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: 21.06.2025 10:57
eight
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
This one hit behind the barn.
Aldi accused by Oreo maker Mondelez of copying its packaging - CBS News
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
This is 'the assistant's answer'
These Diabetes Drugs Are Finding New Life as an Antiaging Hack - WSJ
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
so, what happens?
He then asserts :
New Study Finds No Evidence of Tension in Hubble Constant - Sci.News
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
Volcano Found Hiding 'In Plain Sight' Right Next to NASA Mars Rover - ScienceAlert
[image of Common-mode choke]
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
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.
Horoscope for Thursday, June 12, 2025 - Chicago Sun-Times
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
Shiba Inu risks 18% drop, but whales keep buying – What do they know? - AMBCrypto
First Sentence:
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
Upvotes:
What is a common thought that keeps people up at night? Why do some people experience this?
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
When a narcissist mad at their new supply, do they take it out on the old supply?
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
One
Edit 2024–10.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
CLARITY Act takes center stage, throws SEC-CFTC feud into focus - AMBCrypto
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
This seed is rich in protein, magnesium, and helps grow muscle mass - Earth.com
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
Logan Gilbert sees velocity dip in rehab start | Mariners injury updates - The Seattle Times
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
“ 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”
There are two important concepts here.
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?
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
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.
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.
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.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
nine
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.
What is lightning?
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
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.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
Barnstars:
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
a photo is worth a thousand words.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
This device then solves the entire problem.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
I post the exact comment here.
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 one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
What does a fuse do?
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.