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?

11.06.2025 11:13

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.

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

[image of Common-mode choke]

How did you respond to, "Why do you love me"?

This one hit behind the barn.

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

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

Yankees Planning To Place Luke Weaver On Injured List - MLB Trade Rumors

[old diagram got deleted by accident]

There are two important concepts here.

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

Denise Austin’s 5 Habits to Tackle Stubborn Belly Fat - Eat This Not That

Barnstars:

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

Upvotes:

Amazon launches new R&D group focused on agentic AI and robotics - TechCrunch

2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]

In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:

He then asserts :

What are some good inspirational movies?

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

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

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.

Your gut doesn’t need probiotic supplements, here’s what nutritionist recommends instead - financialexpress.com

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

nine

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

Did you use the internet during the DOS era? Can you describe your experience? How were images displayed on the black screen when everything was just text-based commands?

There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.

2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]

eight

The Toyota Supra Won't Stay Dead For Long - Motor1.com

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

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

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

Why are men so attracted to big breasts?

What does a fuse do?

What is lightning?

But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.

Meme Stocks Made Him a Fortune. Now He’s Betting on Flying Taxis. - WSJ

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

At least they know the answer if they wanted it.

2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi

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

He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.

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

(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).

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

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

2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]

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

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

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, what happens?

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.

a photo is worth a thousand words.

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

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

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

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.

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

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 circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.

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

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

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

This device then solves the entire problem.

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

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.

One

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

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

The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”

I post the exact comment here.

This is 'the assistant's answer'

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

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

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

Here is a simplified AC power diagram.

2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]

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

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

First Sentence:

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

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

“ 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”

(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.

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

Edit 2024–10.

what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?

He then describes the function of a fuse.

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.

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.

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