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Originally Posted by Troubleshooter
...I'd buy the Brick Wall or something similar.
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Its called lying by telling half truths. The Brickwall and its equivalents (Zerosurge and Surgex) are series mode protectors. They will stop or block what miles of sky could not? Of course not.
But then they also forget to mention the one wire that carries that pulse around the Brickwall and into an adjacent computer motherboard - the green safety ground wire.
This green wire is also why shunt mode protectors too close to electronics can contribute to electronics damage.
Series mode protectors are effective when supplementing an effective shunt mode protection system. Shunt mode is the same concept that Ben Franklin demonstrated in 1752. One is even installed, for free, on your phone line because earthed shunt mode protectors are so effective and cost so little. Homeowner must install same for AC electric. Protectors that actually do protect from the various destructive modes are Intermatic (sold in Home Depot), Cutler Hammer, and GE (sold in Lowes). Other responsible manufacturers include Leviton, Square D, Polyphaser, and Siemens. These are also companies that sell reliable and responsible electrical equipment. Companies with high reputations.
Those who don't know any better buy a protector as if it was Listerene or Geritol. Buy from companies who routinely lie by telling half truths: APC, Tripplite, Powermax, Belkin, or - the worst of the worse - Monster Cable. Where is their reputation? A reputation similar to Pond's Institute that sells 'age restoring cream'.
Once a responsible protector has done its job, only then will a series mode protector be effective. Let's see. The Intermatic, GE, and Cutler Hammer shunt mode solutions costs only $1 per protected appliance - using well proven principles. The Brickwall costs about $100 per protected appliance and still is not effective without proper installation of shunt mode protectors. Series mode protectors have their place. But by themselves, series mode protectors are not effective.
BTW, series mode protection is already installed in electronic equipment? Protection that also requires a properly installed shunt mode protector be installed.
I power up all computers during thunderstorms to follow weather activity on the internet - without worry or damage. Furthermore, I even repair electronics damaged by lightning to learn how damage occured. This modem was damaged by lightning and it now working just fine for numerous years. Discovered exactly why if was damaged, replaced every damaged transistor, and it has no more problems. I don't have this fear of lightning because I use effective protection. Nothing that you plug-in is economically useful as demonstrated by your own experience.