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 00:26

the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
He then asserts :
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
so, what happens?
Baseball Gameday: 5/31/25 vs. TCU - Oregon State University Athletics
“ 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”
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
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.
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
There are two important concepts here.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
What's the most sordid activity you've ever seen or heard about at a bachelorette party?
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
[image of Common-mode choke]
Treasuries Rally on Fed Cut Hopes, Stocks Hit Peak: Markets Wrap - Bloomberg
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
First Sentence:
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
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.
The cloud broke Thursday and it'll happen again - how to protect your business before then - ZDNET
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.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
This is 'the assistant's answer'
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
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.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Project Century Gets A Strange New Title - GameSpot
a photo is worth a thousand words.
What is 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.
Scientists hooking flies on cocaine to study addiction: Reports - WKRN News 2
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.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
Barnstars:
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
How do I promote my book to get it reviewed and grow an audience if I already published it?
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
nine
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
27 Celebrities Before And After Getting Cosmetic Work Done - BuzzFeed
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
This one hit behind the barn.
Germany: Cologne evacuation lifted after WWII bombs defused - dw.com
eight
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
One
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
This device then solves the entire problem.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
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).
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
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.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
Edit 2024–10.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
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.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
What does a fuse do?
Upvotes:
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
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?
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).