Aim: To study MCB, MCCB and RCCB.

Theory: A) MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker):

1) Actuator Lever: It is used to manually trip and reset the circuit breaker. It ia also indicates the status of the CB (on or off/tripped). Most breakers are designed so they can still trip even if the lever is held or locked in the ON position. This is sometimes referred to as free trip: or position trip operation. 2) Actuator Mechanism: It forces the contacts together in normal condition or apart the contacts in fault condition. The mechanism is made up of insulating material. In MCB, it is made up of alloy of plastics. 3) Contacts: Allow current when touching and break the current when moved apart. 4) Terminals: For connection of input & output. 5) Bimetallic Strip: It consists of material which has two different coefficient of temperature. Both the metals are in closed condition at normal current. When fault occurs, then expansion of material takes place whose temperature coefficient is less as compared to other. 6) Calibration Skew: Allow the manufacture to precisely adjust the trip c/n of the device after assembly. 7) Solenoid coil: It is used to hold the moving contact by creating its magnetic field same as magnet. 8) Arc divider/ extinguisher: The function of arc splitter is to divide the arc in number of parallel paths to extinguish it. B) MCCB ( Moulded case circuit breaker ): 1) The tripping mechanism terminals contacts are assembled in moulded case or frame, They ensure high mechanical strength, high dielectric strength and virtually no ageing. 2) The current carrying part are made up of electrolytic Copper & Silver alloy depending upon the rating of circuit breaker. 3) The arc chute has special construction which makes the different parallel path of arc. 4) The operating mechanism is required to break the circuit according to requirement. C) RCCB (Residual current circuit breaker): The photograph depicts the internal mechanism of a residual current device ( RCD ). The device pictured is designed to be wired in line in an appliance power cord. It is rated to carry a maximum current of 13 ampere and is designed to trip on a leakage current of 30 mA. This is an active RCD, that is, it doesnt latch mechanically and therefore trips out on power failure, a useful feature for equipment and could be dangerous on unexpected renergisation. The incoming supply and the neutral conductors are connected to the terminals at 1 and the outgoing load conductors are conductors are connected to the terminals at 2. The earth conductor is connected through form supply to load uninterrupted. When the reset button is pressed, the contacts and hidden behind close allowing current to pass. The solenoid keeps the contacts closed when the reset button is released.

The sense coil is a differential current transformer which surrounds the line and neutral conductors. In normal operation, all the current down the line conductor returns up the neutral conductor returns up the neutral conductor. The current in the two conductors are therefore equal & opposite and cancel each other out. Any fault to earth causes some of the current to take a different return path which means there is an imbalance in the current in the two conductors or more. Generally a non zero sum of currents among various conductors. This difference causes a current in the sense coil which is picked up by the sense circuitry. The sense circuitry then removes power from the solenoid and the contacts are forced apart by a spring, cutting off the electricity supply to the appliance. The test button allows the correct operation of device to be verified by a passing a small current through the arrange test wire. This simulates a fault by creating an imbalance in the sense coil. If the RCD does not trip when this button is pressed, then the device must be replaced.

Conclusion: Thus, we have studied the construction & operating principle of MCCB, MCB &
RCCB.