Surge protection devices are designed to sacrificially fry in a last ditch attempt to protect the electronic devices downstream. The report that the power suppl

Surge protection devices are designed to sacrificially fry in a last ditch attempt to protect the electronic devices downstream. The report that the power supply was the only thing that failed when unprotected electric MOTORS in his house were fried (very hard to do) says the the protection device actually did a phenomenal job given the circumstances. Lightning is not generally possible to protect against in nonconducting residential structures except with lightning rods and other devices designed to divert the strike. Even then the protection is not complete. Steel clad steel buildings are exceptionally resistant, but even in this ideal case, a direct strike can destroy equipment through the EMP and differing potentials generated within the structure. Lightning protection is a achieved through defense in depth. Utility level, distribution level, then a protector at the service entrance, then circuit protection, then outlet (plug in) protection, then in device protection. If the lightning skips any of these steps by striking inside of these rings of protection, anything inside is going to face extreme challenges and is very likely to be damaged. You can’t trivially absorb or divert 10-1000 terawatts of power. It’s enough to heat air to 20,000c and to instantly vaporize a third of a cubic meter of sand. You just can’t easily protect against that kind of energy. It’s equivalent to protecting your house from suffering damage if a small commuter aircraft crashed into it. It’s possible, but it requires extreme measures… not just plugging something into an outlet.