What is the difference between a spike and a surge?

Answer by  manny (185)

A power spike is short (e. g. , less than a second), a power surge is longer (e. g. , more than a second). A surge builds more gradually than a spike.

Answer by  Taz (193)

A power spike, is when you get for a short time burst of too much power. For example you need 120Volt and for a second or two you get 180Volt. For the power surge it's the opposite, so you loose power from time to time, like when the lights dimms for half a second when the freezer starts.

Answer by  shandilyan (180)

Power spike is a very short pulse of energy on a power line. Power surge is a temporary increase in voltage power line. Spike contain high voltage than surge.