Published By: Marc Edwards | Last updated on June 3, 2024 and reviewed by Editorial Team
Unless you happen to work in a specialized laboratory and have a huge budget, there is really no proper way on how to test surge a protector. The quick and easy way is obviously to get surge protection devices that come with LED notifications. When the surge protection device fails its own internal testing of surge protection mechanism, it would trigger a visual (LED notification) or audio alarm.
Another thing you have to be aware of is that all surge protection devices come with a limited life span. And typically after suffering from a couple of hits (from power spikes and surges), your surge protector will be no more than just a power strip where power is allowed to pass through to your plugged-in devices without protection.
One thing for sure, if you are using a surge protection unit purchased more than a few years ago, it is probably in your best interest to replace it.
Sometimes, after resetting the surge protector, a beeping sound may get triggered and this is when more thorough testing is required. Usually, a service manual should provide instructions on how to conduct more comprehensive testing.
A surge protector will need to be replaced if resetting the surge protector reveals error codes or red LED lights.
When seeking a replacement, be sure to get one that comes with multiple LED indication lights (as mentioned earlier) that would notify you when it is no longer able to protect your prized electrical devices. This is probably the best form of “test” to confirm if your surge protection device is still protecting your connected electronics or not.
Most high-end surge suppressors these days come with very clear-cut, user-friendly LED indicators which are fairly hard to miss when an issue arises. Some brands and models even come equipped with audible alarms or beeping sounds to notify you when it has exhausted its surge protection joules.
One thing to note is that the lifespans of surge suppressors cannot be measured in years. There is usually a specific amount of joules that is designed and built into each model of the surge protection device. Once the surge protection joules are used up, it should warn you (*check LED indicator) that it is no longer capable of protecting your plugged-in devices. Hence it is definitely the right time to replace it with a new unit.
*LED indicators are not foolproof
If your surge protector is warning you (via LED indicators or audible alarm) that it’s no longer protecting you or asking you to replace it, you should probably get a new surge protector without having to know how to test a surge protector. The built-in mechanism inside each surge protector will constantly test for its surge protection capabilities and will trigger an alarm (visual or audio) when it is no longer able to protect your connected devices.
When shopping for surge protectors, be sure to look out for certification and compliant stamps like IEC 61643-1 / ANSI/IEEE C62.xx / UL 1449 etc. Since there is no easy way to physically or scientifically test out a surge protector, the best bet is usually to get it from reputable manufacturers like Tripp lite, APC, Belkin, and so on.
