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: 02.07.2025 09:42

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?

There are two important concepts here.

2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]

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

Trump's "They're Eating Cats and Dogs" quote has become a meme. Would this help him get elected? I hope you can be impartial when responding to this question. Thank you

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

In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for 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?

Ray-Ban Meta vs Oakley Meta: The Ultimate Smart Glasses Showdown of 2025 - Yanko Design

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

What is lightning?

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

Andrew Tate or Nas Daily, who do you prefer more?

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.

nine

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

Fighters react to Kamaru Usman's rebound win vs. Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 69 - MMA Junkie

What does a fuse do?

[old diagram got deleted by accident]

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

What are some ways to adjust to sleeping with one's mouth closed if they have been breathing through their mouth due to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.

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

Here is a simplified AC power diagram.

Why do some people refuse to explain their actions or behavior when asked? Why do they claim to not know the reason instead of providing an explanation?

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

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

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

What Is Agentic AI? Everything to Know About Artificial Intelligence Agents - CNET

2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]

Barnstars:

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

How do I confess to my crush who had a traumatic past with his previous partner without losing the friendship?

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

At least they know the answer if they wanted it.

He then asserts :

Three Seconds of Strength Training a Day Is All It Takes to Build Muscle Without Spending Hours at the Gym: Here’s How to Do It - The Daily Galaxy

There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.

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

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

James Webb telescope spots 'groundbreaking' molecule in scorching clouds of giant 'hell planet' - Live Science

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

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.

2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]

Is it true that people who are possessed by demons cannot see them until the demon is cast out? What is the reason for this?

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”

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.

Jimmy Buffett's Wife Files to Remove Co-Trustee on $275 Million Estate - Variety

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

This one hit behind the barn.

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

Tinnitus linked to impaired cognitive function - Medical Xpress

A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.

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.

You sound like ChatGPT - The Verge

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

Upvotes:

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

Memorial Tournament 2025: Third-round tee times, pairings at Muirfield Village - Yahoo Sports

One

First Sentence:

what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?

2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]

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

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

a photo is worth a thousand words.

so, what happens?

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

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.

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

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

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

[image of Common-mode choke]

One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge 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.

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?”

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

He then describes the function of a fuse.

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

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

This is 'the assistant's answer'

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

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.

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

I post the exact comment here.

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

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

2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi

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.

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

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

eight

(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).

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

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

Edit 2024–10.

He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.

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.