PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Compiled and Presented by D.

Nedrick

Why Do we need Protective

Devices in Circuits?
Short

Circuit
A condition which exists in an electric
circuit when conductors of opposite
polarity come into contact with each other.
A circuit that contains almost no
resistance to limit the flow of current.
This condition results in excessive current
flow.
Dangers of short circuit: fire

Why Do we need Protective

Devices in Circuits?
Overload
An

electrical condition in an excessive

amount of current flows. This condition
arises when too much utilization
equipment is connected into a circuit or
system or when a motor is starting.
When a motor is driving a load which
requires more horsepower than its rating,
it is overloaded and excessive current
flows.

Circuit Breaker
is

a electro-mechanical device for

making and breaking a circuit both
under normal and abnormal condition
such as those of a short circuit, the
circuit been broken automatically.

 The

circuit breaker is generally opened

by hand (manually) but is
automatically opened under fault
conditions by an over-current release.

Over-current Release
The

over-current release is opened by the

magnetic effect of the line current flowing in
the circuit. This current flows through a
current coil consisting of a few turns of heavygauge copper wire or copper tape. When a
continual overload is placed on the protected
circuit the electromagnetic field, due to the
current flowing in the coil, draws up a plunger
which operates a mechanical trip, thus
isolating the circuit from the supply.

 Fig

6.9 shows the simplified layout of

an electromagnetically operated overcurrent release. When an overload
current flows through the coil, the softiron plunger is lifted high enough to
open the control circuit.

 Fig

6.10 shows an over-current release using

a piston fitted in an oil dashpot to retard the
movement of the soft-iron plunger, thus
providing a time-lag on the operation of the
over-current release. The operating or
tripping, current can be varied by screwing
the dashpot up or down; it is generally set to
operate at 11/2 times (150 per cent) full load
current.

 Over-current

releases are commonly

used in motor starter circuits where
very high starting currents (about six
times full loaded current) are
encountered. The time-lag action of
the dashpot allows sudden surges of
current in circuit without tripping,
although a continuous overload current
would operate the trip.

 Fig

6.11 shows the circuit of a

manually-operated 3-phase circuit
breaker which is fitted with
electromagnetic overload releases.
The circuit-breaker is closed by hand
and the operation of any type of the
over-current releases trips the switch
mechanism an open all the phases

 The

selection of the breakers should be

based on the ability to:
Provide the proper overload protection
Ensure a suitable voltage rating
Provide a sufficient interrupt current
rating
Provide short circuit protection
Co-ordinate the breaker(s) with other
protective devices
The choice of the overload protection is
based on the rating of the panel board

Fuse
A

fuse is a weak link in a circuit which

will break when too much current flows,
thus protecting the circuit conductors
from damage.
It must be remembered that the priority
of the fuse is to protect the circuit
conductors, not the appliance or the
user. Calculation of cable size therefore
automatically involves the correct
selection of protective devices.

Types of Fuses
A

fuse simply carries a metal element,

usually tinned copper, which will melt
and break the circuit when excessive
current flows.
There are three types of fuses:
The Rewireable or semi-enclosed fuse
The cartridge fuse and fuse link; and
The high-rupturing-capacity (h.r.c.)
fuse.

Rewireable Fuse
This

consist of a plastic bridge and

base.
The bridge has two sets of copper
contacts which fit into contacts in the
base.

Rewireable Fuse (contd)

The

Fuse element, for example, tinned

copper wire, is connected between the
terminals of the bridge.
An asbestos tube, or pad, is generally
fitted in the fuse to minimize the effect
of arcing when the fuse element melts.
This type of fuse is termed a semienclosed fuse to distinguish it from the
older type of fuse which consisted
simply of a piece of wire connected
between two terminals.

Regulations
The

approximate sizes of tinned

copper wire to be used for elements in
semi-enclosed fuses includes:
0.2 mm
5A current rating
0.35 mm
- 10A Current rating
0.50 mm
- 15A Current rating

 The

current rating is the current which

the fuse element will continuously
without deterioration.
The fusing current is the current at
which the fuse element will melt.
For the rewireable fuse, this is
approximately twice the current rating
of the fuse element (fusing factor = 2).
Fusing factor = fusing current/ current
rating.

Advantages and
Disadvantages
Advantages
1.

Cheap
2. Easy to replace fuse element
Disadvantages
1.

Fuse element deteriorate in use

2. Any size of fuse wire can be fitted,
thus defeating the purpose of the fuse.

 NOTE:

The fuse/ CB must be capable of

protecting the smallest conductor in the
circuit.
3. Lacking in discrimination. It is possible
that a 15A fuse element may melt before
a 10A fuse element, depending largely
on the condition of the wire. Further the
rewireable fuse is not capable of
discriminating between a momentary
high starting current and a continuous
fault current.

 4.

Easily damaged, particularly with

short circuit currents.

Cartridge Fuse
This

type has come into common use

with the fused 13A plug used on the
domestic ring circuit.

 The

fuse element is contained in a

porcelain tube fitted with two
connecting caps and has a fusing
factor of 1.5.
The colour code for these fuses is as
follows:
5A White 13A Brown 15A Blue
30A Red 60A Purple

Fig. 6.16 shows the construction of a high breaking

capacity fuse. This consist of the following:
1.
Porcelain tube.
2.
Silver element.
3.
Indicating element which ignites powder under the
label to show when the fuse element has opened.
4.
End caps.
5.
Silica (fine sand) filling used to quench the arc.
Note. The fuse must always be placed in the phase or
non-earthed conductor of the installation, never in
the neutral (earthed) conductor.

Thermal Trip
The

thermal trip (6.17) is operated by

using the heating effect of an electric
current. Two flat pieces of dissimilar
metals are join together and placed
inside a nichrome spiral which carries
the line current of the protected
equipment.

 When

the line current reaches a certain

pre-determined level, the heat from the
spiral distorts the bi-metallic strip
causing it to operate a push bar
mechanism which opens the switch.
This type of protection is generally on
low current circuits (for example:
fractional horsepower starters) because
the bimetallic strip tends to distort
permanently if heavily overloaded.

 All

fuses and single pole control

devices (e.g. circuit-breakers,
thermostats) must be fitted in the line
conductor in a 2 wire installation
where one pole is connected to earth