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?
Last Updated: 03.07.2025 00:15
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
nine
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
Underwater Megavolcano Set to Release Millions of Tons of Lava, Experts Warn - The Daily Galaxy
I post the exact comment here.
Barnstars:
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
Texas woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after clearing sinuses with tap water - Dallas News
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
Feeling antsy in your legs at bedtime? This condition may be to blame - CNN
He then asserts :
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
[image of Common-mode choke]
How does it feel to be in a marriage without any love?
eight
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
This one hit behind the barn.
What does a fuse do?
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.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
How can we become the best humans? How can we trust each other?
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
Do you know of a female masseuse that does door-to-door service in Bangalore?
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
Upvotes:
“ 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”
Researchers claim spoof-proof random number generator breakthrough - theregister.com
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
so, what happens?
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.
Fighting game legend Brad 'Slips' Vitale passes away - EventHubs
This is 'the assistant's answer'
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
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.
This device then solves the entire problem.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
Musk rails against Trump tax bill, calling it ‘a disgusting abomination’ - The Washington Post
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.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
One
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
First Sentence:
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
Edit 2024–10.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
What is lightning?
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
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.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
a photo is worth a thousand words.
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
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.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
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.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
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?
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
There are two important concepts here.