Surge protectors will work for modest to even not-so-modest line voltage excursions. But if your house gets hit by lightning your equipment is dead meat. I know, I've been there. The lightning even fried some of the wires I had strung in the house. They just vaporized.
You have two alternatives: buy lightning rods or buy some more insurance. A decent surge protector is still worth the money, it just doesn't work for direct strikes.
LeeH
(published on 09/28/2010)