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 23:41

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?

2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi

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

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

Can you name a female actress who has had bad timing or luck in her film career?

2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]

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

what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?

What is the most heartbreaking or sad love story that you ever had (experienced)?

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

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

One

Why does Africa have all mineral resources but she is suffering economically?

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

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

A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.

Why do some young mothers trick a guy into believing that they're pregnant and it's their child when years later they find out that it's not even theirs should he still pay child support or not?

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

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

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

Why do I want to be caught sucking dick by my wife?

nine

(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).

so, what happens?

FX’s ‘Alien: Earth’ Official Trailer Reveals a Predatory Twist - The Hollywood Reporter

eight

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

2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]

The Action Network: Cracker Barrel 400 predictions, picks, odds for Nashville - NASCAR.com

2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]

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

Barnstars:

Invisible radiation leaking from private satellite 'megaconstellations' could ruin radio astronomy forever, experts warn - Live Science

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.

Here is a simplified AC power diagram.

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

Nintendo Switch 2 Day 1 Update Required for Backwards Compatibility, Nintendo Switch Online, Virtual Game Cards, eShop, More - IGN

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

There are two important concepts here.

The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”

Disney lays off hundreds of employees across film, TV and other units - CBS News

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

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

Shortcuts is getting an AI-powered revamp; here’s what that could mean - 9to5Mac

He then asserts :

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

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

This device then solves the entire problem.

There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.

He then describes the function of a fuse.

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?

First Sentence:

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.

2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]

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

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

At least they know the answer if they wanted it.

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”

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

[old diagram got deleted by accident]

Edit 2024–10.

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

He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.

But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.

[image of Common-mode choke]

What does a fuse do?

What is lightning?

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

a photo is worth a thousand words.

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

In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:

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

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

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

This one hit behind the barn.

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

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

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

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

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

This is 'the assistant's answer'

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Upvotes:

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.