lightning arestors

hi i disconect the coax on hf when not in use the vhf/uhf antenna is on a mfj 4 way antenna switch is in the ground position that has a type of fuse i tryed to use lightning arestor on my vhf/uhf antenna unable to tune i have got my old hf vertical off the roof i will repair it form ground mounting with a lighting aresstor but i think it is realy more for static discharge thanks for looking paul m0kbd 73s 

Lightning arrestor is a bad name, Alpha Delta call them surge protectors.

Why, because they do not stop lightning, they will stop a surge from a near by strike
and ground static build up when it gets to high.

Unplugging is fine but if you unplug inside you house/shack good ol lightning still comes inside
and makes a mess. Unplug outside the shack if you can, keep lightning outside at all costs.

I live in the most active lightning area in the USA and maybe the world.  NASA has had a lightning research center here since the 1970s or so.  When I first moved here, Hayes modems had a surge protection guarantee that they would replace any damaged product post-paid and free.  Replaced six in my first summer.  I have good protection from my power company and a minimal charge metered surge detection and insurance policy.  They paid over $6k 2 yrs ago when detected lightning took out my AC and pool pump.  Was not active in ham radio at first, but renewed in 2020.  I have arrestors at the base of masts for my verticals, and also at my "window plate" entrance to the house (shack in a spare bedroom).  I always disconnect my coax lines from the window plate when equipment is off.  Thought I had a problem in my UVS-300 vhf/uhf vertical, but that proved to be simple corrosion of the internal connection to the bottom segment of this 3-section antenna.  Simple cleaning restored the excellent performance. Something unexplained caused a failure of a vhf card in one of my FT-991a's. Repair guy found that an internel printed circuit run in a multi-layer card had become intermittent such that wiggling could restore proper function.  Only repair was to replace that card.  Unexplained and not likely a lightning probem.  Point is that I know the issues and susceptibilities rather well (Life Member IEEE, 60+ years ham) and simple precautions have been enough for me for years of hazardous exposure.  Needs caution, but not paranoia.  I would NOT use any kind of antenna switch as protection.