From all this discussion I have ascertained that there is no way to know if my surge protector is working or not. Also if it is over stressed there is a chance it could over heat and become a potential fire source.
So I guess I will just leave my inexpensive unit plugged into the box safe outside the TT.
Since my unit still determines proper polarity and the chance of a surge damaging my non-electronic gear is just slightly more than my chances of being carried away by giant condors the next time I visit California; I will put it in the "unexplained" files and go fishing.
If I worried about all the what-ifs, I would have stopped camping years ago.