What is the difference between a surge protector and a power strip with a fuse attached to the head?
amsga asked:
I was just wondering what is the difference between a surge protector and a power strip with a fuse attached to the head? Which is better for what situation and can one replace the other totally?
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I was just wondering what is the difference between a surge protector and a power strip with a fuse attached to the head? Which is better for what situation and can one replace the other totally?
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:51 am
A fuse just protects against a large over current. It won’t protect against a surge. Surge protector will probably have a fuse too so use one of those.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
surge protectors can be reset once they detect a power surge and ‘trip’ the circuit (i.e. shut the power off). The models with a fuse in the end perform the same function *except* that the fuse has to be replaced once the circuit is tripped (as in you have to get a new fuse and replace it). Go with a good quality surge protector.
January 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
A fuse or circuit breaker just protects the power strip against excessive loads. Draw too much current because you plug in too many devices or one big appliance like a heater and the fuse or circuit breaker will open. A surge protector will block a voltage increase and protect your equipment. This is done with extra circuitry in the plug strip such as MOV’s (metal oxide varistors) and coils and capacitors. The current may not be enough to open a fuse or circuit breaker or they may not operate fast enough to stop the surge from reaching your equipment. A surge protector is faster and will help protect the equipment from the excessive voltage. You can always use a surge protector in place of a plain power strip.