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?
11.06.2025 01:21

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.
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
Scientists Crack 30-Year Mystery Behind “Holy Grail” Cancer Drug - SciTechDaily
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
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?
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
Most companies are already raising prices or plan to because of tariffs, data shows - CNBC
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
This device then solves the entire problem.
When do you start "growing old"?
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
What is lightning?
I post the exact comment here.
The bolt then partially travels down the line to your home.
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.
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.
so, what happens?
“ 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”
What do you love to do at night when you’re alone?
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
Upvotes:
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
Barnstars:
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
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.
Did you know that we white women prefer Black boyfriends?
He then asserts :
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.
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
How do you handle family members who ask for handouts?
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
There are two important concepts here.
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
Isn't it a turn on to have sex with a girl in a skirt or in a tight spandex?
He then describes the function of a fuse.
This one hit behind the barn.
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
Whole Foods is opening new stores in 2025: See locations - USA Today
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
What does a fuse do?
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
a photo is worth a thousand words.
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%).
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
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
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
[image of Common-mode choke]
eight
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
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.
Edit 2024–10.
“ 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.
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 the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
nine
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
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.
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
P = e* I, so since I is 16 amps, then the voltage dropped is 1/16 volt or 0.0650 volts.
One
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
This is 'the assistant's answer'
First Sentence:
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.