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: 28.06.2025 03:01
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
“ 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.
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These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
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.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
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If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
I post the exact comment here.
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
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For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
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what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
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Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
There are two important concepts here.
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“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
[image of Common-mode choke]
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
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The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
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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.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
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.
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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.
so, what happens?
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
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He then describes the function of a fuse.
He then asserts :
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.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
Barnstars:
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
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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.
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
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.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
This device then solves the entire problem.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
This one hit behind the barn.
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?
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
First Sentence:
Edit 2024–10.
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 the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
a photo is worth a thousand words.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
Upvotes:
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
What is lightning?
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
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.
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
What does a fuse do?
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But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
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.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).