Why does my surge protector keep clicking?

Your surge protector may be clicking due to mini surges, known as spikes, from the operation of other electronics. Running a blender or vacuum cleaner may cause a temporary surge in the electricity to the outlet your surge protector is plugged in to, causing it to click to divert the excess power.

Similarly, you may ask, why does the light flicker on my surge protector?

The ubiquitous power strips used in every type of home or office have a tendency to flicker caused by the slow deterioration of the indicator light. The blinking is confined to the light itself; it doesn't affect the strip or the AC power available at the sockets.

Also, why does my surge protector keep shutting off? Some power strips have built-in surge protection and some come with a circuit breaker that shuts off the power strip if it's overpowered by too many connected devices. This helps prevent a power surge that could fry your pricey laptop, smartphone or flat-panel TV.

Then, how do I know if my surge protector is bad?

There's no surefire way to know if your surge protector is bad, but some come with warning lights that indicate you need to get a new surge protector. Since a surge protector's job is to absorb additional energy instead of passing spikes of current to your valuable electronics, it absorbs electrical damage over time.

What makes a clicking sound?

Belts, Joints and Supports. Many of the support systems on a car can cause a clicking noise if they malfunction or wear out. Damaged CV joints make a pronounced clicking noise when accelerating or making sharp turns. Additionally, a loose serpentine belt can cause a clicking sound.

35 Related Question Answers Found

Is turning off a surge protector the same as unplugging?

Answer. When you turn off a surge protector -- or suppressor, as some people call them -- it's virtually the same as unplugging it; it will save a small amount of energy and is a little safer in a storm than having the surge protector on. However, it's the best solution.

How often should you change your surge protector?

Many people recommend replacing a surge protector every two years or so, but any recommendation like this one can only be a rule of thumb.

What does the green light mean on a surge protector?

The green light indicates that the receptacle has a ground reference. Grounding references are vital for surge protection because Ground is the exit pathway for the excess surge current. No Ground reference and your surge protector will not work. This is why surge protectors are not used on 2-prong outlets.

Do surge protectors really do anything?

While they aren't perfect, they really do protect computers and other electronic devices from all but the strongest power surges. While they can be ineffective against direct lightning strikes, a quality surge protector can stop most strong power surges and prevent them from damaging the gear that's plugged into them.

Can surge protectors catch fire?

Broken plugs are not only a shock hazard, but they can also spark or overheat, causing an electrical fire. Use surge protectors: Surge protectors help protect appliances and anything else plugged into an outlet from dangers posed by a power surge.

What happens when a surge protector goes bad?

Rick's answer: Jeannie, the answer to your question is yes, surge protectors (#ad) do indeed go bad. But the reason they go bad has more to do with their environment than with their age. The protective components inside surge protectors work by shunting power surges to ground.

What does the red light on a surge protector mean?

The red protection light indicates that your surge protector is providing surge protection for your equipment. If the red light is out, it means that the surge protector has been damaged by a severe surge and a new one should be purchased.

How do I reset my surge protector?

How to Reset Surge Protectors for Electronics

Turn off all connected devices and unplug them.
Look for a reset button (they can be tiny and hard to see on many surge protectors, so check every surface).
If the reset button is absent, simply turn off the surge protector and turn it back on.

Do surge suppressors wear out?

Yes, a surge protector isn't designed to last forever and will eventually wear out. The bad news is that it's almost impossible to tell when a surge protector wears out. Which means, you might think your appliances are protected against dangerous power surges when they really aren't.

Will a surge protector keep a breaker from tripping?

surge protectors won't keep you from tripping your breaker, in my opinion. Breakers are designed to ignore surges and transients, anyway. Whether there' on the same outlet or not doesn't matter if they're on the same breaker. Sometimes that breaker might also be shared with an adjoining room where you have other loads.

What is the lifespan of a surge protector?

three to five years

How do you test a power surge?

The best way to test an electrical outlet for power surges is with a surge protector.

Obtain a surge protector with an internal breaker.
Plug the surge protector into the outlet.
Check the surge protector periodically to see if the circuit breaker has tripped.

What is the best surge protector?

So here is my list of The 10 Best Surge Protectors.

APC P11VT3 11-Outlet Surge Protector.
AmazonBasics 6-Outlet Surge Protector.
Belkin BE108000-08-CM 8-Outlet Surge Protector.
HOLSEM 12-Outlet Surge Protector.
Belkin BP112230-08 12-Outlet Surge Protector.
BESTEK 8-Outlet Surge Protector.
APC P11U2 11-Outlet Surge Protector.

How do you fix a power surge?

While most external surges can't be controlled, you can eliminate some common causes of internal surges.

Unplug devices you aren't using. The easiest way to avoid power surge problems is to unplug devices that aren't being used.
Upgrade inadequate wiring.
Fix overloaded circuits.

What makes a good surge protector?

You'll want something at least 6-700 joules or higher. (Higher is better here.) The clamping voltage is the voltage that will trigger the surge protector—or essentially when the surge protector wakes up and starts absorbing energy. Look for something around 400 V or less.

Is 900 joules enough for a surge protector?

A unit with up to 1000 joules of surge protection is adequate for these small electronics. A surge protector with 1000 to 2000 joules will provide sufficient protection for power tools and office equipment such as printers, copiers and routers.

How do I protect my fridge from power surges?

The quickest and least expensive solution for protecting appliances is plugging them into a power strip with a built-in surge protector. These power strips are usually equipped with a fuse that is designed to fail in the event of a voltage spike, cutting off power to your appliances and protecting them.