How often should I replace a power bar \ surge protector?

[Teemsan]

I have a surge protector that is about 2 years old. It's been through two power outages, but everything seemed fine afterwards. I can't remember the exact rating of the protector, but I remember it was decent-ish ... about $80. An electrician was in a couple months back to change the breaker switches at the main box (it's an older building going through upgrades) and he told me the current is actually very stable. So I'm wondering about the life of these protectors. How long could I expect to get out of it?

 

[Andy11466]

I'd say it should last 5+ years.

I've had the same one for over 10 years, works great still

 

[Unolocogringo]

Power outages are nothing to it.
Power surges are what it protects you from.
A well designed surge protector will give up its life to save your equipment.
Most good ones come with a 5 year warranty and $10,000 equipment protection policy.
There are no working or moving parts to wear out.
When it will no longer turn on you know it has done it's job and it is time to replace it.

 

[ko888]

The life expectancy is based on the suppression devices used in the surge protector.

If MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistor) are used then there is definitely a finite life expectancy since they "degrade" when exposed to a few large transients, or many more smaller transients. MOVs are considered sacrificial devices. When they wear out all you're left with is an unprotected power bar.

 

[Teemsan]

Thanks ko888, based on what your saying I think I should find out the specs on the one I have, and go from there. How do you know if the MOV's have worn out, if you can't tell if it has been exposed to a large or few small transients?

 

[ko888]

Thanks ko888, based on what your saying I think I should find out the specs on the one I have, and go from there. How do you know if the MOV's have worn out, if you can't tell if it has been exposed to a large or few small transients?

There are some surge protectors that have a built-in detector circuit that determines if the surge suppression function is still functioning an turns on a red indicator light if it isn't.

 

[westom]

I have a surge protector that is about 2 years old. It's been through two power outages, but everything seemed fine afterwards. I can't remember the exact rating of the protector, but I remember it was decent-ish ... about $80.

Some of the most expensive protectors are also least robust. For example, a potentially destructive surge is hundreds of thousands of joules. How many joules will that protector absorb? A thousand? A $3 power strip with ten cent protector parts may sell for $10 in Walmart or also sell for $80 elsewhere. Only useful answser is based in those spec numbers.

120 volt protector do nothing (act as if not there) until its let-through voltage is exceeded. Obtain that number from its box. Typically 330 volts. How often does your 120 VAC exceed 330 volts? How often does an outage (voltage drops well below 120 volts) also exceed 330 volts? It doesn't. But myths (a zero volt outage is a many hundred volt surge) are widely believed.

Your surge protector did nothing during an outage. Otherwise power cycling its power switch is also destructive.

Your protector has no built in circuits to determine degradation. Its red light only reports one type of failure. That the protector was so grossly undersized as to disconnect to avert a house fire. But then above was a relevant question. How many joules does your protector claim to absorb? Again, useful answers means numbers.

An MOV manufacturer describes testing of protector parts. "The change of Vb shall be measured after the impulse listed below is applied 10,000 times continuously with the interval of ten seconds at room temperature." 10,000 surges? Then why do some $25 and $80 power strip protectors fail after one or two surges? If grossly undersized, then it fails on a first surge. That gets a majority to recommend it and buy more. Properly sized protectors will even withstand hundreds or thousands of surges without failure. But these products do not have a massive profit margin (ie a $3 power strip with ten cent protector parts).

Install what is found in any building that cannot have damage: a properly earthed 'whole house' protector. This completely different device (that is also called a protector) will even earth direct lightning strikes and remain functional. It is essential for protecting all appliances (even the furnace and dishwasher). And for protecting MOVs in that $80 protector.

 

[Jim from ZSI]

Whole building surge protection is a myth. They let through so much energy that they only really protect the wires in your home. Most let through 700 Volts or more. That is why they never wear out. Any MOV suppressor only works on protecting against a rise in voltage. But every time you turn on a device, you have an in rush of current that is what really damages the components in your equipment. By the time the voltage rises, it can be too late. This is also an erosive process. That means the first surge may not damage but the 1000th one will. As surges are generated mostly by internal source (switching activities in a home is what causes the damaging surges), you can have 1000 surges of 1 million watt bursts each and every year (according to the ANSI).

What you need is a series mode filter. Surges are electrical high frequency noise. You need to filter the noise and let the low frequency power wave through (a low pass filter). The Zero Surge power filters work on this principle. Their products are designed not to fail. There are no sacrificial or wear parts. There is no theoretical lifespan to the product. The so called Joule rating would be limited to the amount of energy it would take to melt the copper wires in your house. It is in series, not parallel, so it can act on the current rise and in real time. There is no delay. It does not have to react to a surge. Sure it costs more than one bought at a local store but since it never needs to be replaced, the total cost of ownership is much lower. And there is never downtime or surge damage.