circuit breakers

Miniature circuit breaker (MCB)

MCB is a mechanical switching device which is capable of
making, carrying and breaking currents under normal
circuit conditions and also making, carrying for a specified
time and automatically breaking currents under specified
abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short circuit.

MCB characteristics

Rated current not more than 100 A.

Trip characteristics normally not adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.

Description of MCB

1) Actuator piker ( for trip

and reset )
2) Actuator Device
mechanism
3) Main contact ( flow of
current )
4) Terminal Block
5) Bimetallic steel strip
6) Tripping calibration screw
7) Solenoid coil
8) Arc extinguisher - See
more at:

How many pole for Miniature

1) One (1) pole

For single phase use ( Live )
2) Two (2) pole
For single phase use ( Live & Neutral )
3) Three (3) pole
For three phase use ( R,S,T ) or TP ( three pole )
4) Four (4) pole
For three phase use ( R,S,T,Neutral) or TPN ( three pole &
neutral )

Current rating and short circuit

current

Under fault conditions (such as a short circuit) much more

current flows through the circuit than what it was designed
for. A circuit that was designed for a maximum of 20A may
suddenly be drawing hundreds, if not thousands of amps.
The circuit breaker will trip if this occurs.
The value of the kA rating determines how much current
the circuit breaker can withstand under fault conditions.
The circuit breaker only has to withstand this for a brief
period of time, usually the time it takes for the circuit
breaker to trip. For example, a value of 6kA means that the
circuit breaker can withstand 6,000 amps of current during
the brief time it takes to trip.

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.

MCB Selection

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:

MCB Selection

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.

MCB advantages over fuse

1-MCB is more sensitive to current than fuse. It detects any
abnormality in the current flow and automatically switches
off the electrical circuit.
2-In case of MCB, the faulty zone of electrical circuit can be
easily identified. Faulty circuit trips to the off position. On the
other hand in case of fuse, the complete fuse wire needs to be
checked by opening fuse grip for confirming the faulty zone

MCB advantages over

fuse
3-With MCB it is very simple to resume to the supply. You just
need to push the knob of MCB back to on position. But in case
of fuse, the entire fuse wire needs to be replaced.
4-MCB provides a better interface with the help of knob than a
fuse. In case of fuse the compete handle needs to be taken care
out.

MCB advantages over

fuse
5-Handling MCB is electrically safer than handling a
fuse.
6-MCB is reusable and hence has less maintenance and
replacement cost. Whereas a fuse needs to be replaced
whenever it goes faulty

Disadvantages of
MCB
Only one disadvantage of
MCB over fuse is that this
system is more costlier than
fuse unit system.

Characteristics
Rated current up to 1000 A.
Trip current may be adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation.
MCCB (Molded Case Circuit Breaker)

RCD (Residual Current Device / RCCB(Residual

Current Circuit Breaker)
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

RCD
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
RCDs are an extremely effective form of
shock protection.
The most widely used are 30 mA (milliamp)
and 100 mA devices.

RCD
RCD will not protect against a socket outlet being wired
with its live and neutral terminals.
RCD will not protect against the overheating
RCD will not protect against live-neutral shocks

Thank
you.