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?
12.06.2025 01:18

Now when you have a certain ac resistance, then a current flows in a loop.
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.
Meta pauses mobile port tracking tech on Android after researchers cry foul - theregister.com
Because the load is inductive, the current lags the voltage.(by a bit).
These are simplified answers to the original question, and does not change anything I wrote above.
A circuit breaker is similar, but is resettable.
Women like what they hear while men like what they see, it that true?
2024–10–11 [Victor Olarewsju Victor Olarewaju ]
2024–10–16 [ OO OLAOYE OYEBODE ]
The other is “what does a “fuse” do?”
Why didn't people like the Game of Thrones ending?
It’s been three xxx five werks, and there has been no response to my follow on query on his Commment to my answer.
There are two important concepts here.
so, what happens?
Apple Has a Huge Siri Problem That WWDC 2025 Probably Won’t Fix - Gizmodo
An AC voltage/ current source, and an ac inductive load.
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.
2024–10–10[John johnson John Johnson ]
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.
2024–10–11 [Bobby Sanchez Bobby Sanchez ].
Edit 2024–10.
Some in Steelers Building Wanted to Go Back to Justin Fields in 2024 - Sports Illustrated
He then describes Rainy Season and Lightning.
OK, this is Mohan Rajaratnam’s definition of a Surge suppressor.
Would individual surge supressors have save this equipment? most likely, since the surge supressor would take the jolt instead of the electronic components.
Is the question then , "why buy a surge supressor, if the fuse alone protects the electronic circuits from a lightning bolt?".
For this case there are devices called Metal oxide varistors (MOV).
Fuses, on their own, then operate much slower than the MOV variable resistance, during the lightning strike.
Has your wife or girlfriend ever been felt up in public by a stranger?
What does a fuse do?
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.
I post the exact comment here.
Why does my mother care about my sister more than me?
What is lightning?
When the current is 200% of the rated value , it will “go open” (the link metal melts) and protect the device.
There are three different concepts here that are getting confused.
I dreamt my mother had died and I cried so much in my dream. What does it mean?
eight
(There is no concept of polarity, in the loop because the current changes direction 100 to 120 times a second (power frequency).
So combined with a device called a MOV or Metal-oxide-resistor, then forms the 3rd part of a “surge suppressor “.
In schematic diagrams this is the symbol for a fuse:
2024–10–14 [Omar Gharbi Omar Gharbi ]
The third is lightning and “how it gets conducted into a home.”
Popular chicken chain shares, massive expansion plan - TheStreet
2024–10–00 [ Ammar Mahdi ] Ammar Mahdi
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.
But it can get overloaded, and no longer works.
Jason Sudeikis Remembers Uncle George Wendt as “an Incredible Influence” - The Hollywood Reporter
And this is the problem alone. Is the power supply in the equipmemt designed with a lightning strike in mind? Some yes, others, no.
One
but this device (an Inductor) … impedes the rapid changes in the current.
Astronomers Have Detected a Galaxy Millions of Years Older Than Any Previously Observed - WIRED
A fuse is a non-resetable over current circuit protector.
“ … to protect building, lightning arrestor, is provided above building and directly connected to earth.”
This device then solves the entire problem.
Americans Could See Electric Bills Jump 4% in the Summer Heat - PYMNTS.com
This is 'the assistant's answer'
He then asserts :
Upvotes:
At least they know the answer if they wanted it.
One is “what exactly is in a ‘surge protector’ ? ”
This is where this question deviates from being a 'generic' question, and becomes more specific.
It seems Mohan does not understand the difference between a comment and an Answer.
what exactly is a ‘surge’ protector?
“ 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.
a photo is worth a thousand words.
At one ohm, the resistor has a maximum of 1 watt power.
so, the loop of wire then, when put together with another loop reduces the ‘noise’ on a power line.
This is the picture of an electronic coil of wire wound around a core of magnetic material.
But during the surge, the fuse will not blow if it is a longer duration and lower value )10 to 50%).
(Dc diagram shown, AC is similar).
First Sentence:
If the nominal power is 4,000 watts then the current at 230volts is 16 amps.
So, it’s possible that these devices from Trip Lite have addition suppression devices, these ones seem to be sturdy.
This is where the MOV conducts again, and dissipated the energy.
This one hit behind the barn.
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?
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.
Mohan forgets that a fuse is a one-time device, and needs to be replaced if it is tripped.
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.
So, the voltage could go up to 500 volts, and the fuse will not open up.
But… the neutral is now “floating” because of the 1 ohm resistance.
Barnstars:
Here is a simplified AC power diagram.
It also is a device that limits the change in current flow.
[old diagram got deleted by accident]
“ 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”
Can the fuse protect the electronic devices from lightning instead of a surge protector.
[image of Common-mode choke]
These devices are installed between the “hot” and “neutral” and protective ground.
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.
the problem then depends on "how fast does the fuse operate?".
nine