POWER STRIPS / SURGE PROTECTORS
Every year, thousands of fires result from surge protectors, power strips and electrical cords. This presentation gives some suggestions to help prevent a possible fire from beginning.
Only use surge protectors or power strips that have an internal circuit breaker. These units will trip the breaker if the power strip is over loaded or shorted to prevent overheating. Surge protectors, power strips, or extension cords are not a substitute for permanent wiring.
If at any time the surge protector or plug strip is hot to the touch, remove and replace the unit. The electrical load for this strip should be evaluated for overloading. At no time should a surge protector or power strip be placed in a situation that will allow it to be exposed to a moist environment.
Any surge protector or power strip that does not have an internal circuit breaker, has frayed wires, or has a unit that is not working properly, should be replaced immediately. DO NOT plug a surge protector or power strip into and existing surge protector or power strip. This can lead to serious problems!
All surge protectors or power strips need to be UL or ETL approved. The UL or ETL label must never be removed from the unit. On the underside of the casing, there should be a manufacturer s name and the name of the testing lab where the unit was tested. What Do UL, ETL Listings Mean? UL Listed is the most common UL certification and means samples of the product have been tested and determined to meet the necessary safety standards. Back in 1896, Thomas Edison founded the Lamp Testing Bureau to test the safety of light bulbs. Now named Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL), they cover more than just light bulbs and are one of the fastest growing safety certifications servicing the U.S. and Canada. There should only be one surge protector or power strip plugged into a single duplex electrical outlet.
DO NOT locate a surge protector or power strip in any area where a unit would be covered with carpet, furniture or any other item that will limit or prevent air circulation. DO NOT staple, tack or tape a surge protector or power strip.
How do I know how many joules my surge protector has left? Good question. The answer? You don t. Unfortunately, surge protectors aren t designed to give you any indication of how many joules they have left. Some models use LED lights that cut off when they re out of joules but these rarely work correctly. And it s impossible to estimate how many joules your surge protector should have left because it all depends on: How many surges it s absorbed since it was installed How many joules it can absorb before it fries and dies That said, our professional advice is to replace your surge protectors every 2 years. However, you ll want to replace your surge protector now if any of the following has occurred since the surge protector was installed: Your area has had several power outages There s been construction in the area There have been nearby lightning strikes When the surge protector or power strip is not in use, unplug the unit.
The surge protector or power strips should always have either a polarized plug with one of the blades being larger than the other one or a three prong grounded plug. Never use a three to two prong adapter to power the unit. Things you should never plug into a surge protector or power strip unless it is approved for this purpose. Microwaves Coffee Makers Toasters Slow Cookers and Hot Plates Hair-Care Appliances Portable Heaters and Air Conditioners Sump Pumps Air Compressors Another Power Strip Hair-Care Appliances Refrigerators and Freezers Surge protectors or power strips should have a cord of no more than 6 feet in length.