NOVELTY - The operation method of an electrochemical hydrogen pumping cell comprises initiating an electrical connection between an anode and a cathode of the cell, ionizing hydrogen at the anode to flow protons through a proton exchange membrane to the cathode, reacting the protons with oxygen at the cathode to form water, removing the electrical connection between the anode and the cathode, connecting a power supply to the anode and cathode, flowing hydrogen across the anode, and measuring a voltage between the anode and cathode and flowing a gas through a cathode of the cell.    USE - Useful for protecting electrochemical hydrogen pumping system power supply, and for electrochemical hydrogen separation and compression systems.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides high efficiency and environmental impact over traditional mechanical and combustion based electrochemical cells, which compress the hydrogen at very high pressure and transfer hydrogen from one side of the cell to another.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The operation method of an electrochemical hydrogen pumping cell, comprises initiating an electrical connection between an anode and a cathode of the cell, ionizing hydrogen at the anode to flow protons through a proton exchange membrane to the cathode, reacting the protons with oxygen at the cathode to form water, removing the electrical connection between the anode and the cathode, connecting a power supply to the anode and cathode, flowing hydrogen across the anode, measuring a voltage between the anode and cathode, flowing a gas through a cathode of the cell, contacting an anode of the cell with hydrogen, flowing electrical current across the cell to evolve hydrogen at the cathode, isolating the cell from the electrical current, and isolating the cathode from ambient air. The anode has a higher electrical potential with respect to zero than the cathode. The electrical connection between the anode and cathode comprises an electrical load. The voltage reaches a predetermined value. The gas is hydrogen and inert gases. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for an electrochemical hydrogen pumping system.