Wiring is wiring, as long as current can go threw it...boom. A lighting strike will blow up a UPS and a surge strip is a joke (when it comes to a good strike). Only way to fully protect your system from lighting is to physically pull the power plug, ethernet and dial up cable out of your system as lighting can fry your modem / network card as well. Just the static of a close strike can ruin a MB, lightning is very powerful. Powering off does help, BUT can still be fried just as if it was on.

You can usually get the fried parts replaced if in warrenty, just never say there were storms or lighting. As for a surge protector, that helps protect you from fluctuations from man-made generated electricity on the line.

Last edited by LightningLockey; 09/11/08 12:15 AM.

Every time there I run into trouble on the road, there is always a dwarf at the bottom of it. Don't they know how to drive above ground?