CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES EXPLAINED

MCBs are designed to protect people, cables and equipment from two main types of fault:

Overloads: the gradual build-up of heat due to increasing current flowing through a circuit. A thermal device in the MCB detects this build-up and trips the MCB. The speed of this depends upon the severity of the overload and the tripping curve of the MCB as indicated below. Short circuit: sudden increases in current flowing through a circuit cause a magnetic device in the MCB to operate in a fraction of a second, protecting the installation and any persons in contact with the supply.

MCBs have ratings from 1A up to 63A (with some high current devices at 80A and 100A). Selection of the correct version depends upon the circuit it is protecting. MCBs come in three different trip characteristics:

B Curve: trip at 3 - 5 times the rated current e.g. a 6A MCB will trip at 18 30A C Curve: trip at 5 - 10 times the rated current e.g. a 6A MCB will trip at 30 60A D Curve: trip at 10 - 20 times the rated current e.g. a 6A MCB will trip at 60 120A

The correct tripping curve depends upon the type of equipment being protected. For example, florescent lighting and motors can cause an initial surge on start-up which may cause nuisance tripping with a B Curve MCB therefore a C Curve MCB should be installed. If this is still inadequate then a D Curve should be selected. MCBs also have a maximum short circuit capacity, expressed as its kA rating. CPN offer ranges of MCBs that have 6KA and 10KA rating.

RESIDUAL CURRENT BREAKER WITH OVERLOAD - RCBO'S

RCBOs are a combination of an RCD and MCB in one unit. This enables both over -current protection and earth fault current protection to be provided by a single unit, which allows earth fault protection to be restricted to a single circuit, ensuring only the circuit with the fault is interrupted, limiting inconvenience tripping of many circuits. B and C type tripping curves (MCB) in Cudis. 30mA tripping current (RCD). 10kA versions. RCBOs tend to be selected by the MCB rating e.g. 6A B curve and the RCD side is usually 30mA. Two versions are available:

1 module 1 pole version (17.5mm wide). Although the same width as a standard MCB it is twice the height. Ideal for use in consumer units where more control is required as to which circuits are protected by RCDs and which by RCBOs, as individual circuits can be protected as opposed to groups of circuits in a standard split-load consumer unit. Standard 2 Module RCBO (35mm wide). These usually switch both the live and the neutral connections.

RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICES - RCD'S

RCDs work on the principle of a load being in balance that is, the current on the Phase conductor is equal to that flowing out of the Neutral conductor. The Phase and Neutral cables in an RCD pass through a magnetic ring which detects any imbalance. If equal the RCD remains

operational, if imbalanced it causes the mechanism to trip. Modular RCDs come in 2-pole and 4-pole versions. 2-pole versions are usually mounted in consumer units to protect a number of circuits at once. However, both 2-pole and 4-pole versions can be used separately as protection devices in enclosures. There are two usual ways in which an imbalance of the load can occur:

Indirect Contact: defined in the IEE Wiring Regulations as contact of persons and livestock with exposed conductive part made live by a fault which may result in an electric shock. E.g. the casing of an appliance or motor. Direct Contact: defined in the IEE Wiring Regulations as contact of persons and livestock with live parts which may result in an electric shock. E.g. exposed cable.

In both cases RCDs should not be the only method of protection used - see BS7671 wiring regulations for further information. To provide all-round protection RCDs must be used in conjunction with suitable MCBs. The dangerous aspect is the magnitude and duration of the current flowing through the human body and in particular near the heart. The Cudis RCDs are available in the following sensitivities:

30mA the most popular sensitivity in the UK. In a shock, current flowing through body at 240V could be 80 to 240mA, depending on the resistance of the body in question. To ensure no harmful effects the RCD operates within 300mS at 30mA and 40mS at 150mA. 100mA may provide protection against electrocution. However, there is a likelihood that the earth fault current may be below the sensitivity of the RCD - increasingly likely if additional resistances to that of the human body are in the current path.300mA - provides protection against risk of fire only, not against electrocution in shock situations. A typical application is lighting circuits where risk of electric shock is small. Note, a current of <500mA flowing in a high resistance path is enough to cause metallic parts to potentially start a fire.

Three-phase RCDs can be used on three-phase systems with or without the Neutral wire being present. If the Neutral wire is absent a link has to be fitted to ensure operation of the test function.