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: 17.06.2025 00:51

but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
Upvotes:
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
Why did the American's mulberry harbor not hold up after D-Day?
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
What is lightning?
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
Do straight guys like to have sex with men when they smoke meth?
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
One
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
What is the best way to end a relationship with someone who has future plans with you?
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.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
Andy Bogard's Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves gameplay trailer revealed, releases June 24 - EventHubs
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.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
nine
Why do companies cull employees during financial downturns without saying so?
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
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.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
This is 'the assistant's answer'
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
Why do people procrastinate and how can they stop?
Edit 2024–10.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
He then asserts :
This one hit behind the barn.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
[image of Common-mode choke]
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
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?
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
First Sentence:
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
This device then solves the entire problem.
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
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.
eight
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
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.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
There are two important concepts here.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
What does a fuse do?
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
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.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
so, what happens?
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.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
Barnstars:
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.
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
a photo is worth a thousand words.
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
I post the exact comment here.
“ 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”
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.