How to Test If Your Power Strip Has Surge Protection Built In

I used to think all power strips had surge protection¹—until I lost a laptop to a power surge². That’s when I realized: if your power strip isn’t built to protect, it’s just an overloaded plug waiting to happen.

To check if your power strip has surge protection¹, look for features like a surge indicator light³, joule rating⁴ on the label, or UL/CE certification⁵ for surge protection¹. You can also test it using a surge protector tester⁶ or confirm it with the manufacturer.

Now I always double-check before plugging in anything valuable. Here’s how you can too.

What Is Surge Protection and Why Does It Matter?

If you’ve ever seen lights flicker during a thunderstorm or when a heavy appliance kicks on, you’ve witnessed a power surge².

Surge protection is a built-in safeguard in certain power strips that absorbs and diverts excess voltage caused by surges, preventing damage to electronics like laptops, TVs, and routers.

How Surges Happen

• Lightning strikes nearby
• Power grid switching
• Faulty wiring or overloaded circuits

A surge may last less than a second—but that’s enough to fry your electronics. That’s why surge protection¹ isn’t just nice to have. It’s essential.

Key Features That Indicate a Surge Protector

You don’t need to be an electrician to spot the difference between a basic power strip and a surge-protected one.

Look for these signs that indicate built-in surge protection¹:

What to Check:

If the label says “Extension Socket” with no joule rating⁴ or LED indicator, it’s likely not offering any real protection.

How to Test Your Power Strip for Surge Protection

Even if a power strip claims surge protection¹, how do you know it still works? Especially if it’s been used for years?

The simplest way is to check the surge protection¹ light. If it’s off—or there isn’t one—you can test it with a dedicated surge protector tester⁶ or multimeter.

Test Methods:

1. Visual Check

   • Is the “protected” LED on? If not, the protection may have worn out.

2. Surge Protector Tester

   • Plug it in. It’ll tell you if protection is active. These testers cost under $20 and are worth keeping in your toolkit.

3. Multimeter Inspection (for advanced users)

   • Check for continuity across MOV components (not recommended unless you’re experienced).

A worn-out surge protector will keep working like a regular strip—but it’ll no longer protect you. That’s the hidden danger.

Common Misconceptions About Surge-Protected Power Strips

Over the years, I’ve heard some common myths from friends, clients, and even store clerks. Let’s clear them up.

Not every power strip is a surge protector. And even the ones that are don’t last forever.

Myth vs. Truth:

Many people also believe you can daisy-chain surge protectors⁷ for more protection—but that’s unsafe and often violates code.

Conclusion

Don’t wait for a blown fuse or fried laptop to realize your power strip was just a hollow shell. Look for the surge light. Check the specs. Test it. Surge protection might not be exciting—but losing your expensive gear definitely isn’t worth the risk.