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: 29.06.2025 01:55
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
First Sentence:
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 parental involvement in their daughters' marriages beneficial? Why or why not?
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
He then asserts :
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
Why is it easy to make money in the USA?
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
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.
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.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
Upvotes:
How can we understand the mind of a Trump supporter?
eight
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
a photo is worth a thousand words.
6 early symptoms of fatty liver: What your body is telling you now - Times of India
[image of Common-mode choke]
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
There are two important concepts here.
What do flat Earthers think causes the "magical downward force"?
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
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.
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.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
Horoscope for Sunday, June 08, 2025 - Chicago Sun-Times
This one hit behind the barn.
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
Tony Awards Up 38% From 2024 To Draw Best Audience In 6 Years On CBS - Deadline
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
so, what happens?
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
Trump threatens ‘very serious consequences’ if Musk backs Democrats - The Washington Post
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?
Edit 2024–10.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
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.
What is lightning?
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
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 fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
nine
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
He then describes the function of a fuse.
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
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.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
This is 'the assistant's answer'
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
I post the exact comment here.
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
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.
Barnstars:
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
One
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
This device then solves the entire problem.
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
What does a fuse do?
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
“ 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”