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How Residual Current Device RCD Works

The residual current device (RCD) detects earth fault currents to interrupt the power supply if an earth current flows. It uses a toroidal transformer to monitor the load and return currents - if they become unequal due to an earth fault, a small current is induced in the detecting winding to trigger the tripping mechanism. There are two tripping methods, one using electronic amplification of the detecting signal and the other using a polarized relay activated by a permanent magnet. RCDs protect against electrocution and fires, and come in single and three-phase configurations to suit different applications like light industrial systems. They have limited breaking capacity so residual current breakers with overcurrent protection are also available.

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104 views2 pages

How Residual Current Device RCD Works

The residual current device (RCD) detects earth fault currents to interrupt the power supply if an earth current flows. It uses a toroidal transformer to monitor the load and return currents - if they become unequal due to an earth fault, a small current is induced in the detecting winding to trigger the tripping mechanism. There are two tripping methods, one using electronic amplification of the detecting signal and the other using a polarized relay activated by a permanent magnet. RCDs protect against electrocution and fires, and come in single and three-phase configurations to suit different applications like light industrial systems. They have limited breaking capacity so residual current breakers with overcurrent protection are also available.

Uploaded by

A.K.A. Haji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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elect rical-engineering-port al.com http://electrical-engineering-portal.

com/how-residual-current-device-rcd-works
Fi gure 1 - Resi dual current devi ce components
Fi gure 2 - Operati on of pol ari zed tri p rel ay
Edvard
How residual current device (RCD) works?
The residual current device (rcd) is used to detect
earth f ault currents and to interrupt supply if an earth
current f lows. The main application is to prevent
electrocution but RCDs can also be used to protect
equipment, especially against f ire. The earth fault
currents that operate an rcd can range f rom 5mA up
to many amperes. For typical domestic applications
the typical trip current would be 30 mA. The RCD can
be opened and closed manually to switch normal load
currents, and it opens automatically when an earth
f ault current f lows which is about 50 per cent or more
of the rated tripping current.
The main f eatures of an rcd are shown in Fig. 1. The
key component is a toroidal transf ormer, upon which
the load current (live) and return current (neutral)
conductors are wound in opposite directions. The toroid also carries a detecting winding. If no earth f ault
current is f lowing, then the load and return currents are equal. In this case the mmf s generated by the load
and return current windings are equal; there is no resultant f lux in the toroid and the detecting winding
does not generate any current.
When a f ault current f lows there is a dif f erence between the load and return currents which generates a
resultant f lux in the toroid and induces a current in the detecting winding.
The current generated in the detecting
winding operates a relay which opens the
main contacts of the RCD. The detecting
winding has to produce f rom a very small
output, suf f icient power to operate the
tripping mechanism. Two alternative
methods are used. In the f irst method, the
output signal f rom the detecting coil is
electronically amplif ied and the second
method uses a polarized relay operating
on a sensitive mechanical trip mechanism.
The operation of a polarized trip relay is
based on the magnetic output of a small
coil nullif ying the f ield f rom a permanent
magnet, causing the release of an
armature. The basic operation is illustrated
in Fig. 2.
The operation of an rcd has here been
described f or single-phase operation, but
it may also be applied in a three-phase application where typically it might be used in a light industrial
system f or protection against f ire. There are two arrangements of a three-phase rcd. Either the three
phases are wound around a current transf ormer, or the three phases and the neutral are wound onto a
balancing transf ormer.
The RCD has only limited breaking capacity and it is not a replacement f or overcurrent protection devices
such as the MCB. The residual current breaker with overcurrent (RCBO) is now available; this is an rcd with
an overcurrent tripping mechanism and enhanced contacts to cope with interruption of f ault conditions.
RCDs are designed and tested according to the requirements of IEC 1008 and IEC 1009.
SOURCE: Electrical Power Engineers Handbook by D. Warne

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