spike versers surge

[etrippe]

what is the difference?

[Bob Elliott]

Hmmm.
Different terminology.Does there need to be a difference?
I suppose a spike could mean a big drop.

[Michael R. Boyett]

A spike is generally considered a very short duration increase in voltage, i.e. maybe on the order of nanoseconds to microseconds long. A surge on the other hand, is of a longer duration, i.e. lasting milliseconds or longer. Here's a depiction of a spike:

[Greg Fretwell]

I suppose if you had to define the difference it would be the duration of the problem. A spike would be a short duration transient like you get from lightning or switching transients and a surge would be something that lasted longer like a crossed utility line that brought higher voltage until the fault cleared.
That would be inventing a definition though.

[Bob Elliott]

Makes sense.
What brings the question?

[etrippe]

thank you all for your replys. I was at a safety meeting and we were talking about GFCI's and the question was thrown out as a quiz. The winner gets a hat. I'll let you know if I win.
Again, thanks

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Spike - One NanoSecond
Surge - Three or More NanoSeconds....

Both can cause issues ....really the difference is the duration.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Spike - One NanoSecond
Surge - Three or More NanoSeconds....

Both can cause issues ....really the difference is the duration.

What do you call two NanoSecond... a spurge???

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by jjonas

What do you call two NanoSecond... a spurge???

Beat me to it.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

lol.....trust me......if it is a spike it will probably be (1) nanosecond or even less.....if it is a surge...it will last longer...so basically (1) or less a spike....(2) or more...a surge........equals...Nasty Stuff.....

Get your SPD's Today..........

[Michael Larson]

Years ago I would occasionly have to rent a printing line voltage monitor to troubleshoot glitches in the supply to Cat Scan unit in the hospital I worked in. Back then you would end up with many feet of paper tape to review and look for anomallies.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

see now....I would get a KICK out of looking at that......see this is why I want to leave my little PO-BUNK town........I dont get to experience stuff like that...lol.....neat stuff like that I like......

[Michael Larson]

It was fun at the time. It was less fun to report when no probelms were detected.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

kinda like sitting waiting for a ghost....and nothing shows up.....yeah..happens to the Ghost Hunters all the time.

[bkelly1]

While working for my past employer we had some spike problems with a plant down the road.. They seemed to be coming consistent and it was something on the power company's end.

Paul, have you seen any reducing transformers throw spikes when they are failing?