They provide complete protection
Surge protectors compliment power strips. Power strips protect your electronics from within your home, with whole house surge protectors keep outside surges from entering through your breaker box.
Most Surges Are Internal
Power surges can emerge from a variety of sources, but 80% of the time, they’re generated internally. Typically, they emanate from a home’s appliances, like the motor of an air conditioner. Although most surges are short, these small surges will slowly degrade the performance and shorten the lifespan of your electronics.
Although its main function is to defend your home’s appliances and electronics, whole house surge protection also defends your entire electrical system. If a transient surge from one of your appliances comes through a dedicated circuit, it will return the surge through the breaker panel where it can be stopped, keep all your other electrical equipment safe, including every outlet.