I suffered a lightning strike in Billings Montana...actually it struck a tree about 20 yards from the coach...but it fried the surge protector, my middle A/C, the microwave and a couple other small things. I can only imagine what else would have gone without the surge protector. I wired around the surge protector so I could use shore power but no genset until I was able to get it repaired. It was under warranty so I didn't want to repair it myself. I use both the wired surge protector and Hughes Autoformer no matter where I am.....Dennis