RCD (Residual Current Device)

It is the generic term covering the range of devices incorporating sensing of residual current and includes within the scope R.C.C.B. and R.C.B.O. type products.

Do You Know

Less than one quarter of an amp (250mA) leaking from a faulty installation can

Generate sufficient heat to start a fire

Or if leaking through a human body for only 200mS can cause heart fibrillation and subsequent death

Residual Current Devices (RCD) are now firmly

established around the world as a primary means of providing protection against

Electrocution

Fires caused by electrical faults

What
is

Residual Current
It is the vector sum of the currents of all the phases and associated neutral passing through the core balance transformer of an RCD.

An RCD protects by constantly monitoring the current flowing in the live and neutral wires supplying a circuit or an individual item of equipment.

Under normal circumstances, the current flowing in the two wires is equal

When an earth leakage occurs due to a fault in the circuit or an accident with the equipment, an imbalance occurs and this is detected by the RCD, which automatically cuts off the power before injury or damage can result.

RCD Testing
For a test, a current is generated that flows in only one of the live conductors surrounded by the toroid. The resistor is sized to let through enough current to trip the RCD, taking into account any leakage currents likely to reduce the test current. The above principle is very common because it is the means to check the entire system, i.e. toroid, relay and breaking device.

Residual current protection in the event of indirect contact

If there is an insulation fault causing a short-circuit to an exposed part (frame etc.) of machinery and equipment (protection against indirect contact), the maximum permissible touch voltage Ut must occur at a residual current greater than or equal to the rated residual operating current In that triggers the RCCB. This condition is met by earthing the exposed part with a sufficiently low resistance to earth R.

RCCB

(Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

It is an RCD which will cause disconnection of electrical supply should a residual current passing through the device exceed a specified level. RCBO (Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overload protection) It is an RCD which will cause disconnection of electrical supply due to residual current exceeding specified limits together with integral overload, over current and short circuit protection associated with a miniature circuit breaker.

WHEN MUST AN RCD BE USED ?

Sockets outlets on a TT supply

Sockets to supply portable equipment outside the equipotential zone

Equipotential Zone
It is the zone within which all conductive parts are maintained at substantially the same potential by bonding to Earth.

Supply to carava

WHEN IS IT ADVISABLE TO INSTALL AN RCD?

For protection against risk of fire due to live to earth fault where fault current is insufficient to cause over-current protection device to operate. For protection against risk of shock from indirect contact with equipment suffering a live to earth fault. For protection against shock in potentially hazardous environment. As supplementary protection against shock from directly touching Live parts.

Note: An RCD must not be used as the sole means of protection against touching live parts.

Typical Application Areas

RCD Types

Standard IEC 60755 (General requirements for residual current operated protective devices) defines three types of RCD depending on the characteristics of the fault current.
Type AC Type A

Type B

Type AC

It is an RCD which ensures tripping for residual sinusoidal alternating currents

Type A

It is an RCD for which ensures tripping: for residual sinusoidal alternating currents.

for residual pulsating direct currents.

for residual pulsating direct currents superimposed by a smooth direct current of 0.006 A, with or without phase-angle control, independent of the polarity.

Type B

It is an RCD for which ensures tripping : as for type A, for residual sinusoidal currents up to 1000 Hz, for residual sinusoidal currents superposed by a pure direct current, for pulsating direct currents superposed by a pure direct current, for residual currents which may result from rectifying circuits, i.e. three pulse star connection or six pulse bridge connection, two pulse bridge connection line-to-line, with or without phase-angle monitoring, independently of the polarity.

Sensitivity

RCD sensitivity is expressed as the rated residual operating current, noted In Preferred values have been defined by the IEC, thus making it possible to divide RCDs into three groups according to their In value.
High sensitivity (HS):
Medium sensitivity (MS): Low sensitivity (LS):

6 10 30 mA,
0.1 0.3 0.5 1 A, 3 10 30 A.

High Sensitivity (HS) RCD is most often used for direct-contact protection,

MS and in particular the 300 and 500 mA ratings RCD are indispensable for fire protection.

MS and LS RCD are used for other needs such as protection against indirect contacts (mandatory in the TT system) Or protection of machines.

RCD classification depending on supply mode

"Without auxiliary source" or "Functionally independent of line voltage". In this type of device, the tripping energy is supplied by the fault current. This highly dependable supply mode is recommended for residential or similar applications where the user is not aware of the dangers of electricity.

With auxiliary source" or "functionally dependent on line

voltage". In this type of device, tripping requires an auxiliary source of energy that is independent of the fault current. The source is generally the protected circuit. When the circuit is energised, the RCD is supplied. If there is no voltage, the RCD cannot operate, but there is no danger.

Installation Issues

Installation Issues

RCD Disturbances

Precautions for installations

Wiring should be done by a trained & qualified electrician as per the wiring diagram. All wiring necessary for operation shall be passed through the RCCB. The neutral conductor must be insulated against earth to the same extent as the live conductors. All equipments used must be properly earthed. To ensure correct functioning care must be taken that the neutral conductor on the load side of the RCCB must not be connected to earth, otherwise nuisance tripping may occur or tripping may be impaired. Suitable device either MCB or HRC fuses shall be used for short circuit and overload protection of the circuit under installation. Don't expose the circuit breaker to direct sunlight, rough weather and keep it away from the influence of magnetic field.

In which of the above system we cant use RCD

Discrimination The goal of discrimination and protection coordination is to ensure that only the faulty part of a circuit is de-energised by tripping of the protective device.

Current Discrimination in a distribution system requires a circuit breaker to have a lower continuous current rating and a lower instantaneous pick-up value than the next upstream circuit breaker.

Time Discrimination
in a distribution system requires the use, upstream, of circuit breakers with adjustable time delay settings The upstream breakers must be capable of withstanding the thermal and electrodynamic effects of the full prospective fault current during the time delay.

More Readings
MEM/EATON Circuit Protection & Control Guide
Residual current devices in LV by Schneider Electric ABB Electrical Installation Handbook ..