MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)

CHA RA CTE RISTICS

Rated current not more than 100 A. Trip characteristics normally not adjustable. Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.
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MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit Breaker)

CHA RA CTE RISTICS

Rated current up to 1000 A. Trip current may be adjustable.

 Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.

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Air Circuit Breaker

CHA RA CTE RISTICS

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 drawTop

out enclosures for ease of maintenance.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker

CHA RA CTE RISTICS
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 circuit breakers tend to have longer life
expectancies between overhaul than do air circuit breakers.
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RCD (Residual Current Device / RCCB(Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

CHA RA CTE RISTICS

Phase (line) and Neutral both wires connected through RCD. It trips the circuit when there is earth fault current. The amount of current flows through the phase (line) should return through neutral . It detects by RCD. any mismatch between two currents flowing through phase and neutral detect by -RCD

and trip the circuit within 30Miliseconed.

If a house has an earth system connected to an earth rod and not the main incoming cable, then it must
have all circuits protected by an RCD (because u mite not be able to get enough fault current to trip a MCB)

 RCDs are an extremely effective form of shock protection

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.
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Limitation of RCCB
Standard electromechanical RCCBs are designed to operate on normal supply waveformsand
cannot be guaranteed to operate where none standard waveforms are generated by loads. The most common is the half wave 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 dont 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 wont 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 terminalsthe 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.
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ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)

CHA RA CTE RISTICS

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
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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
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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).

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. Thats 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 protects. As a result, the use of ELCBs is no longer recommended.
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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 Type B Type C Type D

Tripping Current 3 To 5 time full load current 5 To 10 times full load current 10 To 20 times full load current

Operating Time 0.04 To 13 Sec 0.04 To 5 Sec 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.
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Fuse and MCB characteristics

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 boththese
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 has had a couple of overloads before (which may not even have been noticed) this is much more likely. This explains why fuses can sometimes blow for no obvious reason

 If the fuse is marked 30 amps, but it will actually stand 40 amps for over an hour, how can we justify
calling it a 30 amp fuse? The answer is that the overload characteristics of fuses are designed to match the properties of modern cables. For example, a modern PVC-insulated cable will stand a 50% overload for an hour, so it seems reasonable that the fuse should as well.

Table 1. Characteristics of the SF6 and vacuum current interrupting technologies. SF6 Circuit Breakers Vacuum Circuit Breakers

Criteria

Puffer Circuit Breaker

Self-pressuring circuitbreaker

Contact materialChrome-Copper

Operating energy requirements

Operating Energy requirements are low, because the mechanism Operating energy Operating Energy must move only requirements are low, requirements are high, relatively small masses because the mechanism because the mechanism at moderate speed, over must move only relatively must supply the energy short distances. The small masses at needed to compress the mechanism does not moderate speed, over gas. have to provide the very short distances. energy to create the gas flow Because of the very low Because of the high conductivity of the arc in the voltage across the metal SF6 gas, the arc energy is low. (arc voltage is vapour arc, energy is between 150 and 200V.) very low. (Arc voltage is between 50 and 100V.) Due to the very low arc energy, the rapid movement of the arc root over the contact and to the fact that most of the metal vapour recondenses on the contact, contact erosion is extremely small.

Arc Energy

Contact Erosion

Due to the low energy the contact erosion is small.

Arc extinguishing media

The gaseous medium SF6 possesses excellent No additional dielectric and arc quenching properties. After arc extinguishing medium is extinction, the dissociated gas molecules required. A vacuum at a recombine almost completely to reform SF6. This pressure of 10-7 bar or means that practically no loss/consumption of the less is an almost ideal

extinguishing medium. quenching medium occurs. The gas pressure can The interrupters are be very simply and permanently supervised. This sealed for life so that function is not needed where the interrupters are supervision of the sealed for life. vacuum is not required. The pressure build-up No flow of an The pressure build-up and therefore the flow of extinguishing medium and therefore the flow of gas is independent of needed to extinguish the gas is dependent upon the value of the current. vacuum arc. An the value of the current Large or small currents extremely rapid deto be interrupted. Large are cooled with the ionization of the contact currents are cooled same intensity. Only gap, ensures the intensely, small currents small values of high interruption of all gently. High frequency Switching behavior frequency, transient currents whether large or in relation to current transient currents will currents, if any, will be small. High frequency chopping not, in general, be interrupted. The detransient currents can be interrupted. The deionization of the contact interrupted. The value of ionization of the contact gap proceeds very the chopped current is gap proceeds very rapidly, due to the determined by the type rapidly due to the electro-negative of contact material used. electro-negative characteristic of the SF6 The presence of chrome characteristic of the SF6 gas and the arc in the contact alloy with gas and the products. products. vacuum also.
No. of short-circuit operation No. full load operation No. of mechanical operation

1050 500010000 500020000

1050 500010000 500020000

30100 1000020000 1000030000

Table2. Comparison of the SF6 And Vacuum Technologies In Relation To Operational Aspects Criteria Summated current cumulative Breaking current capacity of interrupter Mechanical operating life SF6 Breaker 10-50 times rated short circuit current 5000-10000 times 5000-20000 C-O operations Vacuum Circuit Breaker 30-100 times rated short circuit current 10000-20000 times 10000-30000 C-O operations

No operation before maintenance Time interval between servicing Mechanism Outlay for maintenance Reliability Dielectric withstand strength of the contact gap

5000-20000 C-O operations 5-10 years Labour cost High, Material cost Low High High

10000-30000 C-O operations 5-10 years Labour cost Low, Material cost High High Very high

Comparison of the SF6 And Vacuum Switching Technologies In Relation To Switching Applications Criteria Switching of Short circuit current with High DC component Switching of Short circuit current with High RRV Switching of transformers SF6 Circuit Breaker Well suited Well suited under certain conditions (RRV>1-2 kV per Milli seconds Well suited. Well suited Well suited. Steps to be taken Switching of reactors Well suited when current <600A. to avoid over voltage due to current chopping Switching of capacitors Switching of capacitors back to back Well suited. Re-strike free Suited. In some cases current limiting reactors required to limit inrush current Suitable for limited operation Well suited. Re-strike free Suited. In some cases current limiting reactors required to limit inrush current Well suited. Steps to be taken to limit over voltage. Very well suited Vacuum Circuit Breaker Well suited

Switching of arc furnace