Commercial uses layered surge protectors (Type I, II, and III), which is also recommended for other users but rarely followed.

In surge prone areas, at a minimum I would have good quality whole-house surge protector (eg Siemens 140 or Eaton 108), and a good quality surge protector strip for any computer/TV/phone charger.

I also put surge protectors in front of expensive white goods like the fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and garage door opener. Besides being costly to replace these can contain "sparky" motors and this provides protection in the other direction too. Over time smaller surges can degrade the main surge protector for your computer.

Nothing (reasonable) can protect against direct lightning strikes, but for anything less it should provide decent protection.

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tempaccount5050 an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Are you in an area with a bad electrical grid or something? In 40+ years I've never had a single device get fried from a surge/storm. My "surge protector" power strips are from the 90s and probably don't even work.

	▲	schiffern 21 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Not too bad, just rural. We used to lose stuff every 10 years or so. One day we got The Big One which fried nearly everything, and "once burned, twice shy."

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david_allison 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Nothing (reasonable) can protect against direct lightning strikes

Belkin make a number of surge protectors which offer a connected equipment warranty in the UK. Admittedly: financial protection, not data protection, but I felt it was worthwhile for the peace of mind.

https://www.belkin.com/id/p/6-outlet-surge-protection-strip-...

	▲	gruez an hour ago \| parent [-]
		>Admittedly: financial protection, not data protection You should have data backups regardless, because there are plenty of ways to lose data that don't involve power surges.

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gruez an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

>In surge prone areas

What areas are surge prone?

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toss1 an hour ago | parent [-]

Areas with lots of thunderstorms. Also more rural areas with long power lines with few taps off for customers — the long runs are both exposed to many nearby strikes and accept induction well, and the few customers are fewer power sinks to dissipate the spike. So, you're more likely to get hit, and hit harder.

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gruez 42 minutes ago | parent [-]

Sounds like if you're in an urban area with buried lines, you don't have to worry?

	▲	marcosdumay a few seconds ago \| parent [-]
		I would recommend a circuit surge protector in urban areas. Lightning getting through some structure and hitting the electric lines happens. Even when they are buried. It's less of a problem when the ground absorbs a lot of the power before it even get into copper, but it's even less of a problem if there's some cheap device that will burn and protect you from it.