We have a "whole-house" generator with an automatic transfer switch, but I don't see how it would protect from a lightning surge. The generator only switches on when the grid voltage falls below a set threshold for a set time duration. Until that time the house power circuit is connected to the utility grid -- and whatever surge is induced in the grid.
You may be right.
The best defense against lightning based surge is not connected.
Any protection would need to take place before the breakout box and gen.
Even if it disconnects before damage when lightning is close enough it emits high levels of magnetic/static fields and air born surges that nothing in line is going to stop.
I do believe that may be my case. It was 70’ from my computer room. It takes very little static to cook a main board. A lot of times its the field that charges power lines. It could have been both. It was so close it may have been inevitable. It didn’t effect anything else.
But you made a good point.
