smoke wrote:

Surge suppressors that use the AC wall outlet for ground are
essentially
useless against nearby lightning strikes since the distance and
relatively
small diameter wire conductor (16/18ga) to the main power panel earth
ground
rod looks like infinite resistance to a large current surge.
Relatively
smaller spikes on the AC line caused by appliance motors etc... can be
shunted, but not a huge current induced by a nearby lightning strike.

There is much good technical information at Polyphasor's web site which
will
keep you busy with your research for some time.
----------------------

They can and do offer protection to the devices pluged into that
outlet, if said device doens't have any other connection. By clamping
the differential volatage they can really help. Not a cure all, but one
more tool.

Terry