So, I need to order these two right?
Most only believe what advertising has told them. One who even designed this stuff will say things the majority did not even know. For example, all phone lines already have a superior 'whole house' protector. Why would your phone lines need a protector?
Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Where does anyone discuss what does protection? Where do hundreds of thousands of joules get absorbed? How does a protector rated at hundreds of joules absorb surges that are hundreds of thousands of joules?
No protector does protection. Best protection for some incoming wires is a direct connection to earth (ie cable TV). No protector required. Best protection for your phone line is that same connection to what does protection. Earth ground. The telco 'installed for free' protector is your best protection. If you have not compromised its earthing. Only you are responsible for what does protection - the earth ground. How many even knew that?
Advertising says to install magic boxes that somehow stop what three miles of sky could not. Reality. An effective protector makes the always required 'low impedance' (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to earth. Why do Belkin and APC not discuss earth ground? Their products do not do what is provided by far more responsible companies. Such as General Electric, Square D, Intermatic, Keison, Ditek, ABB, Siemens, or Leviton.
Do you want to waste money? Or do you want what is found in every facility that can never have damage? An effective Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. To protect everything including the dishwasher and smoke detectors.
Why is that warranty from Belkin or APC not honored? Read the fine print. They are experts at getting a majority to promote myths. So many who did not even know about the telco 'installed for free' protector will recommend that hearsay.
Why was your ethernet and modem damaged? Typical is a surge incoming on AC mains. Once that surge is inside, then nothing will stop the destructive hunt for earth. It found a best path to earth destructively via your Mac and modem. Because that existing telco installed protector is earthed. The surge was outgoing via the Macs Ethernet port.
Protection for Ethernet, DSL, et al is always about protectors earthed at the service entrance. Apparently you have no 'whole house' protector on AC mains. Even 10 APC protectors will leave you with near zero protection.
One 'whole house' protector should connect even direct lightning strikes harmlessly to earth. And remain functional. Protectors that fail (plug-in type) are not doing effective protection. Are grossly undersized so that a tiny surge will damage them. But not damage adjacent appliances. Protection already inside appliances is superior to anything that might be on its power cord.
You also asked how to repair damaged items. We learned this stuff by also doing repair. Tracing the surge path. But if you have to ask, then you do not have the skills necessary to make those repairs. We did those repairs to learn from and avoid future surges. We learned why APC and Belkin recommendations are bogus. Informed homeowners instead install a 'whole house' protector from those other more responsible companies. And upgrade earthing. Because earthing ground is where hundreds of thousands of joules are harmlessly absorbed.
