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: 24.06.2025 00:07
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
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.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
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This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
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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.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
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.
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
This one hit behind the barn.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
What does a fuse do?
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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?
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“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
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One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
First Sentence:
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
There are two important concepts here.
What is lightning?
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
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.
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but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
He then asserts :
He then describes the function of a fuse.
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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.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
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This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
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The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
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Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
I post the exact comment here.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
This device then solves the entire problem.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
“ 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”
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
[image of Common-mode choke]
so, what happens?
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.
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.
Upvotes:
Barnstars:
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
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.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
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a photo is worth a thousand words.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
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.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
This is 'the assistant's answer'
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.