FUSE/MCB/MCCB/RSD/RCCB

MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)

Rated current not more than 100 A.
Trip characteristics normally not adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.

MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit Breaker):

Rated current up to 1000 A.
Trip current may be adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.
 Air Circuit Breaker/ Vacuum Circuit
Breaker:
Air Circuit Breaker:
Rated current up to 10,000 A.
Trip characteristics often fully adjustable including configurable trip
thresholds and delays.
Usually electronically controlledsome models are microprocessor
controlled.
Often used for main power distribution in large industrial plant, where the
breakers are arranged in draw-out enclosures for ease of maintenance.
Vacuum Circuit Breaker:
With rated current up to 3000 A,
These breakers interrupt the arc in a vacuum bottle.
These can also be applied at up to 35,000 V. Vacuum breakers tend to have
longer life expectancies between overhaul than do air circuit breakers.
RCD (Residual Current Device) / RCCB(
Residual Current Circuit Breaker) :
Phase (line) and Neutral both wires connected through
RCD.
It trips within 30 msec the circuit when there is earth fault
current.
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
 ELCB
ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker):
Phase (line), Neutral and Earth wire connected through
ELCB.
ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current.
Operating Time of ELCB:
The safest limit of Current which Human Body can
withstand is 30ma sec.
Suppose Human Body Resistance is 500 and Voltage to
ground is 230 Volt.
The Body current will be 500/230=460mA.
Hence ELCB must be operated in 30maSec/460mA =
0.65msec
 RCCB
RCBO (Residual Circuit Breaker with
OverLoad):
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
 Difference between ELCB and RCCB.

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).
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.
 MCB Selection:
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:
Type Tripping Current Operating Time
Type B 3 To 5 time full load current 0.04 To 13 Sec
Type C 5 To 10 times full load current 0.04 To 5 Sec
Type D 10 To 20 times full load current 0.04 To 3 Sec
The third characteristic is the short circuit protection, which is intended
to protect against heavy faults maybe in thousands of amps caused by
short circuit faults.
The capability of the MCB to operate under these conditions gives its
short circuit rating in Kilo amps (KA). In general for consumer units a
6KA fault level is adequate whereas for industrial boards 10KA fault
capabilities or above may be required.