This, already 46 in a row, question with just such a title was asked by a reader named "Sasha".
The text of the question itself was as follows:
There was a short circuit incident with a fire hazard. I live in a rented apartment, so I didn't immediately notice that the wiring was laid right under the wallpaper. How can I protect myself from fire? Is a voltage stabilizer suitable for this purpose if most electrical appliances are powered from one outlet?
I reviewed the issue and advised the reader within the framework of my knowledge and qualifications as follows:
A voltage stabilizer will not save electrical wiring from fire, as it provides completely different functions. For these purposes, I recommend that you use circuit breakers, residual current devices (RCD) and surge protection devices (SPD).
The circuit breaker is designed to disconnect the supply circuit in the event of a short circuit or to disconnect a load significantly exceeding the rated value (overload). Both situations are equally dangerous in terms of overheating of the electrical wiring and the subsequent fire of the insulation and the wallpaper adjacent to it.
UDT is triggered by earth fault currents that occur in places of insulation damage. In this case, overheating of the point of flow of electric current from live parts to the walls of the building and other structural elements is possible.
The SPD breaks the electrical circuit when a lightning strike hits the line. Since an uncontrolled rise in voltage caused by atmospheric electricity can lead to insulation breakdown and the subsequent fire of various devices, including wiring.
The above devices are installed in the lead-in box and can be used both together and separately. They are selected individually, depending on the technical parameters of electrical circuits.