Significance of having an RCCB in a Distribution Board

Electricity is becoming a bare minimum in our daily lives. However, things were not always as easy as they are now. Despite significant obstacles, electricity was formerly used. In the past, electrocution deaths from poor wiring or an excess of electric current were all too prevalent, especially during the rainy season or in the toilet. And so it was with the fire that broke out because of short circuits and poor current conditions. Thus, rccb is essential.

With time, we have been successful in developing tools and gadgets that can both identify problems and leaks in the electric current and cut off the complete power supply.

Electric shock and earth leakage are two different types of faults that might occur in our electrical system. Earth leakage is one of these problems. Earth leakage or current leakage is the term for any scenario in which currently begins to seep from the conductor. At our homes and places of business, we utilize a variety of electronic devices, including PCs, laptops, printers, and machinery, all of which introduce harmonic distortion into the current they draw.

Additionally because of several additional factors, like inadequate or rupturing insulation, etc. There may be a current leakage. Since the earth has no potential when the conductor’s insulation ruptures or weakens, the current begins to leak and travels to the ground.

The current now requires a conductor, or, as we may say, a travel medium, to go to ground. In general, the “earth wire” or “Earth Conductor” aids in the movement of current to the ground, but in the event of current leakage, if a person comes into touch with the leakage current, the leakage current treats the person as a conductor and travels through it to the ground. As a result, the human body feels a powerful vibration known as an “electric shock.”

Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers that operate on the Voltage Sensing concept is known as ELCBs or Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers. ELCB is linked to the system in a way that connects one terminal to the equipment that needs protection and the other terminal to the earth. Between these two terminals, which in an ideal situation are detected as “0,” the voltage is measured. However, in the event of an earth leakage, a voltage differential is produced between these 2 terminals, igniting the circuit breaker’s coil and, as a result, tripping the ELCB.

Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) with current sensing:

Describe an RCCB. A current sensing-based protection device that protects against earth leakage is known as a “Residual Current Circuit Breaker” or “RCCB. “The Kirchhoff Law, which stipulates that “The amount of current entering the circuit must match the amount of current exiting the circuit,” is the basis for how the RCCB operates. i.e., the total (incoming + leaving) current should add up to zero. To make sure of this, the RCCB has a CBCT (Core Balance Current Transformer) that measures the amount of current flowing into and out of the circuit. When a current leak is detected, the relay connected to the CBCT is activated, tripping the RCCB.