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Home / Technical Articles / What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB
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What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
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What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
The most widely used are 30 mA (milliamp) and 100 mA devices. A current flow of 30 mA (or 0.03 amps) is sufficiently small
that it makes it very difficult to receive a dangerous shock. Even 100 mA is a relatively small figure when compared to the
current that may flow in an earth fault without such protection (hundred of amps)
A 300/500 mA RCCB may be used where only fire protection is required. eg., on lighting circuits, where the risk of electric
shock is small.
Standard electromechanical RCCBs are designed to operate on normal supply waveforms and cannot be
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What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
rectified waveform sometimes called pulsating dc generated by speed control devices, semi conductors, computers and
even dimmers.
Specially modified RCCBs are available which will operate on normal ac and pulsating dc.
RCDs don’t offer protection against current overloads: RCDs detect an imbalance in the live and neutral currents. A
current overload, however large, cannot be detected. It is a frequent cause of problems with novices to replace an MCB
in a fuse box with an RCD. This may be done in an attempt to increase shock protection. If a live-neutral fault occurs (a
short circuit, or an overload), the RCD won’t trip, and may be damaged. In practice, the main MCB for the premises will
probably trip, or the service fuse, so the situation is unlikely to lead to catastrophe; but it may be inconvenient.
It is now possible to get an MCB and and RCD in a single unit, called an RCBO (see below). Replacing an MCB with an
RCBO of the same rating is generally safe.
Nuisance tripping of RCCB: Sudden changes in electrical load can cause a small, brief current flow to earth, especially
in old appliances. RCDs are very sensitive and operate very quickly; they may well trip when the motor of an old freezer
switches off. Some equipment is notoriously `leaky’, that is, generate a small, constant current flow to earth. Some types
of computer equipment, and large television sets, are widely reported to cause problems.
RCD will not protect against a socket outlet being wired with its live and neutral terminals the wrong way round.
RCD will not protect against the overheating that results when conductors are not properly screwed into their
terminals.
RCD will not protect against live-neutral shocks, because the current in the live and neutral is balanced. So if you
touch live and neutral conductors at the same time (e.g., both terminals of a light fitting), you may still get a nasty shock.
4 de 7 06/11/2018, 06:30
What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
It is possible to get a combined MCB and RCCB in one device (Residual Current Breaker with Overload RCBO), the
principals are the same, but more styles of disconnection are fitted into one package
ELCB is the old name and often refers to voltage operated devices that are no longer available and it is advised you
replace them if you find one.
RCCB or RCD is the new name that specifies current operated (hence the new name to distinguish from voltage
operated).
The new RCCB is best because it will detect any earth fault. The voltage type only detects earth faults that flow back
through the main earth wire so this is why they stopped being used.
The easy way to tell an old voltage operated trip is to look for the main earth wire connected through it.
RCCB will only have the line and neutral connections.
ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current. But RCCB is not having sensing or connectivity of Earth, because
fundamentally Phase current is equal to the neutral current in single phase. That’s why RCCB can trip when the both
currents are deferent and it withstand up to both the currents are same. Both the neutral and phase currents are different
that means current is flowing through the Earth.
Finally both are working for same, but the thing is connectivity is difference.
RCD does not necessarily require an earth connection itself (it monitors only the live and neutral).In addition it detects
current flows to earth even in equipment without an earth of its own.
This means that an RCD will continue to give shock protection in equipment that has a faulty earth. It is these properties
that have made the RCD more popular than its rivals. For example, earth-leakage circuit breakers (ELCBs) were widely
used about ten years ago. These devices measured the voltage on the earth conductor; if this voltage was not zero this
indicated a current leakage to earth. The problem is that ELCBs need a sound earth connection, as does the equipment it
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What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
The first characteristic is the overload which is intended to prevent the accidental overloading of the cable in a no fault
situation. The speed of the MCB tripping will vary with the degree of the overload. This is usually achieved by the use of
a thermal device in the MCB.
The second characteristic is the magnetic fault protection, which is intended to operate when the fault reaches a
predetermined level and to trip the MCB within one tenth of a second. The level of this magnetic trip gives the MCB its
type characteristic as follows:
Fuses and MCBs are rated in amps. The amp rating given on the fuse or MCB body is the amount of current it will pass
continuously. This is normally called the rated current or nominal current.
Many people think that if the current exceeds the nominal current, the device will trip, instantly. So if the rating is 30
amps, a current of 30.00001 amps will trip it, right? This is not true.
The fuse and the MCB, even though their nominal currents are similar, have very different properties.
For example, For 32Amp MCB and 30 Amp Fuse, to be sure of tripping in 0.1 seconds, the MCB requires a current of
128 amps, while the fuse requires 300 amps.
The fuse clearly requires more current to blow it in that time, but notice how much bigger both these currents are than the
’30 amps’ marked current rating.
There is a small likelihood that in the course of, say, a month, a 30-amp fuse will trip when carrying 30 amps. If the fuse
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What is the difference between MCB, MCCB, ELCB, and RCCB https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-difference-between-mcb-mccb-elcb-and-rccb
Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control) ,B.E(Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers
(MIE),India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than 13 years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy
theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He is
Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has published
numbers of Technical Articles in "Electrical Mirror", "Electrical India", "Lighting India", "Industrial Electrix"(Australian Power
Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical Programs as
per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages. He wants to
Share his experience & Knowledge and help technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various
Engineering Topics.
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