A fault-tolerant self-indicating surge protector system, the system comprising: at least one surge protection module (502; 702, 704) configured to couple to a power line and a surge grounding line, wherein the at least one surge protection module (502; 702, 704) comprises: a first varistor module configured to couple to the power line and a middle node, and comprising a first varistor configured to: provide a first high impedance between the power line and the middle node if a first varistor voltage from the power line to the middle node is below a first voltage threshold; and absorb a surge current from the power line if the first varistor voltage is above the first voltage threshold; and a second varistor module configured to couple to the middle node and the surge grounding line, and comprising a second varistor configured to: provide a second high impedance between the middle node and the surge grounding line if a second varistor voltage from the middle node to the surge grounding line is below a second voltage threshold; and absorb a surge current from the power line if the second varistor voltage is above the second voltage threshold; and wherein the fault-tolerant self-indicating surge protector system further comprises a fault detection circuit configured to indicate a fault in the at least one surge protection module based on a tap voltage on the middle node, characterized in that the fault detection circuit is configured to indicate a fault in: the first varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a first voltage of the surge grounding line; and the second varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a second voltage of the power line. provide a first high impedance between the power line and the middle node if a first varistor voltage from the power line to the middle node is below a first voltage threshold; and absorb a surge current from the power line if the first varistor voltage is above the first voltage threshold; and a second varistor module configured to couple to the middle node and the surge grounding line, and comprising a second varistor configured to: provide a second high impedance between the middle node and the surge grounding line if a second varistor voltage from the middle node to the surge grounding line is below a second voltage threshold; and absorb a surge current from the power line if the second varistor voltage is above the second voltage threshold; and wherein the fault-tolerant self-indicating surge protector system further comprises a fault detection circuit configured to indicate a fault in the at least one surge protection module based on a tap voltage on the middle node, characterized in that the fault detection circuit is configured to indicate a fault in: the first varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a first voltage of the surge grounding line; and the second varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a second voltage of the power line. provide a second high impedance between the middle node and the surge grounding line if a second varistor voltage from the middle node to the surge grounding line is below a second voltage threshold; and absorb a surge current from the power line if the second varistor voltage is above the second voltage threshold; and wherein the fault-tolerant self-indicating surge protector system further comprises a fault detection circuit configured to indicate a fault in the at least one surge protection module based on a tap voltage on the middle node, characterized in that the fault detection circuit is configured to indicate a fault in: the first varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a first voltage of the surge grounding line; and the second varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a second voltage of the power line. the first varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a first voltage of the surge grounding line; and the second varistor module if the tap voltage approaches a second voltage of the power line.