Surge protectors have different ratings, but most of them that you buy in a local store are not the best. When I worked for the defense contractor part of my work was to design surge/lightning protection systems for large computer facilities. They even sent me to school to become a certified "expert" in protection. (LOL about the expert.) Most surge protectors deteriorate with use. Each time they take a surge they lose some of their effectiveness. After a while they become totally ineffective. The best surge protection is what is called an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). A UPS converts AC house current to DC battery current and then back to AC current. Even though they are more expensive, they do not deteriorate like a surge protector does, and they provide much better protection. Don in AZ

Yep, I am on my second one of those. AT least they warn you that they are wearing out. Mike just bought me a new UPS_I always thought it was a Universal Power Supply_oops! I've had my old one these 9 years. Anyway, he is taking my old one for the time being, until he can get himself a new one, and hooking up the new one for me. We lost so many microwaves on regular power supplies, so I am just unplugging that when not in use. Everything is on a power surge protector in our house. Seems we have a lot of surges in this area. :o) Lynn Don in AZ wrote: Surge protectors have different ratings, but most of them that you buy in a local store are not the best. When I worked for the defense contractor part of my work was to design surge/lightning protection systems for large computer facilities. They even sent me to school to become a certified "expert" in protection. (LOL about the expert.) Most surge protectors deteriorate with use. Each time they take a surge they lose some of their effectiveness. After a while they become totally ineffective. The best surge protection is what is called an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). A UPS converts AC house current to DC battery current and then back to AC current. Even though they are more expensive, they do not deteriorate like a surge protector does, and they provide much better protection.