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?

What is lightning?

Barnstars:

(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).

‘Omaha is in the Beaver blood’: Oregon State baseball bashes Florida State, punches ticket to College World S - OregonLive.com

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.

“ A fuse is a device which protects the (circuit) against overload and short circuit.”

OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.

Indiana Pacers assistant Lloyd Pierce taking lessons for next opportunity as head coach - Andscape

“ 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”

I post the exact comment here.

2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]

Stronger legs, longer life: Why strong legs are linked to longevity (and 3 ways to achieve it) - Times of India

At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.

Here is a simplified AC power diagram.

These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.

That whole wheat bread you've been eating is often a trap - it's not what you think it is - Earth.com

And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.

[old diagram got deleted by accident]

If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.

Scientists stunned as heat caught on camera ‘bouncing like sound’ for first time ever - Daily Express US

Edit 2024–10.

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.

He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.

Eight killed after hot air balloon catches fire, crashes in Brazil - Al Jazeera

Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.

a photo is worth a thousand words.

P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.

Doloremque harum est natus ipsum quasi at atque quam.

what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?

At least they know the answer if they wanted it.

So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.

She Spotted a Detail in a Photo and Knew Immediately—Her Marriage Was Over - Jason Deegan

so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.

The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.

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.

Why is digital marketing important?

“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”

This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.

When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.

Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 2, Reds 0 – May 31, 2025 - Bleacher Nation

nine

The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”

First Sentence:

My cantankerous beagle is very badly behaved at the dog park and always starts barking at the other dogs. Would pepper spray be an effective method to correct his inappropriate behavior?

So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.

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.

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.

Procter & Gamble to cut 7,000 jobs as part of broader restructuring - CNBC

He then asserts :

but I think this circuit , shows a few more pieces.

Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: The Best View Yet Of New Design Just Leaked - Forbes

What does a fuse do?

There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.

2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi

What is the difference between 'Adidas' and 'Adizero' shoes in terms of running distance and quality?

so, what happens?

the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".

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?

Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).

For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).

2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].

2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]

He then describes the function of a fuse.

The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”

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.

An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.

There are two important concepts here.

but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.

Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.

Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.

In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:

It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.

This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.

Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".

It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.

eight

One

A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.

These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.

It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.

But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).

The MOV will conduct when the voltage exceeds 50% of line voltage.

Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.

So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.

This device then solves the entire problem.

2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]

[image of Common-mode choke]

This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.

But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.

2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]

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.

One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”

Upvotes:

This one hit behind the barn.

(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).

This is 'the assistant's answer'

But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.

A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.