I have been looking at getting new Surge Protector devices to replace DSE branded devices for which the warranties no longer apply. (Home entertainment boards with AC, antannae and ethernet. As well as individual port with phone line devices.
The purpose of buying these devices is to protect my equipment as well as protect my wallet as I won't need to shell out for a Home Contents insurance excess if affected by lightning strike or similar surge.
I have seen comments from multiple OzBargain users with similar ideas, i.e "Surge protector on sale is much cheaper than insurance excess".
Anyway I started digging into the terms and conditions of popular brands I'm considering and it turns out they won't apply since I have home contents insurance.
CyberPower (https://www.cyberpower.com/au/en/support/warranty/ceg)
"Connected Equipment Guarantee is not "first dollar" coverage. CyberPower’s obligation is limited to the damage if you are not entitled to recover from other sources including but not limited to insurance, other warranty coverage, or extended warranty coverage even if you do not claim for recovery from the other source(s)."
Belkin (http://www.belkin.com/au/terms-and-conditions-cew/)
"repair or replacement of the damaged Connected Equipment is covered by a third party’s manufacturer’s warranty, a seller’s extended warranty, or your insurance policy"
SO WHAT IS THE POINT… If I have no cover I might as well keep or replace the boards with new DSE boards (cheaper and have the ports I'm after)
Or can someone recommend a device with insurance for connected equipment which I can use rather than home contents insurance policy?
I don’t think surge board protection is worth the effort.
The last surge we had it blew up our home alarm PSTN interface (ie not on surge board) and a few other devices (ie not on any one surge board).
I wouldn’t even know where the proof of purchase is for each surge board.
Surge boards won’t save you from everything.
The most extreme surge is going to destroy a heap of equipment such that you will have to claim on home & contents anyway.
The most critical stuff is kept on a UPS at our place rather than a surge board. I am not sure that even a UPS has better protection.
If they had warranties that were worthwhile they would be extremely expensive.