ASSIGNMENT 2

OPERATION OF ELECTRICAL
PROTECTIVE ACCESSORIES
EEE 534 ELECTRICAL APPLICATIONS
LECTURER : MR . SANDIP KUMAR
Operations of a Typical RCD
RCD (Residual current device)
Current-operated ELCBs are generally known as Residualcurrent devices (RCD). These protect against earth leakage.
Both circuit conductors (supply and return) are run through a
sensing coil and any imbalance of the currents means the
magnetic field does not perfectly cancel. The device detects
the imbalance and trips the contact.

The supply coil, the neutral coil and the search coil are all
wound on a common transformer core.
When the device is under normal operation the same current
passes through these three parameters.Both the phase and the
neutral coils are wound in such a way that they will produce an
opposing magnetic flux. With the same current passing through
both coils, their magnetic effect will cancel.
When there is a fault or a leakage to earth in the load circuit, or
anywhere between the load circuit and the output connection
of the RCB circuit, the current returning through the neutral coil
is reduced and the magnetic flux inside the transformer core is
not balanced anymore. The total sum of the opposing magnetic
flux is no longer zero and the remaining flux is what is called a
residual flux.
The periodically changing residual flux inside the transformer
core crosses path with the winding of the search coil. This
action produces an electromotive force (e.m.f.) across the
search coil. The induced voltage across the search coil
produces a current inside the wiring of the trip circuit and it is

this current that operates the trip coil of the circuit breaker. Trip
current is driven by the residual magnetic flux from both coils.
With a circuit breaker incorporated as part of the circuit, the
assembled system is called residual current devise (RCD). The
incoming current has to pass through the circuit breaker first
before going to the phase coil. The return neutral path passes
through the second circuit breaker pole. During tripping when a
fault is detected, both the phase and neutral connection is
isolated preventing the related circuit from further damage.

Different Types of Fuses Available For

Electrical Applications
There are different types of fuses available in the market and
they can be categorised into AC and DC fuses which are
particularly used for their range of cut-off or isolation.

The following types of fuses are available:

NAME
Cartridge Fuses
Blade Type Fuses
High Rupturing
Capacity Fuse
Resettable fuses

TYPE
AC Fuse
DC Fuse
AC FUSE

USAGE
One time use only`
One time us only
One time use only

AC and DC

Re-wirable fuses
Glass fuse
Drop Out Fuse

AC
AC and DC
High Voltage AC

Resets itself due to

complexity of repair.
Usually repaired
One time use only
Replaceable

OPERATION OF A FUSE
A fuse will allow only its rated amps through a circuit. When an
overload occurs, it restricts current flow. The more current,the
more the fuse tolerates,and the hotter the fuse gets. While
trying to resist this draw of high current into the circuit the fuse
gets hotter and hotter until to a point where it reaches its full
tolerance and its opens up thus protecting the components in a
circuit from further damage.

DISTINGUISED OPERTION OF A RCD TO A

CIRCUIT BREAKER (MCB)

An MCB is a Miniature Circuit breaker or a Circuit Breaker. These

normally have two parts, a thermal and a magnetic part. The
thermal part causes the breaker to trip if it is slightly
overloaded over a long period of time (the thermostat heats
up, when it gets to a certain point it causes the breaker to trip).
The magnetic part detects very large overloads, such as a live
to earth fault under which it detects a short and trips.
An RCD is a Residual Current Device. This monitors the current
going out on the live, and coming back on the neutral, and
makes sure they're equal. If they differ by more than the rating
of the device (commonly 30mA and 100mA ), it trips. This will
therefore detect a live to earth fault much more quickly, as it
only requires 30/100mA to flow, unlike an MCB which will
require enough current to trip the magnetic part to flow.
A MCB basically monitors a short within a circuit before it trips
quickly and for the same purpose a RCD trips more quickly
when it senses the change in magnetic flux in the return part of
the neutral.

MCB and MCCB comparisons

MCB (Mini Circuit Breaker)

MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit

Breaker)
Thermo magnetic device
Ranges from Thermal,Thermo
Magnetic or electronic trip
type
Provides protection against
Primarily provide protection
short circuits and over currents against short circuit and
overcurrents.
Available upto 100A and have
Provides protection against
a maximum short circuit
earth faults, residual currents
capacity of 25KA
and under voltage.
Commonly used in lighting
Available to a range of upto
circuits
2.5KA
Trip level cannot be varied
Trip level can be varied in
adjustable trip types.
Available from 1 to 4pole
Remote on/off is possible with
versions
additional accesories
Commonly used in loads over
100A and in motor protection

Operation of Thermal Circuit Breaker

The tripping element of thermal device circuit breakers is a
thermal bimetal, a combination of bimetal and an electrical
heating element. The bimetal consists of steel and zinc which is
formed when affected by heat. If the thermal bimetal heats up
because it is drawing excessive current, then the switch-off
mechanism is tripped and the circuit is isolated.

Thermal Magnetic Circuit Breaker Operation

Thermal-magnetic circuit breakers contain two different

switching mechanisms, a bimetal switch and an electromagnet.
The bimetal serves as a means of handling over currents. The
bimetal typically sits behind a trip bar and is part of the current
carrying path.

Causes of Overvoltage within an Installation

Over voltages occur in a system when the system voltage rises
over 110% of the nominal rated voltage. Overvoltage can be
caused by a number of reasons such as sudden reduction in
loads.As soon as a high rated appliance such as a welding plant
is switched off the voltage level rises suddenly before
stabilising again. Other reasons may include lightning strikes,
failure of control equipment such as voltage regulators.

Lightening Arrestor
Lightening arrestors provide a safe protection for delicate
devices such as computers during a lightning strike.
Secondary Class Arrestor

Secondary class types of lightning arresters protect homes and

businesses from lightning strikes and thus are required by most
electrical codes. It cause high voltage overages to ground,
though they do not short all the over voltage and thus offer the
least amount of protection to electrical systems.

Operation of a Surge Suppressor

Surge protective devices are installed either in parallel to the
equipment, between the active conductors themselves or
between the active conductors and the protective conductor. A
surge protective device functions when there is a surge or
overvoltage in that system which is detected by the surge
suppressor that turns off the surge voltage for a brief time. By

doing so, a sort of short circuit occurs; surge currents can flow
to ground or to the supply network. The voltage difference is
thereby restricted. This short circuit of sorts only lasts for the
duration of the surge voltage event, typically a few
microseconds. The equipment to be protected is thereby
safeguarded and continues to work unaffected.

REFERENCES
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