UNIT 5: (Part 2)

Components of LT Switchgear:
• Switch Fuse Unit (SFU)
• MCB
• Earthing
• Types of Batteries
WHAT IS A FUSE?

• A fuse is an electric device, which is used to protect circuits from over current, overload and

make sure the protection of the circuit.

• Electric fuse was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1890.

• The material used for fuse elements must be of low melting point, low ohmic loss, high
conductivity (or low resistivity), low cost and free from detraction.

• The material used for making fuse element has a low melting point such as tin, lead, or zinc.

• The fuse can have many forms and shapes depending on its application. Its rating can start

from few mA to several kA.

WORKING OF FUSE:
• The basic purpose of the fuse is to protect and is composed of an alloy which has a low
melting point.
• The fuses work on the principle of the heating effect of the current. It’s made up of thin
strip or strand of metallic wire with noncombustible material.
• This is connected between the ends of the terminals. Fuse is always connected in series
with the electrical circuit.
• When the excessive current or heat is generated due to heavy current flows in the
circuit, the fuse melts down due to the low melting point of the element and it opens
the circuit.
• The excessive flow may lead to the breakdown of wire and stops the flow of current.
• The fuse can be replaced or changed with the new one with suitable ratings.
• The fuse can be made up of the element like zinc, copper, silver &aluminum.
• This is not only a protector but it is also used as a safety measure to prevent humans
from hazards.
Type of Fuses:
Depending on the fuse current rating, the fuses can be one of the following
types for low voltage applications:
1- Semi - enclosed Fuse (Rewireable)
2- Cartridge Fuse.
3- High Rupturing Capacity (H.R.C) or High Breaking Capacity (H.B.C) Fuses.
APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUSES
• Power Transformers
• Electrical Appliances, like ACs (Air Conditioners), TV, Washing
Machines, Music Systems,
• Electrical Cabling in Home
• Motor starters
• Laptops
• Power Chargers
• Cameras, Scanners, Printers, and Photocopiers
• Automobiles, electronic devices and Gaming’s
SWITCH FUSE UNIT (SFU)
• A fuse switch performs the action of switching by physically
removing the fuse because the fuse is the part of the
switch.
• It is Switched Fuse Unit. It has one switch unit and one fuse
unit.
• When we operate the breaker, the contacts will get closed
through switch and then the supply will pass through the fuse
unit to the output
SWITCH FUSE UNIT (SFU)
 MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)
• A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated
electrical switch designed to protect an
electrical circuit from damage caused by
overload or short circuit.
• a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually
or automatically) to resume normal operation.
• Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from
small devices that protect an individual
household appliance up to large switchgear
designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding
an entire city.
Types of circuit breaker :
• There are many different technologies used in circuit breaker. Types that are common in
domestic, commercial and light industrial applications at low voltage (less than 1000 V)
include:
• MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)—rated current not more than 100 A. Trip characteristics
normally not adjustable. Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.
• MCCB (Moulded Case Circuit Breaker)—rated current up to 1000 A. Thermal or thermal-
magnetic operation. Trip current may be adjustable.
• ACB (Air circuit breaker) – rated current up to 4000 A .Thermal and magnetic operation .
Trip current adjustable.
Working & Operation of MCB
• Under normal working conditions, MCB operates as a switch (manual one) to make the
circuit ON or OFF.
• Under overload or short circuit condition, it automatically operates or trips so that current
interruption takes place in the load circuit.
• This automatic operation MCB can be obtained in two ways as we have seen in MCB
construction; those are magnetic tripping and thermal tripping.
• Under overload condition, the current through the bimetal causes to raise the temperature
of it.
• The heat generated within the bimetal itself enough to cause deflection due to thermal
expansion of metals.
• This deflection further releases the trip latch and hence contacts get separated.
• In some MCBs, magnetic field generated by the coil causes develop pull on bimetal such
that it deflection activates the tripping mechanism.
• Under short circuit or heavy overload conditions, magnetic tripping arrangement comes
into the picture. Under normal working condition, the slug is held in a position by light spring
because magnetic field generated by the coil is not sufficient to attract the latch.
• When a fault current flows, the magnetic field generated by the coil is sufficient to overcome
the spring force holding slug in position. And hence slug moves and then actuate the
tripping mechanism.
Functions of MCBs:
Miniature circuit breakers perform four important functions:
1. Switching
MCBs can be switched ON and OFF manually. This functionality is highly useful,
especially during maintenance.
2. Overcurrent protection
When a piece of equipment is overloaded it draws more current from the source.
This current flows through the bimetallic strip and heats it up, during this time
opening the contact and isolation the equipment from the supply.
3. Short Circuit Protection
During short circuits, a sudden rise in current produces MMF powerful enough to
project plunder towards the latch and releases it, thereby opening the contacts.
4. Arc Quenching
When the contacts are opened under load, an arc is formed between the fixed
and moving contacts.
Arc splitters or arc chutes is an arrangement to increase the length of the arc,
splitting and quenching it.
EARTHING OR GROUNDING
What is Electrical Earthing or Grounding?
The connection of the metallic (conductive) Parts of an Electric appliance or installations
to the earth (ground) is called Earthing or Grounding.
or
The connection of the metallic parts of electric machinery and devices to the earth
plate or earth electrode (which is buried in the moisture earth) through a thick conductor
wire (which has very low resistance) for safety purpose is known as Earthing or grounding.
• Most low voltage systems connect one supply conductor to the earth (ground).
• The electrical equipment mainly consists of two non-current carrying parts,
They are neutral of the system or frame of the electrical equipment. Based on
this earthing can be classified into two types. Neutral Earthing
Equipment Earthing.
Below are the basic needs of Earthing.
•To protect human lives as well as provide safety to electrical devices
and appliances from leakage current.
•To keep voltage as constant in the healthy phase (If fault occurs on
any one phase).
•To Protect Electric system and buildings form lighting.
•To serve as a return conductor in electric traction system and
communication.
•To avoid the risk of fire in electrical installation systems.
 General Method of Electrical Earthing Installation (Step by Step)
The usual method of earthing of electric equipments, devices and appliances are as follow:
1.First of all, dig a 5x5ft (1.5×1.5m) pit about 20-30ft (6-9 meters) in the ground. (Note that, depth
and width depends on the nature and structure of the ground)
2.Bury an appropriate (usually 2’ x 2’ x 1/8” (600x600x300 mm) copper plate in that pit in vertical
position.
3.Tight earth lead through nut bolts from two different places on earth plate.
4.Use two earth leads with each earth plate (in case of two earth plates) and tight them.
5.To protect the joints from corrosion, put grease around it.
6.Collect all the wires in a metallic pipe from the earth electrode(s). Make sure the pipe is 1ft
(30cm) above the surface of the ground.
7. To maintain the moisture condition around the earth plate, put a 1ft (30cm) layer of powdered charcoal

(powdered wood coal) and lime mixture around the earth plate of around the earth plate.
8. Use thimble and nut bolts to connect tightly wires to the bed plates of machines. Each machine should
be earthed from two different places. The minimum distance between two earth electrodes should be 10
ft (3m).
9. Earth continuity conductor which is connected to the body and metallic parts of all installation should be
tightly connected to earth lead. Make sure to use the continuity by using continuity test.
10. At last (but not least), test the overall earthing system through earth tester. If everything is going about
the planning, then fill the pit with soil.
11. The maximum allowable resistance for earthing is 1Ω. If it is more than 1 ohm, then increase the size
(not length) of earth lead and earth continuity conductors. Keep the external ends of the pipes open and
put the water time to time to maintain the moisture condition around the earth electrode which is
important for the better earthing system.
Methods and Types of Electrical Earthing
Methods and Types of Electrical Earthing
Methods and Types of Electrical Earthing
 What is a battery?
A device that converts the chemical energy of its cell
components into electrical energy.

Cell vs. battery:

A “cell” is one basic electrochemical unit. It has a voltage (or “potential”) that is
defined by the chemistry.
A simple cell consists of two electrodes placed in a container that holds the electrolyte
A “battery” consists of one or more cells connected in series or parallel
 Types of Batteries:
1. Primary Cell: Single use power source
• A primary cell is one in which the chemical action eats away one of the electrodes,
usually the negative electrode.
• When this happens, the electrode must be replaced or the cell must be discarded.

2. Secondary Cell: Can be recharged

• A secondary cell is one in which the electrodes and the electrolyte are altered by the
chemical action that takes place when the cell delivers current.
• These cells may be restored to their original condition by forcing an electric current
through them in the direction opposite to that of discharge.
• The mobile and automobile storage battery is a common example of the secondary cell.