... tell me,what would the guage be on the ground wire that could handle a surge like a bolt of lightning??
16 AWG (1.3 mm) (lamp cord wire) will conduct a surge of less than 60,000 amps. As noted in a technical article in Electrical Engineering Times by George Kauffman in October 2007.
'Whole house' protectors rated for 50,000 amps (from other companies with superior integrity such as GE, Square D, ABB, Siemens, Polyphaser, Leviton, Intermatic, Cutler-Hammer, etc) typically earth using a 12 AWG (2 mm) wire. 12 AWG is more than sufficient for a 50,000 amp surge. Responsible manufacturers do not undersized their ground wire for 50,000 amps.
To be more than sufficient and to also meet human safety codes, an earth ground wire is typically 6 AWG (4 mm) bare copper. Even some radio antenna towers that suffer direct strikes use 6 AWG grounding wires. A wire sufficient for maybe 200,000 amp surges.
From disparaging tones, a few will immediately post denial and mockery. Rather than learn (or ask) why a 10 amp lamp cord wire can also conduct 50,000 amp surges without failure. Only the informed can provide these numbers.
Destructive surges might exist once every seven years. A number that can vary significantly even in a same Ohio town. Fifteen years without a serious surge might be normal in some venues. However tinier surges, too small to harm appliances, could have degraded that Belkin into ineffective.
A near zero Belkin (maybe a thousands joules) may have failed without any indication by its lights. Indicator lights can only report a type of (catastrophic) failure that must never happen to any protector. Belkin sort of forgets to mention that. Catastropic failure was when a protector was grossly undersized. Its indicator light can only report catastrophic (unacceptable) failures. And not a failure due to degradation.
For all we know, a Belkin in Ohio completely degraded early in its 15 years. Fortunately appliances already contain robust protection. What protects bathroom GFCIs, clocks, dishwasher, furnace, stove ...?
Some grossly undersized and adjacent protectors were discovered so prone to fire that the new owners announced those protectors must be removed immediately. Just another reason why adjacent protectors need protection only possible with an earthed 'whole house' protector. If its indicator light reported a failure, then you know that protector was grossly undersized. Be concerned. Only a thermal fuse averted fire.
Earthing direct lightning strikes is accomplished with a low impedance 6 AWG ground wire. That means a wire without splices, must be separated from other non-grounding wires, is not inside metallic conduit, has no sharp bends, and must be as short as possible - ie less than 10 feet. All concepts that engineers who do this stuff would know. But not discussed when a protector has no earthing - ie a Belkin.
That Belkin (with near zero protection numbers) does not claim to protect from destructive types of surges - lightning being one example. BTW, the many types of destructive surges occur long before anyone even thinks about unplugging. Humans have no idea when a stray car, lineman error, or gnawing squirrel causes a potentially destructive surge.
I routinely use electronic equipment during all storms. How often does your telco disconnect all phone service with each approachnig thunderstorm? Never. They only use proven solutions - which means not unplugging.
OP should inspect his home for above solutons. Earth the surge; not a computer. Above discusses a 'secondary' protection layer. Also necessary is to inspect your 'primary' surge protection layer. We did this stuff. Pleny more to discuss.
