Yeah, totally get the frustration with smart gadgets going dumb when Wi-Fi drops. Had a similar issue with my smart lock—battery died and suddenly I'm locked out of my own house, fumbling around for the hidden spare key I hadn't used in years. Made me rethink how much convenience is actually convenient, you know? Curious about the surge protection though...was it tricky figuring out exactly what type you needed? Seems like there's a million options out there.
Yeah, smart locks can be a real headache when they fail—been there myself. Surge protection isn't too complicated once you narrow down your needs. Did you check the joule rating? Higher joules generally mean better protection, especially if you're dealing with sensitive electronics. Also, consider whether you need whole-house protection or just individual devices. Whole-house systems are pricier upfront but can save you from bigger headaches later on. Have you had issues with power surges before, or is this more of a precautionary thing? Either way, good call looking into it...better safe than sorry with these gadgets.
Totally agree about the joule rating—higher is usually safer. But honestly, whole-house protection can feel like overkill unless you've had some nasty surges before. I went individual and haven't fried anything yet...knock on wood. You're smart to be cautious though, gadgets aren't cheap these days.
Yeah, individual protection can definitely do the trick for most setups. I've been running individual surge protectors on my sensitive gear for years—computers, home theater, gaming consoles—and haven't had any issues yet either. But after a neighbor's lightning strike fried half their electronics, I started reconsidering whole-house protection. It's one of those things you don't think you need until you really, really do... Still, you're right to be cautious; better safe than sorry with today's pricey tech.
I used to think individual surge protectors were enough too, until a storm knocked out my router and TV despite having them plugged into decent protectors. After that, I bit the bullet and installed whole-house protection... pricey upfront, but sleeping easier now, lol.
