For the power line protection, if you plan to be in the same residence for several years, I would strongly suggest a whole house surge suppressor (or it is worth your effort and ability to disconnect it and reinstall it, hand tools required probably a drill), See You Tube for installations demo. Especially, if you live in a lighting prone area – search for map of lighting strikes to determine this information.
I would go with an Eaton CHSPT2micro for AC Power protection (there are three types/levels on insurance). About $70 w/o tax at Home Depot for the low end to about $150.00 w/o tax for the high end. ( would go with the low end and put another terminal strip suppressor between at the wall outlet, for the difference if price), depending qty and cost of electrical/electronics appliances in the house/residence.
The main reason warranty is much better ( Eaton actually makes it easily available with all the details... READ the warranty – and compare, Search for Warranty WA00414003E – Compare it to others suppressors, if you can find the “detailed written OEM warranty for that specific unit– for most – good luck). The main differences between this and other - this is the only whole house suppressor that I found that has a lifetime guarantee, all the others I look at expire after, 5 years if not before) Save all your electronic receipts, Yes there are types and can just plug into the electrical panel and and replace a circuit breaker, (makes installation much easier) but warranty is only for 5 years at most, but, the panel and breaker have to match.
I can't remember the actually amperage of a typical lighting strike is; but, recall a “direct” lighting strike can be in excess of 2,000 Amps (typically), can go to 4,000 Amps). Basically, this one is designed to handle 2,000 Amps, I recall, check the spec sheet. Not many other Suppressors can handle this amperage (terminal strips, I doubt my Cyber Power UPS can handle a 2,000 Amp Surge)
Basically, the more distance between the suppressor (2,000 Amp) and the device(s) one is trying to protect the better. I will not go into details; but, it is a fact. One can typically increase the distance beyond the device you are trying to protect and the electrical panel. You Tube has video, it is not that complex. This is relative however.
As for protection for the phone and cable lines. I would be least concerned with the phone, (except unless you have DSL) and more concerned the cable input. Eaton also has one for the phone (not using DSL) , to me it is not nearly as critical as the AC power lines.
Lighting did strike my “residence” (North Florida) and it did come in through the cable (the AC Power line to my computer and I do have a pretty high end UPS with AC power surge capabilities Cyber Power ). (I was in an Apt, (32 Apts per building, so my power surge suppressor did not take the entire “hit”) , My apartment office/bedroom was on the wall with the Electrical Meter, Cable Distribution Box, and Telephone lines. This strike did take out my Cable Modem and my Router, (there was about 10 feet of cable between router and cable modem) but, it did not effect the Computer Motherboard LAN chip. Several people in the Complex lost their computers, and TVs, some on the far side of the building.
Note: a lighting strike can have millions of joules of energy - Allegedly (I only did a quick look, search is the reason for the use of allegedly). My Cyber Power OP1500 has a 1796 Joule rating protected my computer Motherboard/Power Supply. (note this was in an apartment building with 24 units)
Basically, the next place I would put my $ would be on the Cable Suppressor (Assuming one uses cable for the internet service) if DSL, then I put the money in the DSL (Telephone Surge Protector). I would be reluctant to spend over $30.00 for a Cable or phone suppressor; since it depends up too many factors, to state the optimal choice for all possible configurations. (qty of units protected, cost of replacement units – I now have a spare modem I procured on Ebay for like $12.00 including S&H, if I bought a replacement directly from the cable or telephone I would probably have to pay $60.00 or so I would suspect.
Basically from what I read and suspected Surge Suppressors were originally developed for Telegraph Lines, Basically what I understand they were were two carbon blocks, one end connected to the line and the other connected to earth (Ground) (for AC power lines, it also goes to Line to Line, in addition to Line to Ground), the shape a between the two carbon blocks (similar to construction of the carbon brushes on an electric motor that uses brushes, but it unique in that it the “tips” are constructed like two pencils points pointed at each other, with a small gap, the gap distance is set at what voltage one want the suppressor to short out or activate. This information is out there, one just has to search for it.
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