With the light lit but years of service and surges behind it, joule capacity may be largely depleted even though it still reports protected.
Stop and call a licensed electrician or emergency services now if there's smoke, sparks, a burning smell, heat, shock, or water near the problem. Otherwise it's safe to answer the questions below.
The likely readout
Most likely cause
Likely past service life — joule capacity depletes with age and cumulative surges even while the light stays on
Ranked by fit to your answers
1
Likely past service life — joule capacity depletes with age and cumulative surges even while the light stays on
60
2
Protection appears active — the indicator reports the internal MOVs are still intact
55
SAFE NEXT CHECKEven with the light on, units lose joule capacity with age and cumulative surges. If it guards critical equipment, replace on roughly a 3-5 year cycle.
Where to stop. Swapping a plug-in surge strip is homeowner-safe. If the "Grounded" light is off, the receptacle itself may be ungrounded or miswired — confirm with a plug-in tester, and because correcting house wiring means live conductors, if a tester shows an open ground have a licensed electrician verify the outlet. This is general information, not a quote and not a substitute for a licensed electrician.
Try the safe next check above. If it doesn't resolve it, or would mean working on wiring or a panel, stop and call a licensed electrician — don't replace parts on a guess. Open the full tool to change any answer for your exact situation, or try a related check below.
source-governed · verified 2026-06-20
Sources
standard UL 1449 — Standard for Surge Protective Devices · verified 2026-06-20
Electrical Fault Check provides general diagnostic information only. It is not professional advice, not a quote, and not a substitute for a licensed electrician. Do not work on live wiring. If you see smoke, sparks, burning smell, heat, shock, water exposure, or repeated tripping, stop using the circuit and contact a licensed electrician or emergency services as appropriate.