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 10:43

[image of Common-mode choke]
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
What does a fuse do?
Do you think cheating is that bad?
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
Edit 2024–10.
This one hit behind the barn.
These Common Foods Can Slow Aging Naturally, According to Scientists - SciTechDaily
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
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.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
Too often, Black patients get late diagnoses of deadly skin cancer - The Washington Post
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 I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
Why do narcissists avoid talking about the real issues?
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
VMware drops the lowest tier of its partner program – except in Europe - theregister.com
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
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.
Mars Orbiter Captures Rare View of Ancient Volcano Poking Above the Clouds - Gizmodo
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
I post the exact comment here.
Fervo Energy lands $206M in financing to build massive geothermal power plant - TechCrunch
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
Republicans, why do you support Kamala Harris over Donald Trump?
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?
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
Why are American women so ugly nowadays?
What is lightning?
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
Google Play Store replaces ‘1-tap buy’ with ‘Slide to buy’ - 9to5Google
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
Bruins Sign Victor Soderstrom to One-Year, Two-Way Contract - NHL.com
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
What was Meghan Markle's reaction to the meeting between Prince William and Taylor Swift?
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
These Diabetes Drugs Are Finding New Life as an Antiaging Hack - WSJ
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:
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
What are you struggling with in your life? What would you like to have instead?
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
There are two important concepts here.
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
This device then solves the entire problem.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
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.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
Barnstars:
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.
eight
Upvotes:
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.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
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?
One
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
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.
He then asserts :
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
so, what happens?
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
“ 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”
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
First Sentence:
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
a photo is worth a thousand words.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
This is 'the assistant's answer'
nine
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.