What is a circuit breaker and surge protector?

Circuit Breaker and Surge Protection Device

In electrical wiring and systems, circuit breakers and surge protectors safeguard against different threats, and you need both. In fact, circuit breakers in the panel are not expected to protect everything plugged into the circuit. For this, you need a properly sized circuit breaker or fuse on the device and a surge protection device.

What is a Surge Protection Device?

A surge protection device (SPD) is a protective device designed to prevent various electronic devices and communication lines from being damaged by voltage spikes. Surge protectors shield electrical equipment from power surges by absorbing or redirecting the surge to the ground before it reaches the protected devices.

Surge protection devices primarily prevent sudden high voltage in the circuit. When a sudden high voltage appears, the surge protector behaves like a short circuit and discharges the excess voltage towards the earth point, thus protecting the electrical equipment.

What is a Circuit Breaker?

A circuit breaker is a switching device used to protect electrical circuits from damage due to overloading or short circuits. When the current in the circuit exceeds the rated current for any reason, it opens/disconnects the circuit to protect the electrical equipment.

The response time of a circuit breaker is limited, typically within a few milliseconds, and it is best described as an off switch that responds to overcurrent. A fuse performs the same function as a circuit breaker but needs to be replaced after a short circuit, whereas a circuit breaker can be reset and turned back on once the condition normalizes.