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: 16.06.2025 10:11
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.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
This is 'the assistant's answer'
What made you recently say to yourself, “Wait. Really?”
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
eight
What caused the stock market to crash?
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.
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.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
so, what happens?
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
nine
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
Why do some people believe that Homelander would be no match for Superman or Thor?
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
Why is Jack Smith arguing that presidents should not have full immunities as Trump is requesting?
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
My ex moved on so fast. How can I overcome the pain?
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
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.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
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.
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
Upvotes:
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
Barnstars:
Will friendly dogs protect their owners?
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
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?
What caused North Korea to go poor when at first it was rich?
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
Were any US Generals hurt or killed yesterday in Damascus, Syria, yesterday 5/9/24?
One
First Sentence:
This one hit behind the barn.
Is it common for girlfriends to have close male friends who are single and not related to them?
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
Why does a narcissist act like it's nothing when they hurt you?
What is lightning?
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
Pure Orwell: Europe condemns Iran for attacks on its own territory - Responsible Statecraft
There are two important concepts here.
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.
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
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.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
[image of Common-mode choke]
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
He then describes the function of a fuse.
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
I post the exact comment here.
This device then solves the entire problem.
“ 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 where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
a photo is worth a thousand words.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
What does a fuse do?
Edit 2024–10.
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.
He then asserts :
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]