While electricity has become an indispensable component for everyone, the fact is, it comes with its hazards to human life and property.
Electrocution and fire being the two major risks associated with electricity, one cannot afford to be negligent when it comes to insulating equipment.
Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB)
A Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) is an important safety measure when it comes to the protection of electrical circuits.
It is a current sensing device, which can automatically measure and disconnect the circuit whenever a fault occurs in the connected circuit or the current exceeds the rated sensitivity.
Principle behind RCCB
Ideally, the current flowing to the circuit from the live wire should be the same
RCCB works on the principle of Kirchhoff’s law, which states that the incoming current must be equal to the outgoing current in a circuit. RCCB thus compares the difference in current values between live and neutral wires.
Ideally, the current flowing to the circuit from the live wire should be the same as that flowing through the neutral wire.
Benefits of RCCB
- Provides protection against earth fault as well as any leakage current.
- Automatically disconnects the circuit when the rated sensitivity is exceeded.
- Offers the possibility of dual termination both for cable and busbar connections.
- Offers protection against voltage fluctuation as it includes a filtering device that guards against transient voltage levels.
Sensitivity of RCCB
While up to 10 mA may just evoke a prickling sensation, 10 mA onwards may lead to muscular contraction
A human being can sustain an electric shock to the extent of 30 mA.
While up to 10 mA may just evoke a prickling sensation, 10 mA onwards may lead to muscular contraction, further leading to respiratory paralysis at around 30 mA.
Limitations of RCCB
While RCCB has many advantages, it has some limitations as well:
- RCCB does not guarantee to operate if no standard waveforms are generated by loads. It’s mainly because RCCB is designed to operate on normal supply waveforms.
- There might be some unwanted tripping of RCCB. It’s mainly because whenever there are sudden changes in electrical load, there can be a small current flow to earth, especially in the old appliances.
- RCCB does not protect from current overload. It has been designed to protect only when the live current and neutral current are different. However, a current overload cannot be detected.
- RCCB does not protect against line-neutral shocks. It’s mainly because the current in them is balanced. The current gets balanced as both terminals are held together.
Classification of RCCB
RCCB are of two types; the 2 Pole RCCB and 4 Pole RCCB
- 2 Pole RCCB: This is used in the case of a single-phase supply connection that has only a live and neutral wire.
- 4 Pole RCCB: This is used in the case of a three-phase supply connection.
- Rating from 10 Amp ….100 Amp
- Sensitivity 30,100,300 m Amp
real-time protection
In industries and high-voltage commercial setups especially, its importance cannot be undermined
RCCB is therefore extremely important in providing real-time protection for circuits.
In industries and high voltage commercial setups especially, its importance cannot be undermined as there is always a risk of shocks and accidental deaths on account of it.
state-of-the-art product
C&S Electric offers Wintrip RCCB, a state-of-the-art product fit for industrial, residential, and commercial applications. C&S RCCBs conform to IEC 61008 – 1 and are used for both the control and isolation of electrical circuits.
Being a respected global brand for power management products for over 50 years, with C&S Electric you can rest assured knowing that users are in safe hands.
