Surge Panel Status Light Fault - Should I be Concerned?

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MikeAqua

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#236315 28-May-2018 14:18

I have this Arlec surge protection panel. http://www.arlec.com.au/detail-2/?de=PB72

It's behaving oddly and I'm wondering if I should be concerned. I have the panel in my workshop and plug battery chargers into it (drill, dremel, VHF etc).

It has two LED status lights: -

Green 'Power' - Normal operation, power is on.

Red 'Surge'- Surge protection is in operation

Currently green is off and red is on - indicating surge protection is in operation. But the panel is still providing power. The reset button is loose and doesn't re-latch when I press it in.

I unplugged the panel and opened it and there is continuity across the breaker.

I've reassembled but left it unplugged for now. Should I be concerned?

Mike

wellygary

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#2024021 28-May-2018 16:30

Either the panel is stuffed [most likely] (will the circuit beaker relatch when it is unplugged?, if it wont I would said it is the fault)

Or, there is a potential problem with your house wiring, [possible, but not as likely],

Iis there any RCD protection on that circuit?, or any other circuit?, if there is RCD protection but it is not tripping, its likely that the you panel is faulty, If RCD protection is tripping with the panel unplugged , you should call a sparky.....

MikeAqua

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#2024026 28-May-2018 16:38

wellygary:

Either the panel is stuffed [most likely] (will the circuit beaker relatch when it is unplugged?, if it wont I would said it is the fault)

Or, there is a potential problem with your house wiring, [possible, but not as likely],

Iis there any RCD protection on that circuit?, or any other circuit?, if there is RCD protection but it is not tripping, its likely that the you panel is faulty, If RCD protection is tripping with the panel unplugged , you should call a sparky.....

All the outlets in the house are RCCB protected (and less then 10 years old). We have several other very similar surge panels in the house and no issues with any of them.

The circuit breaker within the panel feels like its latched already. If you press the button there is no resistance it's loose. There is electrical continuity through the CB and the panel is still supplying power no issues. But this is incongruous with the status lights which indicate surge protection has been tripped.

The panel would be about <$50 to replace so not worth calling a sparky. If it's unsafe/suspicious I'll just bin it.

Mike

wellygary

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#2024028 28-May-2018 16:50

MikeAqua:

The panel would be about <$50 to replace so not worth calling a sparky.

No, I was meaning if there was a fault with you house wiring call the sparky, - For a $50 panel ,yip biff it.

Aredwood

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#2024340 28-May-2018 23:03

The green light is probably just a neon lamp in series with a resistor. And the red surge light is probably another neon in series with a MOV. The MOV acts as a small capicitor, and allows a small amount of current to flow - enough to make the neon light up. Not having the green light working is unlikely to affect anything else. Unless it has a 2nd MOV wired in series with it.

The circuit breaker in those power boards is normally an overload only type. Which then relies on your switchboard for short circuit protection.

elpenguino

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#2024346 28-May-2018 23:22

As @aredwood said, these things usually have MOVs in them. MOVs are resistors that decrease their resistance when the voltage increases.

You've probably popped one for some reason. MOVs can only dissipate a very small amount of energy so these boards are the weakest form of surge protection you can get - and now you're probably not getting even that.

MOVs can be replaced if you are so inclined.

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Bung

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#2024347 28-May-2018 23:23

MikeAqua:
[There is electrical continuity through the CB and the panel is still supplying power no issues. But this is incongruous with the status lights which indicate surge protection has been tripped.

The instructions aren't well written. The Red indicator shows " that the surge protection is in operation" but other wording makes it clear that the light is on when the surge protection is available and it goes out if the MOV is blown.

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richms

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#2024348 28-May-2018 23:24

I have many powerstrips (not sure I would call them any type of panel) that have had the light die on them. They are cost engineered junk so they under size the resistors on the LEDs to the point they are operating within a mm of their life all the time.

Breakers in them are only thermal and very loose ratings on them. Have seen one in an office that was doing 3600w of heaters and 2 PCs never trip over 2 winters, they are another cost engineered part of them.

If all the sockets are holding well, its not getting hot etc then no reason not to keep using it.

The light for the surge protection working is just downstream of the fusable thing that goes into the cheap MOV protection in the powerstrip, so when it conducts and blows the fuseable thing (usually at the same time as tripping the breaker running the circuit) the light goes out and they get to sell you another poorly made piece of questionable at best surge protecting plastic junk.

Richard rich.ms

MikeAqua

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#2024887 29-May-2018 15:09

@elpenguino: If the MOVs have popped would the board still supply power (as it is doing)?

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2024893 29-May-2018 15:14

Aredwood: The green light is probably just a neon lamp in series with a resistor. And the red surge light is probably another neon in series with a MOV. The MOV acts as a small capicitor, and allows a small amount of current to flow - enough to make the neon light up. Not having the green light working is unlikely to affect anything else. Unless it has a 2nd MOV wired in series with it.

@Aredwood: So the green light could simply have been blown by whatever surge tripped the CB?

Mike

Aredwood

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#2024895 29-May-2018 15:17

It could have been a surge blowing that light. Or as Richms said, could just be an unrelated failure.

Yes, the power board will still supply power, even with failed MOVs.

MikeAqua

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#2024912 29-May-2018 15:32

richms:

If all the sockets are holding well, its not getting hot etc then no reason not to keep using it

Thanks I left it plugged in for a couple of hours on Sunday, then ran an IR thermometer over it. No external hotspots except a little bit of (expected) heat around the AC/DC wall-wart for the VHF chargers and the working status light.

Mike

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Bung

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#2024948 29-May-2018 16:02

MikeAqua:
@elpenguino: If the MOVs have popped would the board still supply power (as it is doing)?

The red neon shows the power strip MOVs are OK, or at least haven't gone short circuit after a surge.
The phone and ethernet jacks don't have indicators. Anything wrong with the phone socket MOV will probably show up as ringing tripping prematurely. In the past several models of phone have had to have the MOVs clipped out because of that.

The green neon seems to be your only fault. I'd cover it so nobody mistakenly thinks the power is off the board.

MikeAqua

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#2025004 29-May-2018 16:50

Bung:

The green neon seems to be your only fault. I'd cover it so nobody mistakenly thinks the power is off the board.

Thanks. I'll get the back vivid out. Highly technical repair!

Mike