# Have there been any recent lab tests of consumer surge protectors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145 "2019-10-02T13:14:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/1 "2019-10-02T13:14:48Z")
Surprisingly, I haven’t been able to find any. Consumer Reports hasn’t done it, AFAICT. It’s all well and good for manufacturers to rate their clamping voltage and how many joules they can absorb, but it nobody is actually checking these claims, whom can we trust? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/2 "2019-10-02T14:31:24Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Surprisingly, I haven’t been able to find any. Consumer Reports hasn’t done it, AFAICT. It’s all well and good for manufacturers to rate their clamping voltage and how many joules they can absorb, but it nobody is actually checking these claims, whom can we trust? I think the better brands will mostly have UL ratings on them. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/3 "2019-10-02T15:17:58Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I think the better brands will mostly have UL ratings on them. Does UL actually test the surge the suppression claims, or just confirm that they’re safe (i.e. won’t electrocute someone or cause a fire)? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/4 "2019-10-02T16:50:47Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > Does UL actually test the surge the suppression claims, or just confirm that they’re safe (i.e. won’t electrocute someone or cause a fire)? UL-1449 is described as a safety and performance standard, so it appears they test both. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/5 "2019-10-02T19:41:27Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > UL-1449 is described as a safety and performance standard, so it appears they test both. From [UL-1449](https://standardscatalog.ul.com/standards/en/standard_1449_4): _1.11 These requirements do not evaluate the effect of SPDs on connected loads, the effect of SPDs on harmonic distortion of the supply voltage, the degree of attenuation provided by SPDs, nor the adequacy of the voltage protection rating of SPDs to protect specific connected equipment from upset or damage._ Since it [costs $716 to download the actual document](https://www.shopulstandards.com/PurchaseProduct.aspx?UniqueKey=28305), I’m unable to determine whether they test all to the same standard, or each to its published specs. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/6 "2019-10-02T20:08:37Z")
> [@Running\_with\_Scissors](#): > > From [UL-1449](https://standardscatalog.ul.com/standards/en/standard_1449_4): > _1.11 These requirements do not evaluate the effect of SPDs on connected loads, the effect of SPDs on harmonic distortion of the supply voltage, the degree of attenuation provided by SPDs, nor the adequacy of the voltage protection rating of SPDs to protect specific connected equipment from upset or damage._ > Since it [costs $716 to download the actual document](https://www.shopulstandards.com/PurchaseProduct.aspx?UniqueKey=28305), I’m unable to determine whether they test all to the same standard, or each to its published specs. Sorry, that’s all I got 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/7 "2019-10-02T22:23:01Z")
How recent? [Wirecutter](https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-surge-protector/) did a review and updated it about 10 months ago. They do describe how they performed their testing. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/8 "2019-10-03T00:09:50Z")
I’m more concerned about the safety of those [cheap power strips](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20557612&postcount=46). Some of which, of course, have surge protectors. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/9 "2019-10-03T12:17:55Z")
Since USB ports is becoming an expectation with power strips. And since there’s a lot of “creativity” in implementing the USB standards (even just for power/charging purposes). Does UL also have a standard for that? Of course, one sees all the time cheap stuff online that says “UL Approved” on them that no doubt is nothing but a label. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-recent-lab-tests-of-consumer-surge-protectors/841145/10 "2019-10-03T12:58:12Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > How recent? [Wirecutter](https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-surge-protector/) did a review and updated it about 10 months ago. They do describe how they performed their testing. I had actually seen that article but for some reason dismissed it, but thanks, that appears to be the best that’s currently out there, and allowed me to make my decision.