RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

RCCB Characteristics

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 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 (because u mite not be able to get
enough fault current to trip a MCB)

RCDs are an extremely effective form of shock protection

The most widely used are 30 mA (milliamp) and 100 mA devices. A current flow of 30 mA (or
0.03 amps) is sufficiently small that it makes it very difficult to receive a dangerous shock. Even
100 mA is a relatively small figure when compared to the current that may flow in an earth fault
without such protection (hundred of amps)
A 300/500 mA RCCB may be used where only fire protection is required. eg., on lighting
circuits, where the risk of electric shock is small.
Limitation of RCCB

Standard electromechanical RCCBs are designed to operate on

normal supply waveforms and cannot be guaranteed to operate where
none standard waveforms are generated by loads. The most common is the
half wave rectified waveform sometimes called pulsating dc generated by
speed control devices, semi conductors, computers and even dimmers.

Specially modified RCCBs are available which will operate on normal ac and
pulsating dc.

RCDs dont offer protection against current overloads: RCDs detect an

imbalance in the live and neutral currents. A current overload, however large,
cannot be detected. It is a frequent cause of problems with novices to replace
an MCB in a fuse box with an RCD. This may be done in an attempt to
increase shock protection. If a live-neutral fault occurs (a short circuit, or an
overload), the RCD wont trip, and may be damaged. In practice, the main

MCB for the premises will probably trip, or the service fuse, so the situation is
unlikely to lead to catastrophe; but it may be inconvenient.

It is now possible to get an MCB and and RCD in a single unit, called an RCBO
(see below). Replacing an MCB with an RCBO of the same rating is generally
safe.

Nuisance tripping of RCCB: Sudden changes in electrical load can cause a

small, brief current flow to earth, especially in old appliances. RCDs are very
sensitive and operate very quickly; they may well trip when the motor of an
old freezer switches off. Some equipment is notoriously `leaky, that is,
generate a small, constant current flow to earth. Some types of computer
equipment, and large television sets, are widely reported to cause problems.

RCD will not protect against a socket outlet being wired with its live
and neutral terminals the wrong way round.

RCD will not protect against the overheating that results when
conductors are not properly screwed into their terminals.

RCD will not protect against live-neutral shocks, because the current in
the live and neutral is balanced. So if you touch live and neutral conductors
at the same time (e.g., both terminals of a light fitting), you may still get a
nasty shock.

ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)

Characteristics

Phase (line), Neutral and Earth wire connected through ELCB.

ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current.

Operating Time of ELCB:

o The safest limit of Current which Human Body can withstand is 30ma sec.
o Suppose Human Body Resistance is 500 and Voltage to ground is 230 Volt.
o The Body current will be 500/230=460mA.
o Hence ELCB must be operated in 30maSec/460mA = 0.65msec

Difference between ELCB and RCCB

ELCB is the old name and often refers to voltage operated devices that are no
longer available and it is advised you replace them if you find one.

RCCB or RCD is the new name that specifies current operated (hence the new
name to distinguish from voltage operated).

The new RCCB is best because it will detect any earth fault. The voltage type
only detects earth faults that flow back through the main earth wire so this is
why they stopped being used.

The easy way to tell an old voltage operated trip is to look for the main earth
wire connected through it.

RCCB will only have the line and neutral connections.

ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current. But RCCB is not having
sensing or connectivity of Earth, because fundamentally Phase current is
equal to the neutral current in single phase. Thats why RCCB can trip when
the both currents are deferent and it withstand up to both the currents are
same. Both the neutral and phase currents are different that means current is
flowing through the Earth.

Finally both are working for same, but the thing is connectivity is difference.

RCD does not necessarily require an earth connection itself (it monitors only
the live and neutral).In addition it detects current flows to earth even in
equipment without an earth of its own.

This means that an RCD will continue to give shock protection in equipment
that has a faulty earth. It is these properties that have made the RCD more
popular than its rivals. For example, earth-leakage circuit breakers (ELCBs)
were widely used about ten years ago. These devices measured the voltage
on the earth conductor; if this voltage was not zero this indicated a current
leakage to earth. The problem is that ELCBs need a sound earth connection,
as does the equipment it protects. As a result, the use of ELCBs is no longer
recommended.

Sr.
No
1
2

ELCB
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
It will trip on Earth Leakage from

RCCB
Residual Current Circuit Breaker
It will trip on Earth Leakage from device

device
3
4
5
6

These are the voltage operated

devices
Phase & Neutral with Ground
connected
Operating Principle is Depend on
the earth leakage current flow
through the ground
It requires solid Ground system

These are the current operated devices

Phase & Neutral without ground
connected
Operating principle is depend on
Unbalance of phase & neutral currents
It does not requires solid Ground system

6
7
8

1. Positive Sequence current determination if Line or Phase Current

available.
Ia1= 1/3 (Ia+Ib+^2 Ic)
Where Ia,Ib & Ic are the Line or Phase currents.
Negative Sequence current determination if Line or Phase Current available
Ia2= 1/3 (Ia+^2Ib+ Ic)
Where Ia,Ib & Ic are the Line or Phase currents.
Zero Sequence current determination if Line or Phase Current available
Ia0= 1/3 (Ia+Ib+ Ic)
Where Ia,Ib & Ic are the Line or Phase currents.
2. Phase or Line currents determination if Positive & Negetive & Zero
Sequence currents available.
Ia= (Ia1+Ia2+Ia0)
Ib= (^2Ia1+ Ia2+Ia0)
Ic= (Ia1+ ^2Ia2+Ia0)
Where Ia1= Positive Sequence currents
Ia2= Negetive sequence currents
Ic=Zero sequence currents
3. Positive Sequence Voltage determination if Line or Phase Voltage
available.
Va1= 1/3 (Va+Vb+^2 Vc)
Where Va,Vb & Vc are the Line or Phase Voltages.
Negetive Sequence Voltages determination if Line or Phase Voltages available
Va2= 1/3 (Va+^2Vb+ Vc)
Where Va,Vb &VIc are the Line or Phase Voltages.
Zero Sequence Voltages determination if Line or Phase Voltages available
Va0= 1/3 (Va+Vb+Vc)
Where Va,Vb &Vc are the Line or Phase Voltages.

4. Phase or Line Voltages determination if Positive & Negetive & Zero

Sequence Voltages available.
Va= (Va1+Va2+Va0)
Vb= (^2Va1+ Va2+Va0)
Ic= (Va1+ ^2Va2+Va0)
Where Va1= Positive Sequence Voltages
Va2= Negetive sequence Voltages
Vc=Zero sequence Voltages
5. Neutral Voltage:
Vn= -In*Zn (: Where In is 3Ia0)
Vn= -3Iao*Zn
Where Ia0=1/3(Ia+Ib+Ic)
Zn= Neutral connected resistance/impedance