Are "surge protectors" really of much use against lightning? I suspect not, other than minor inductions tho perhaps some are specially designed for lightning. I wouldn't assume, I'd want to see the word "lightning" in the specs. I once had a lightning strike (at Harvard Chemistry), probably just an induction on a wire some idiot had strung between building roofs (I didn't even know it existed) and the board it was attached to's solder was melted and burned, impressive! More impressive was the board mostly worked, it was just doing some weird things which led me to inspect it...oops. My understanding was that the only real protection is an "air gap", which a piece of fiber will provide in essence, and even that better be designed for lightning as it can leap small gaps. Check your insurance, including the deductibles, keep spares on hand. P.S. My grandmother would tell a story about how what sounded like the ever-controversial "ball lightning" came into her home when she was young. Good luck with that! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning -- -Barry Shein Software Tool & Die | bzs@TheWorld.com | http://www.TheWorld.com Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: +1 617-STD-WRLD | 800-THE-WRLD The World: Since 1989 | A Public Information Utility | *oo*