In addition to a Joslyn gas-tube-discharge primary arrestor providing whole house transient protection, I include an MOV (metal oxide varistor = model GEV130LA20B) wired in parallel across every AC outlet that I want to protect. I understand that AC outlets are now even available with MOV protectors built into them. This type of cascaded approach provides better protection than relying on any single device to dissipate all of the excess incoming energy that comprises a lightning hit, or even a large incoming voltage surge via upline grid switchgear. This cascading protection scheme is further augmented by the MOV's that are contained in my line conditioners (I use two conditioners - one for low current source components & one for high current amps). Just as dressing yourself in layers of clothing for better protection before exposure to cold temperatures, layers of transient protection provides better performance than having to rely on any single one method.
