Strike protector?

How good are these? Are they a one shot deal? I forget what it cost me, wasn't cheap. Electric company sold and installed it. Said it's mine, so if I move I should take it with me.

They work very well if your power spikes on the main line. If you are hit on the house you need more protection for your TVs and other electrical things.
I have a large protector on my TV and sound system. One time while running on the generator the neutral wire came loose causing high voltage on one side. It saved my entire TV system over $2000 worth but the surge unit was completely burned to a crisp. I wouldn't be without one now.
Walt

Walt,
Many years ago, 25 to 30, lightning came in the house. Power lines were running near trees. I think the trees got hit first, then the power lines coming in the house and then below the trees was a 12-2 w/ground underground wire. The lightning brought the wire out of the ground in many places. Wire went up in smoke in many places. Wife was cooking at the time. There was a bright flash, thunder shook the house, sparks came out of the electric range, microwave and the TV I was watching in the living room all at the same instant. After that I went to Menards and bought surge protectors for everything that's electronic. The biggest surge suppressor I could find for computers/phone lines, I installed under the sink. Dish washer gets plugged into that one. Before I got the strike protector on the meter, power surges took the dish washer surge protector out twice.

Not sure what causes power surges when a tree falls on power lines. I think the neutral wire gets broken, at least it did the last time. Neighbors trees has taken my power out 3 times in 34 years. Before I got strike protectors on everything, I had to replace a $200 clock/brain box on the jenn-air which is 220v, brain box on garage door opener, and dish washer surge protector. Not sure if there is a 220 surge protector, except for the one I got for the whole house.

After my 3rd power surge, electric company sends out a letter for the hole house strike protector.

What good is the strike protector if lightning strikes a wire inside the house instead of striking the overhead power lines?

George

Empire District Elec Co here in SW Mo. used to install those, but they pulled them all out a couple of years ago. Either they did not work, or EDE got tired of answering complaints and fending off insurance claims.

Understand that the protector never does protection. A protector connected low impedance (ie 'less than 10 feet') to earth means earth absorbs surge energy. If that protector does not have a short earthing connection. then a protector is described as 'useless'.

Every wire inside every incoming cable must connect that short to earth. If not, then all protection is compromised. Does the TV cable also makes a low impedance (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to the same earth ground? If not, protection is compromised.

A protector protects household appliances. It works only because it is earthed. A lightning rod protects the building. It works only because it is earthed. Lightning strikes interior wires because a building also has been damaged - no lightning rod. In every case, lightning finds the best path to earth. Harmlessly outside (via a 'whole house' protector or lightning rod). Or destructively inside (via appliances or walls).

Protection is always about how that current gets to earth. Protection is always about the only item that harmlessly absorbs that energy - earth. Critically important is the single point earth ground.