RCCB AND MCB:

Q1) what is RCCB and its purpose?

ANS) RCCB is essentially a current sensing device which is used to protect low voltage circuits
in case of faults. It contains a switch that switches off whenever a fault occurs in a circuit.

Purpose of using RCCB is to protect an individual from the risk of electrical shocks,
electrocutions and fires that are caused due to faulty wiring or earth fault.

They are particularly useful in situations when there is a sudden earth faults occurring in the
circuit for e.g. A person accidently comes in contact with an open live wire in circuit. In such
situations, in the absence of RCCB in the circuit, an earth fault may occur and the person is at the
risk of receiving an electrical shock.

However if the same circuit is protected by an RCCB, it will trip the circuit in fraction of second,
thus preventing the person from receiving an electrical shock. Therefore, it is a good and safe
practice to install RCCB in your circuit.

Q2) how does RCCB works?

ANS) The working principle of RCCB is simple. During ideal situations, the current flowing in
the circuit through live wires should be same as the current from the neutral. The live wire and
the neutral wire are wound around iron cores in opposite directions. When the appliance is
working correctly all the electrical current entering the appliance via the live wire leaves the
appliance through the neutral wire and the magnetic fields generated around the iron cores cancel
out.

In case of earth fault, current finds a passage to earth through accidental means (such as
accidental contact of an open wire to earth). As a result the returning current from neutral is
reduced. This difference in the current is called as residual current.

RCCB is designed in such a way that it continuously senses and compares the difference in
current (residual current) between live and neutral wires. Any small change in the current values
on account of such event would trigger the RCCB to trip off the current.

Q3) What are the types of RCCB’s?

There are two basic types of RCCB’s:

1) 2 pole RCCB: They are used in case of single phase supply that involves only a live and
neutral wire. It contains two ends where the live and neutral wires are connected. A rotary switch
is used to switch the RCCB back to on or off position. A test button helps to periodically test the
rccb in functionality

2) 4 pole RCCB: They are used in case of three phase supply that involves 3 phase wires and
one neutral wires. Its operation is similar to 2 pole RCCB

RCCB which are available in the market are of 30mA,100mA,300mA etc.

Q4) How sensitive RCCB is?

Ans) RCCB are primarily designed for protection against earth fault and its consequences to
human life such as electric shock.

As per studies, a person is able to sustain electrical shock only to the magnitude upto 30mA.Thus
RCCB is designed such a way that it will trip off the circuit even for small change in residual
current value upto 30mA. Its response time is usually within 40msec.

Q5) What is the difference between MCB and RCCB?

Ans) In simple words, Function of MCB( miniature circuit breaker) is to protect the circuit wires
from any damage, whereas RCCB protects the life of an individual from electrical shocks.

RCCB in particular detects faults on electrical leakage current and trips to prevent any electrical
shock. In addition they acts as the main disconnecting switch upstream of any derived mcb.

MCCB provides protection against overload. Overload means an excess current drawn which
will lead to the tripping the circuit breaker. Once the current exceeds 5 times the rated MCB
current value within a tenth of a second.

When your electric load is faulty and there is a short circuit, a lot of current is drawn and mcb
trips. But an electric shock to an human being may not always draw an excessive current that is
so high to trip MCB and protect you. This is where RCCB comes in

RCCB has both live and neutral wire. Connection is like this. ( live wire from RCCB to load ----
neutral wire from load to rccb). So it forms a close loop. MCB has only the live wire in it and the
return doesn’t go to MCB. So, RCCB forms a series close circuit. In a series circuit, current
remains same. So the current that comes in from the live wire of RCCB is the current that goes
back to the neutral.

This is true until a human being or any other conductive device comes in contact with the wire.
The current that comes in isn’t the same current as the current that goes back, since some current
is going through you .RCCB has a mechanism that trips when there is imbalance in current in
and current out.

Q6) What is the difference between over loading and over current?
ANS) Over current is simply the short circuit where the current increases from its allowed value
whereas over loading means increasing the number of loads connected to the system which
would increase the current and produces heating effect in the system. Over loading can produce
Over current but generally Overload protection is protection against overheating

Q7) Does RCCB protects against over loading?

Ans) Rccb will protect against a shock but won’t protect against overload because even in an
over load, same current flows through live and neutral. RCCB doesn’t care if the magnitude is
high or low. It only works if some of the current is leaking out somewhere.

So if you need an MCB+RCCB function. Go for RCBO( residual current breaker with overload
protection.