What surge protector specs do I need?

Destructive surges (surges that can overwhelm protection already inside appliances) can be hundreds of thousands of joules. At 3780, it will only absorb 1290 joules and never more than 2580 joules.

Effective protection is about harmlessly absorbing hundreds of thousands of joules (outside the building). A minimally effective protector starts at 50,000 amps. Destructive surges (ie lightning) can be 20,000 amps. A protector must be sized to remain functional after every surge. This superior solution costs about $1 per protected appliance. How much did you pay? $22 or $11 per appliance for undersized protection?

Protection always says where hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate. If that energy is absorbed harmlessly outside, then it does not go hunting for earth destructively via appliances. If protection is needed for entertainment appliances, then you also need protection for the refrigerator, dimmer switches, air conditioner, dishwahser, RCD (so important to human safety), CFL bulbs, and most important, smoke detectors. What protects all that and a Belkin power strip? One 'whole house' protector. But only if properly earthed.

Cable, telephone, and satellite dish should already have superior protector. For superior protection, cable needs no protector. Best protection is a wire connected low impedance (ie 'less than 3 meters') to single point earth ground. Telephone wires cannot connect directly. So we do a next best thing. We use a protector to make that low impedance (ie 'less than 3 meters') connection to single point earth ground.

AC electric is the only incoming utility not already required to have that protection. Effective protection exists only it you install it. Superior solutions come from other and more responsible companies including ABB, Siemens, Polyphaser, and Keison. And is essential to even protect the Belkin or APC protectors from surges that typically do damage.

A protector starts at 50,000 amps. But even more important is the only component that must always exist in every protection system - single point earth ground. Neither Belkin nor APC discuss earth ground since that would harm sales. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. It explains tiny spec numbers for that Belkin protector.