EL ECTH JCAL /\ND ELECTRON ICS WORKSHOP

D ATE:
EXPERIMENT NO - 5

AIM: To study the protection elements (MCB, ELCB)

APPARATUS:

THEORY:
MIN IATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER (MCB):
A Miniature Circuit breaker (MCB) is basically electro-mechanical device which makes and
breaks the circuit in normal operation and disconnects the circuit under the abnormal
condition when the cuITent reaches a predetermined value. It provides overload and short
circuit protection and works as a circuit breaker. it also serves the purpose of fuse units
during normal operating conditions it does not require serving or rewiri_ng as in the case of
fuse units MCB gives better service for protection because this operates just on 5 percent to
15 percent excessive overloads. Fuse wire of the fuse units melt on 50 percent to 100 percent
overloads or evensmore . .It is much faster than fuses. So MCB is more reliable and easy to
handle. With the latest technology it is tried that MCB will operate at 1.05 (5%) times its
related value.MCB can be reset quickly by hand after its operation.MCB which is tripped due
to overload or short circuit can be easily identified as its operating knob moves to OFF
position.
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Fig. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB):
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EL ECTRJCAL AND ELECTRON ICS WORKSHOP
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A MCB is a device which operates on the two prmc1 p es
for the protection aJ ain st

overload and short circuit.

J. Thermal operation for overl oad protection
2. Magnetic operation for short circuit protection. .
.
Thermal operation is possible . the use of b1meta
with . . st11p
11 1c .· and magnetic operation
is possible with the use of solenoid and plunger.
THERMAL OPERATION :
. the use o f b1meta
This operation is possible with • 11 1c • A s the current flowing
- stnp.
through the bimetallic strip increases during overload, a bimetallic strip deflects or
band when the current exceeds a predetermined value due to heating. Due to its
deflects , a latch mechanism is released which opens the contacts. Inverse time-
current characteristic result. i.e. Greater the overload or excessive current, shorter the •
time required to operate the MCB.

MAGN ETIC OPERATION :

Whenshort circuit occurs in the circuit, current rises to very high level very rapidly.
The rising current energizes the solenoid which attracts the plunger which strikes the
trip lever that immediately releases the latch mechanism to open the contacts. The
instantaneous operating of contacts is achieved due to rapid operation of solenoid.
The arc .chute is used to increase the length of arc. this arc is produced due to
separation of fixed and moving contacts during operation of MCB.under the
influence of magnetic field, the arc moves very fast and is directed towards the arc

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chute strack. increase in the number of arc-chute plates reduces the plates voltage and
quickly extinguishes the arc. As the arc quickly cools and gets extinguished, it
ensures longer life of MCB.

For ensuring longer life of contacts, eliminating possibility of arc erosion, a

nonmelting material silver-graphite is used for ensuring its effective and efficient
operation.

The material used for body of MCB must be having high melting point, minimum
water absorption and flame resistant. It should have high dielectric strength and low
coefficient of linear thermal expansation.so high strength plastic is usedas housing
material.

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All moving parts within MCB are placed in a sheet metal casing instead of plaS t ic
casing which changes its shape under ther~1al stress and continuous load . Plastic
casing cannot withstand several operations of the MCB.
Generally the MCBs are rated for ac voltage of 240 V for single-phase, 415 V for
three-phase or 220 V de. the current rating available is from 0.5 A to 63 A. it is
available as 1 pole, 2 pole, 3 pole or 4 pole pole with short circuit breaking capacity l
kA to 10 kA with rated frequency of 50Hz or 60 Hz. The mechanical life of MCB is
up to or more than 1 lakh operating cycles.

EARTH LEAKAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER (ELCB):

There are certain situations wherein persons can get an electric shock from faulty and
short circuited metal bodies of electric iron, cooler, table fan, geyser, mixer:, grinder
\
etc. leakage current flows if the metallic part of the appliance co~es in direct contact
with the naked part of the phase wire that may be due to the insulation failer or
accident. In thecase, if the metallic part of the aliiance comes in touch with an earthed
·object the leakage current passes to the ground. The earth leakage is the main cause of
electric shock. The fuse and MCB connected in the circuit provides protection against
overload and short circuit. These devices cannot sense small magnitudes of currents
which pass through the body of human being and cannot provide any protection
against electric shock.
Under such case, it is required to have a protective device which can sense the
extremely small magnitudes of current s even in mill amperes. if the leakage current
exceeds the present limit, the supply to the circuit should be cut off immediately. The
device which serves this purpose is called earth leakage circuit breaker (E.L.C.B.)
which provides effective protection against earth fault which are relatively frequent.
In an earth fault, current or leakage current flows through earth return path. This
device is also called a residual current circuit breaker (R.C.C.B.).
Normally small children have habit of touching to live wire, or touching to
components of working circuit or playing with the socket outlet. even through
earthing is provided, the child can get a server shock which can be avoided by using
ELCB which typically trips in around 25 m sec. if the leakage exceeds the present
- value.

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Fig. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker <EICB}:

The secondary ,,rincting of current transformer is connected to relay circuit which can
trip the circuit breaker connected in the circuit.

Under normal conditions, the current in the phase and neutral conductor is same. So
the net current (IP-IN) flowing through the primary winding is zero.eventually, there
wiU not be any production of flux in the core and no induced e.m.f. in the secondary
winding. So relay and hence breaker does not operate.

If there is a fault due to leakage from the phase wire to earth or a person by mistake
touching to the live terminal, net current in the primary no longer remain as zero,
butequal to(IP-IN) OR II which will set up flux and e.m.f. in the secondary winding.
As per preset value the unbalance in current is detected by C.T. and relay coil is
energized which will give tripping signal for the circuit breaker.

Thus, ELC1?. provides protection against electric shock when a person comes in
contact with live parts of the circuit, resulting in flow of current from body to earth.

A test button is included in the ELCB for testiD.g its trip mechanism . This test should
be carried out periodically to ensure its satisfactory working. The ELCB can be reset
manually after its operation. But it cannot be reset manually after its operation. But it
cannot be reset, as long as the leakage persists.

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The ELCB is provided near the mam switchboard to protect the whole of the
residential installation from leakage in any circuit or appliance by switching off the
supply.

In case of 3-phase circuits, single ring shaped core of magnetic material encircles the
conductors of all the three phases. A secondary is connected to the relay. Under
normal condition, the components of fluxes due to fields of three conductors are
balanced and secondary carries no current or very small current.

During faulty condition the balance is disturbed and e.m.f. is induced in the secondary
winding of the CT. It operates the relay and hence trip mechanism to disconnect the
circuit from supply.

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CON CLUSION :

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