happen on every thread
I've seen on google!

That's very easy. Just killfile w_tom, since his "advice" almost always
pertains to Northern America and is completely incorrect for UK/Europe,
despite his having been shown to be wrong on more than one occasion.
Treat his advice as you would that from a double-glazing salesman
sitting on your sofa - ask him which surge protector manufacturer he
works for and watch him go quiet; his advice is clearly not at all
impartial.

The "whole house" surge protection devices he constantly advocates for
the Northern American market are totally irrelevant to our (UK) domestic
installations, a point he seems unwilling or unable to grasp.

--
..sigmonster on vacation