Why whole house surge protectors are not enough

The article I referenced in my blog has the only independent survey if surge protector performance I know of.  Furman and Tripp Lite measured among the best with the lowest measured let through voltages.

Interested in protecting your outdoor A/C condenser from power surges and brownouts? This package looks to be one of the best I've ever seen:

RSH-50 VRM KIT

@dpop I've never seen over/undervoltage protection for residential AC units, so that is pretty cool. I hope it's not extravagantly expensive.

We do see AC unit surge protectors around here though.

@erik_squires Around $250. I’ve just recently discovered these, and plan on installing one on my condenser.

I also have these on my humidifier, dehumidifier, refrigerator and furnace (i.e., any device I own that has a motor or compressor), even though I rarely ever experience brownouts (you never know though when they might pop up). I like to be proactive (some may call it OCD). This also looks to have one of the lowest *specified* clamping voltages (140 V) I’ve ever seen on a surge protector. Even though I already incorporate a ton of surge protection in my house, and on my video and audio gear, I may even consider adding one of these to the audio and video (non power amp) AC feed for this gear:

Heavy Duty 20-Amp 2400-Watt Appliance Surge Protector

Interesting!! Based on what I've read about lightning striking outdoor AC units directly I really think that it's our outdoor units, not our stereos, which need a separate panel.  That is, if I could redo my house wiring, I'd run a panel from the meter straight to the outdoor heat pumps, with their own breakers and surge protectors, and another line from the meter into the house.

I mean of course to meet code 100%.  What I'd avoid if building new is to have the electricity come inside to a service panel then back out to AC units.  As it is, any lightning striking those outside units gets to come inside before meeting a surge protector.