Hello Dave!
An idea for an episode just occurred to me, though it's not about electronics per se but about electrical engineering. I would love to hear your insights on lightning protection systems both large-scale and for the home. There are domestic products out there that claim can protect your appliances from lightning, but based on actual strikes and their aftermath I remain very skeptical about their effectiveness. I would buy that a proper lightning rod installed at a well-studied location is a good protection, but what can you do to protect a suburb/rural house without tall skyscrapers nearby to take the hit for you? When lightning hits a tree, the effects are quite nasty, especially for the house next to it... Even if your electrical installation were completely isolated, a surge could travel through your (TV/Internet) cable, phone line, etc. For example, would the devices powered by an isolated domestic UPS get any acceptable degree of protection against lightning, say that hits the front yard tree? How far from the "epicenter" does the danger extend?
Thank you in advance and I look forward to more awesome material from your vblog!
Nil