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: 26.06.2025 15:52
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This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
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It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
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a photo is worth a thousand words.
but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.
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what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
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But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
so, what happens?
Edit 2024–10.
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.
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For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
What does a fuse do?
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But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
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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The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
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Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
This device then solves the entire problem.
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
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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.
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
What is lightning?
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but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
“ 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”
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[image of Common-mode choke]
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
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?
He then asserts :
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
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.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
I post the exact comment here.
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.
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.
He then describes the function of a fuse.
This one hit behind the barn.
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.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
This is 'the assistant's answer'
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
There are two important concepts here.
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
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.
First Sentence:
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
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.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.