Could someone please explain simply , or point me to a website on it , as to which protective devices for the electricity coming out of the wall socket , are necessary .
Anything that a plug-in protector or UPS might do is already done better inside a power supply (ie that Dell power adaptor) for every electronics. For example, what does every computer power supply do? First AC power is filtered - a filter superior to anything in a protector. Then rectified and converted to well over 300 volts. Then filtered again. Then converted from DC to high voltage radio waves. Then filtered through galvanic isolation. Then converted to high current radio waves. Then rectified again. Then filtered again. What happens to most transients? They are converted to stable DC electricity that powers your computer.
Any transient that can blow through all that protection easily blows through any UPS or power strip protector. Your concern is that rare transient that occurs maybe once every seven year. Nothing inside the house can avert that transient. Protection from destructive surges is what absorbs hundred of thousands of joules. Earth ground.
AC electric enters on three wires. One connects to earth. But the other two can carry that destructive transient to every appliance. Your concern is earthing those other two wires. But if connected directly to earth (like the third wire), then you have no AC electricity.
The only effective protectors connect those other two wires short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to earth. Then the destructive transient is not inside the building.
Protection is always about where energy dissipates. As in always. Either that surge connects short to earth. Or that energy goes hunting for earth destructively via appliances. Only you make that choice.
No UPS or power strip protector claims to protect from that surge. None. Not one. If it did, then that poster can list manufacturer numbers that claim that protection. Nobody will. The UPS or power strip only claim to protect from surges that typically cause no damage.
Informed homeowners spend about $1 per protected appliance one superior protector that comes from more responsible companies. A list that any 'guy' would know: Leviton, Square D, Siemens, ABB, Intermatic, General Electric to name but a few. Not on that list are Tripplite, APC, Belkin, or the master of scams Monster. The effective protector always has a dedicated green wire for the always required short (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to single point earth ground.
An effective 'whole house' protector from Cutler-Hammer sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. But again, your earthing must be upgraded to both meet and exceed post 1990 National Electrical code requirements. To make that always required 'less than 10 foot' connection with no sharp wire bends, separated from other wires, no splices, etc.
No protector - not one - does protection. A protector is only a connecting device from each incoming wire to earth ground. Only earth ground does the protection. Any wire that enters without first connecting to earth (either directly or via a protector) means surge energy is inside hunting for earth destructively via appliances.
This is simple stuff - well understood even 100 years ago. But if new, then you will not grasp it in the first read. Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Always. To sell a scam, ineffective protectors will not discuss energy. Will not discuss earth ground. And will not even list protection from each type of surge. Your choice. Be scammed by popular retail myths. Or learn how it is done in every town where damage (even from direct lightning strikes) never happens.
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