Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
or with email
Your Cart
Subtotal₹0
Total₹0
Examoogle • User • info@examoogle.com • EE-2024-8821
Chapter 1 of 12 • Page 1 of 248🔒 Protected PDF • Watermarked
Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
What is the meaning of voltage surge?
Instant increase in voltage
Instant decrease in voltage
Both A and B
None of above
Instant increase in voltage
Quick Summary: A voltage surge is a transient, short-duration increase in electrical potential that can exceed the rated voltage of electrical equipment. These spikes typically occur on a microsecond timescale and can cause significant insulation failure or semiconductor damage.
A voltage surge is a transient, short-duration increase in electrical potential that can exceed the rated voltage of electrical equipment. These spikes typically occur on a microsecond timescale and can cause significant insulation failure or semiconductor damage.
v(t)=L⋅dtdi — Voltage induced by rapid current change
E=21CV2 — Energy associated with a surge in a capacitive system
Voltage surges are often caused by atmospheric discharges like lightning strikes on transmission lines, switching operations (such as opening inductive circuits), or faults in the power grid. When a rapid change in current (di/dt) occurs in an inductive path, the transient voltage is defined by the relationship v(t)=L⋅dtdi, leading to a high-magnitude voltage surge.
Surges are transient overvoltages of very short duration.
Lightning strikes are the most common natural cause of surges.
Switching surges result from the sudden interruption of current in inductive loads.
Surge arresters (like Metal Oxide Varistors) are used to divert these surges to the ground.
Permanent damage to delicate electronic components.
Degradation of insulation in transformers and motors.
Protection of power transformers
Surge protection in domestic and industrial wiring
Voltage swells are different from surges as they are typically longer in duration (milliseconds to seconds).
Option B represents a voltage 'sag' or 'dip', not a surge.
A is correct — A voltage surge is defined as an instantaneous, short-duration spike in electrical voltage.
Always remember that 'Surge' refers to a rapid rise (spike), whereas 'Sag' refers to a rapid drop (dip) in voltage level.