Solar - Controller Lightning Surge Protection? What is it?

I'm going to set up a my little off grid 12VDC (three, 205 watt panel) system. In the instuctions for the charge controller it says to "put lightning surge protection on in line to charge controller", thats it. I can't find really anything online about DC surge protectors. What do I use? Do I really need lightning surge protection? Is a fuse or breaker going to work just the same? The only thing I can find is:
"DELTA LIGHTNING ARRESTOR for Solar Panel Systems & DC Wind Generators - LA 302DC"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELTA-LIGHTNING-ARRESTOR-Solar-Panel-Systems-DC-Wind-Generators-302DC-/360401322160?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e997c0b0
Is this what I use? If people really use lightning surge protectors on their systems why can't I find any? If anyone knows something cheap to use let me know..
"DELTA LIGHTNING ARRESTOR for Solar Panel Systems & DC Wind Generators - LA 302DC"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELTA-LIGHTNING-ARRESTOR-Solar-Panel-Systems-DC-Wind-Generators-302DC-/360401322160?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e997c0b0
Is this what I use? If people really use lightning surge protectors on their systems why can't I find any? If anyone knows something cheap to use let me know..
Comments
try one of midnite solar's surge suppressors,
http://search.store.yahoo.net/wind-sun/cgi-bin/nsearch?unique=e61a8&catalog=wind-sun
this is not necessary for the operations of solar power, but it is more of a safety thing not only for the equipment, but for you too. now there has been many threads in which we have talked about this, but understand that in a nutshell that there aren't any guarantees when it comes to lightning. it is good to increase your odds though. in any case properly grounding everything is important and required for the use of these surge suppressors.
Thanks for the fast reply, I love this forum, always fast :-). So what % of people would you say use surge protectors? Like 50/50? I just don't want to fry my controller. the cheapest midnite solar's surge suppressors were $93, thats way too much for me, like 3/4 of the cost of my charge controller! Is there is anyway to make a cheap one or anything? Oh and what size wire do you use for grounding? Is it the same as in a DC wire charts? And is a larger ground wire size going to help with lightning strikes, that is make the lightning take the ground wire line, or does the power just surge everywhere when it hits?
The problem with cheap is that cheap may not work as good (or at all) as more expensive.
Some cheap ones just barely work at all so you gotta be careful.
boB
Some late night reading material:
-Bill
Thanks for the info. It sorta made my head spin
No lightning expert, but from what I have seen for government buildings, even metal roofs have dedicated lightning rods and cabling (saw this in a few national parks that have lots of lightning).
-Bill
Attachment not found.
The house and garage (while building). The garage has a flat roof.