Logo

What exactly is the difference between a surge protector and a fuse? Can a fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of surge protector?

12.06.2025 00:09

What exactly is the difference between a surge protector and a fuse? Can a fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of surge protector?

Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.

Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".

Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.

ChatGPT Is Making Us Weird - Business Insider

Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.

These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.

This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.

Hubble Trouble Solved? Webb Telescope Finally Cracks the Universe’s Growth Mystery - SciTechDaily

2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]

2024–09–27 [ Mohan Rajaratnam Mohan Rajaratnam ] . Thinks you can get free electricity from nothing : Mohan Rajaratnam's answer to Is it possible to generate free electricity at home using a magnet or other low-cost methods? If so, how does it work?

This is a photo where a lightning bolt took out a home's complete mains distribution box, and a lot of electronic gear as well.

I Tried 11 Popular Fast Food Crispy Chicken Sandwiches—This Is the One I’ll Order From Now On - Allrecipes

One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”

The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.

Upvotes:

Can a Trump supporter explain what was wrong with what Bishop Budde said to Donald Trump?

This is a high voltage low current spike that comes down the line because of the power poles being struck, and the voltage suppressors activating on the primary side of the transformer.

2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]

The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”

Chinese EV Makers Pull Away From Tesla With Sales Gains - Barron's

What is lightning?

So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.

“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”

Should parents be allowed to bring children into R-rated movies? What are the potential consequences of doing so?

He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.

“ A surge suppressor is the one which is connected at the input supply so that when there is a sudden change voltage it bypasses thereby protecting the (circuit) and electronic components”

nine

Why the U.S. tax bill's Section 899 could push European firms to list in the U.S. - CNBC

Edit 2024–10.

First Sentence:

A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.

What are the reasons for people being banned from social media sites like Twitter and Instagram? Why is it considered a big deal?

The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”

so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.

OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.

Why do flat earthers delete their answers after being proven wrong? Are they just being ignorant and arrogant?

[old diagram got deleted by accident]

2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]

What does a fuse do?

I'm pretty sure that my dog is transgender, how would I go about transitioning it?

so, what happens?

These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.

At least they know the answer if they wanted it.

Lawyers could face ‘severe’ penalties for fake AI-generated citations, UK court warns - TechCrunch

At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.

Barnstars:

but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.

2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi

(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).

When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.

So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.

[image of Common-mode choke]

eight

He then describes the function of a fuse.

P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.

It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.

I post the exact comment here.

For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).

This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.

This is 'the assistant's answer'

2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].

It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.

But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.

Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.

a photo is worth a thousand words.

But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.

This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.

2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]

One

This one hit behind the barn.

the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".

This device then solves the entire problem.

It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.

There is no harm in having the surge suppressor along with the fuse in the circuit. The fuse will not open up until the current melts the link. This will take time, and in the interim, that jolt will get transmitted into the power supplies.

but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.

In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:

There are two important concepts here.

(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).

Lightning arrestor is a spark-gap device, and can be installed anywhere. What is important, is that the wire is thick enough to withstand the lightning bolt and conduct the energy away from the building.

“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”

So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.

A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.

This is an electronic circuit designed to clamp voltages so that the Voltage Potential that appears at the outlet is never going to exceed the nominal value.

Once the voltage goes over 0.0650 volts, then this fact can be used to amplify the difference, and turn the circuit breaker off , furthur down the line. Essentially that is what a RCD/GFCI does, it compares the incoming current, to the outgoing current, and if the difference between the two currents is over 5mA, then it trips the circuit breaker.

what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?

Here is a simplified AC power diagram.

And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.

There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.

He then asserts :

An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.

Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.

Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).

If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.

At the secondary, it is 1000 times less.)turns ratio). If it gets hit with a 100,000 volt bolt of lightning then the voltage arrestors conduct and clamp the voltage down to line voltage, ( but a small amount leaks down the line). This is the problem.

But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).

The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.