In this note, we are going to learn About Residual Current Circuit Breaker or RCCB, also its Construction, Working Principle, Advantages, and Disadvantages as well. Welcome to Poly Notes Hub, an leading destination for Engineering Notes for Engineering Students.
Author Name: Arun Paul.
What is Residual Current Circuit Breaker?
RCCB stands for Residual Current Circuit Breaker. It is a sort of electrical circuit breaker that is intended to instantly terminate the power supply to a circuit in the case of a residual current flowing to earth. Residual current is the difference between the current flowing in the live (hot) conductor and the return (neutral) conductor, which could signal a fault such as an electrical leak to ground or a human contacting live parts.
RCCBs are critical for electrical safety, especially in reducing electric shocks and fires caused by failures in electrical systems. They work by continuously monitoring the electrical current flowing through the circuit and automatically tripping if a leakage current exceeds a certain threshold.
There are two types of RCCBs
- Fixed RCCBs: They cannot be modified; they are made to trip at a predetermined residual current level.
- Adjustable RCCBs: These allow users to set the tripping current threshold within a specific range, giving them more flexibility in responding to various electrical systems and requirements.
Construction of Residual Current Circuit Breaker
Below we shows the RCCB Circuit Diagram –
- Relay: The relay is an essential part of the RCCB. It detects the difference in current between the live and neutral wires. When the difference exceeds a predefined threshold, signaling a fault or leakage current, the relay activates the circuit breaker, disconnecting the power supply.
- Coils: There are three types of coils in RCCB or Residual Current Circuit Breaker –
- Primary Coil: The primary coil, which carries the main current flowing through the circuit, is usually linked in series with the live wire of the circuit being protected.
- Secondary Coil: A sensitive trip mechanism is linked in series with the secondary coil. The secondary coil produces a magnetic field proportionate to the residual current that results from a defect.
- Sensing Coil: An essential component of the secondary coil is the sensing coil. It picks up the magnetic field that the secondary coil’s remaining current creates. The trip mechanism is activated by this detection, opening the circuit and cutting the electricity.
- Load: The load refers to the electrical devices or appliances that are connected to the RCCB-protected circuit. During normal operation, the load draws current from the power supply. However, in the event of a malfunction or a leakage current, the RCCB disconnects the load from the power supply to avoid electrical risks such as electric shocks and fires.
Working Principle of RCCB
An RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) constantly monitors the electrical current flowing through a circuit’s live and neutral wires. Under typical circumstances, the current through both wires should be balanced. However, if there is any current leakage caused by a malfunction, such as a human touching live parts or a short circuit to ground, an imbalance results. The RCCB senses this imbalance, which usually exceeds 30 milliamperes, and responds quickly by triggering a mechanical switch within the device. This action blocks the flow of electricity, cutting off power to the circuit to avoid electric shock or fire threats.
Internally, an RCCB has a sensitive electromagnetic coil or a differential current transformer that detects the current difference between the live and neutral wires. When it detects an imbalance, it generates a magnetic field, which activates the tripping mechanism. When tripped, the RCCB disconnects the problematic circuit from the power supply while enabling other circuits to continue to operate normally. Some RCCBs have a manual reset option for restoring power once the fault has been resolved. Overall, RCCBs play an important role in electrical safety by responding quickly to ground faults and avoiding potential hazards.
Advantages of RCCB
Below we listed some merits of RCCBs –
- Detects and interrupts power flow during a fault.
- Disconnects electricity in the event of an imbalance, reducing the risk of electrical fires.
- Easy to install and maintain, they are suitable for a wide range of electrical applications.
Disadvantages of RCCB
Below we listed some demerits of RCCBs –
- RCCBs can be more expensive than standard circuit breakers.
- RCCBs can be triggered by external sources like dampness or transitory electrical disturbances, resulting in incorrect trips.
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