PRODECTIVE DEVICES:

1. Electric Fuse Unit

2. Miniature circuit breaker (MCB)
3. Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
4. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)
1.Electric Fuse Unit
• From the main supply, the current is passed through the circuit called a fuse.
• An electric fuse is used as a safety device that protects electric circuits and appliances due to
fluctuation, short-circuiting or overloading of the electric circuits.
• Fuse offers high resistance to voltage and has a low melting point.
• The fuse helps in breaking the circuit when overload current, high voltage or fluctuating current
passes through the circuit. When heated, it melts and breaks the connection with the circuit,
helping in preventing burning of other components/circuits.
• Hence, fuse is an integral part of domestic wiring as a safety device.

Electric Meter
• Fuse is connected to an electric meter, an electric meter is also known as an energy meter.
• The earth wire from the meter is connected to ground (earthend) near the house. This meter
records the electricity consumed by the house in kilowatt hour (kwh). The wires from the
electric meter pass to the distribution box and are distributed to various devices when connected
to the switch.
• Electric circuits used for household purposes are of two types:
✓ 15 Amperes current rating circuit and
✓ 5 Amperes current rating circuit.
• 5 Amperes current rating circuits are used for lower power consumption sources that have lower
power ratings. It includes television, fans, lights like LED and bulbs.
• 15 Amperes current rating circuits are used for higher power consumption sources that have a
high power rating. It includes an air conditioner, geysers and iron box.
• Various factors like overloading and short-circuiting that affect the flow of electricity and
interrupt the normal functioning of the devices.
Overloading and Short-Circuiting
• The main reason for using the electric fuse is to prevent overloading and short-circuiting. When
these occur, mishaps like circuit burning, fire and shock which can lead to severe hazard can
take place.
• When a number of electrical appliances are used at the same time, it draws a huge amount of
current at the same time. This causes overloading. Even when a number of electrical appliances
are connected to the same electrical socket, overloading takes place.
• Since we can see a parallel type of connection in residential buildings, when the total current
drawn by all the appliances at the single time exceeds the bearing capacity of the wire, it heats
the wire and leads to overloading.
• Short-circuit happens when the neutral wire comes in contact with the live wire. It happens
when wires of low resistance are used or when the insulation of the wire is damaged and one
wire gets in contact with another.
Earthing
• We might experience a mild shock when we come in contact with devices that have damaged
insulation or when touched with wet hands or when the body comes in contact with the metallic
part of the device.
• When the leakage of current takes place, current flows through the body of the person in
contact. To avoid this type of situation, as a part of safety and precaution, earthing is done.
• Earthing is the process of protecting against unwarranted spikes and bouts of electricity that
can cause damage to life and property.
Precautions
• We have to make sure we follow some precautions while handling electrical equipment.
• Ensure a good earthing is done in the house.
• A good quality of fuse shall be incorporated into the electrical circuit.
• High resistance, insulated wires should be used in the electrical wiring of the house.
• Sockets and switches also should be of specified industrial standards.
• Do not touch electrical equipment with wet hands.
• When any electrical hazards happen, make sure to turn off the main supply immediately.

2. Miniature circuit breaker (MCB)

• Safety is the first concern when choosing electrical appliances or devices. When the power
fluctuates or excess current flows, it causes damage resulting in an overload or short circuit.
Hence, it is essential to incorporate a device as a safety element to provide overcurrent
protection to the electrical devices/circuits.
• Fuse is one of the most common devices used in the early days to protect the circuit. A fuse
contains a metal wire or strip that melts when an overflow of current occurs by stopping or
interrupting the current.
• In recent days the fuse has been replaced by a much more efficient and small electronic device
known as MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker.
• Miniature Circuit Breaker is a safety accessory with an electro-mechanical mechanism of
action.
• MCB is an automatic switch that opens when excessive current flows through the circuit. It can
be reclosed without any manual replacement. In the case of a fuse, once it has been operated,
it must be replaced or rewired, depending on the type of the MCB. Hence, fuse is known as one
of the sacrificial devices. This is the main reason why MCBs are used as an alternative to the
fuse in most of the circuits. Also, whenever there is a fault in the circuit, the switches in the
MCB automatically shut down and the fault of the device can be easily detected.
• Handling MCB is relatively safe, and it quickly restores the supply. MCB – Miniature Circuit
Breaker can be reset quickly and does not demand more maintenance costs. MCB works on a
bi-metal respective principle that protects against overload current and solenoid short circuit
current.
Types of Miniature Circuit Breaker
MCB trip curve decides the type of MCB that must be used for different appliances or devices. There
are 6 types of MCBs, they are:
✓ A Type
✓ B Type
✓ C Type
✓ D Type
 ✓ K Type
✓ Z Type
➢ A Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 2-3 times the actual current rating. A type
MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker is highly sensitive to the short circuit, and hence we can find its
application in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
➢ B Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 3-5 times the current flow and finds its
application in cable protection.
➢ C Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 5-10 times the actual current flow and
finds its application in domestic as well as commercial appliances like transformers, fluorescent
lighting circuits, and IT equipment like personal computers, servers, and printers.
➢ D Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 10-20 times the current flow and offers
high resistance. It finds its application in motors.
➢ K Type MCB can withstand up to 8-12 times the current flow and finds its application in heavy-duty
load devices like compressors, winding motors, and X-ray machines.

Working Principle of MCB

The components of the MCB are listed below:
1. Latch
2. Solenoid
3. Switch
4. Plunger
5. Incoming Terminal
6. Arc Chutes Holder
7. Arc Chutes
8. Dynamic Contact
9. Fixed Contact
10. Din Rail Holder
11. Outgoing Terminal
12. Bi-metallic Strip Carrier
13. Bi-metallic Strip
• When the current overflow occurs through MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker, the bimetallic strip
gets heated and deflects by bending. The deflection of the bi-metallic strip releases a latch.
• The latch causes the MCB to turn off by stopping the current flow in the circuit. This process
helps safeguard the appliances or devices from the hazards of overload or overcurrent.
• To restart the current flow, MCB must be turned ON manually.
• In the case of short circuit conditions, the current rises suddenly in an unpredictable way, leading
to the electromechanical displacement of the plunger associated with a solenoid. The plunger
hits the trip lever, which causes the automatic release of the latch mechanism by opening the
circuit breaker contacts.
• An MCB is a simple, easily operable device and is maintenance-free too. MCB can be easily
replaced. The trip unit is the key part of the MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker on which the unit
operates. The bi-metal present in the MCB circuit protects against overload current, and the
electromagnet in the circuit protects against short-circuit current.
Uses of MCB
• MCB is the key component for the safety and efficient functioning of electric machines and is
used in most electrical appliances that are used for industrial or domestic purposes. In domestic
usage, appliances like lights, heaters, and fans require MCB to constantly check and protect the
connection.
3. Molded Case Circuit Breaker
• A molded case circuit breaker is simply an electrical protection device – a type of circuit breaker
that’s meant to interrupt higher currents than the miniature circuit breaker, with capacities of
up to 1100V for voltage and 2500A or even higher current protection.
• It’s also called an MCCB, which is the abbreviation for molded case circuit breaker. Here’s
why they call it so as well as how it appears in electrical drawings:
• Molded Case Circuit Breaker Meaning -The term “molded case” refers to the plastic casing
that encloses the breaker. The casing serves to protect the breaker by keeping away external
elements as well as offering thermal and mechanical protection.
• More importantly, the molded case breaker housing provides the much-needed insulation for
safety, given that the breaker operates in higher voltage and higher current situations than the
regular MCB.
• Molded Case Circuit Breaker Symbol - In electrical diagrams, a molded case circuit breaker is
represented with a specific symbol for easier identification, just as any other electrical
component.
• Usually, the molded case circuit breaker symbol is a small curved line with two dots and straight
lines on either side of the curve
Parts of Molded Case Circuit Breaker
• In order to understand the MCCB circuit breaker better, it’s crucial that examine its parts and
how they help the device perform its intended functions.
The main MCCB components are listed below:
• Molded Case: This is the outer shell of the MCCB, which encloses all of the other components
and protects them from external damage. The circuit breaker molded case also provides
insulation.
• Load and Line Terminals: MCCB terminals are the primary connection points for attaching
conductors. The upper terminals connect to the load, while the lower terminals connect to the
line side.
• Contacts: The contacts are generally made of a silver alloy. They provide the necessary
connection between the load and line sides of the circuit breaker. They also open and close
when the breaker trips. Operating mechanism: This is composed of various parts. The molded
case circuit breaker operating mechanism is responsible for opening and closing the contacts
when required.
• Trip Unit: The MCCB trip unit is component that senses an overload or a fault in the circuit
and activates the operating mechanism to open the contacts.
• Handle: The MCCB handle is the user’s interface with the breaker. It can be used to manually
open or close the contacts, as well as to reset a tripped circuit breaker when necessary.
• Arc Chute: When the breaker contacts open, an arc is created. The arc chute directs the arc
away from the contacts, reducing arcing and resulting in a safer operation.
Molded Case Circuit Breaker Function
• Molded case circuit breakers are primarily designed to protect electrical systems and equipment
from overloads, short circuits, and other potentially damaging conditions.
• They do this by automatically disconnecting the circuit when it detects an overcurrent or fault
in the system.

Essentially, the protective function of a molded case circuit breaker includes the following:
• To protect the electrical circuit from overloads that may cause damage to it
• To protect the equipment connected to the circuit from damage due to excessive current flows
• To minimize disruption of service during a fault or overload condition such as motor inrush
current
• To provide a means of manually resetting the electrical circuit when it has been disconnected
due to an overcurrent or fault condition
• To disconnect the circuit during an emergency situation, or when a part of the system needs to
be shut down for maintenance or other reasons.
Molded Case Circuit Breaker Working Principle
• The molded case circuit breaker working principle is typically based on a thermal or magnetic
trip mechanism. Most often, it’s a combination of both. This is what gives the commonly called
thermal-magnetic molded case circuit breaker its name.
• Here is how a thermal magnetic MCCB works to protect your electrical system or equipment:
Note that the magnetic part provides protection against short circuit faults, while the thermal
part detects overcurrents. MCCB Thermal Magnetic Trip
• Thermal MCCB tripping provides an intentional delay before the breaker can trip. This
accommodates short-lived faults such as the inrush currents, which would otherwise cause
nuisance trips. It relies on a bimetallic mechanism which, when heated by an overcurrent, bends
to disconnect the circuit.
• The magnetic mechanism is primarily a solenoid and meant to provide an instantaneous (or
almost instantaneous) trip for more serious faults like short circuits. In an overcurrent, the
magnetic force builds quickly, triggering the tripping mechanism and disconnecting the circuit.
MCCB Electronic Trip Unit
• This molded case circuit breaker operating mechanism comprises an electronic module,
semiconductor devices and other parts. The module contains software to electronically measure
the current flowing through the breaker conductors.
• Upon sensing a sudden increase and based on the set values, the module will activate the
tripping mechanism. This allows for excellent adjustability.

Molded case circuit breaker uses

• Molded case circuit breaker uses include various industrial and household applications for
safety and reliability. The most common application is for circuit protection in residential,
commercial, and industrial areas.
• Molded case breakers are used to protect motors from overloads and short circuits in factories
and other settings. They also help protect sensitive electronic equipment from damage due to
voltage spikes or surges.
• Other applications include protecting critical systems, such as medical equipment and
emergency lighting. They provide a higher level of safety than regular MCB or miniature circuit
breaker, ensuring that power is quickly shut down when it’s needed most.
4.Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker Working Principle
• An Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) helps protect people and equipment from
electrical shocks. It detects and stops an electrical current that leaks to earth, meaning the
current diverts from its intended path and flows into the ground.
• ELCBs are found in homes and businesses and are located near the main electrical panel.
To ensure electrical safety, they should be checked regularly to ensure they are working
correctly. Earth leakage can lead to electrical shock and other electrical hazards.
Earth Leakage
• Earth leakage describes an abnormal or unintended state when electrical current leaks from
an electrical appliance or circuit to the earth.
The following are the most common reasons why earth leakage occurs:
• Insulation failure: Insulation failure can occur due to age, temperature, or physical damage
to the insulation.
• Imperfect electrical connections: Loose or poorly connected electrical joints.
• Poor earthing systems: If the earth connection is not of sufficient quality or resistance, it
can cause current to flow to earth.
• Use of faulty equipment: Faulty electrical equipment, such as a damaged appliance, can
cause earth leakage.
• Human error: Improper installation can cause earth leakage.
Earth leakage's potential consequences and dangers include electrical shock, fire, and other hazardous
electrical incidents. Examples of appliances and circuits prone to earth leakage are refrigerators,
washing machines, power tools, and lighting circuits.

ELCB working principle

• There are two types of ELCBs: voltage and current.
• This section focuses on voltage ELCBs. Current ELCBs are also called residual current devices
(RCDs) or residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs).
• Voltage ELCBs are older than current ELCBs and may need to be replaced with the latter
depending on local regulations. Voltage ELCBs require a ground connection to measure earth
leakage, but current ELCBs do not.
• Also, current ELCBs are more sensitive. These facts make voltage ELCBs less safe than current
ELCBs.
Voltage ELCBs

An ELCB working diagram: hot wire (A), neutral wire (B), phase wire (C), load (D), ELCB relay coil
(E), and earth (F).
An ELCB continuously measures the voltage difference between power coming from the source
through the hot wire and power returning to the source through the neutral wire.
Hot wire (A): Current flows from the source, through the hot wire, to the load. On diagrams, this wire
is labeled R.
Neutral wire (B): The neutral wire carries current from the load back to the source. On diagrams, this
wire is labeled B or N.
Phase wire (C): The phase wire carries electricity from the source to the ELCB.
Load (D): The load is a metal component of the device that ELCB connects to, e.g., a circuit panel
door.
Relay Coil (E): One relay coil terminal connects to the load and the other terminal connects to earth.
If the current difference between the hot wire and neutral wire reaches a predetermined value
(commonly 50 mA), the current in the relay creates an electromagnetic field strong enough to trip the
circuit.
Earth (F): Connecting one terminal of the relay coil to earth ensures safety by providing a low-
impedance path for stray electrical currents.
After the relay coil trips the breaker, the breaker may not reset. This is likely due to current still leaking
to the earth. This leakage may come from a piece of equipment connected to the main electrical supply,
or it may be coming from the building’s wiring. If unplugging appliances does not fix the issue, contact
a licensed electrician.
2, 3, and 4-pole ELCBs
• The primary difference between 2-, 3-, and 4-pole ELCBs is how much current can pass
through each in any given moment. 2-pole ELCBs can handle enough current for most
 residential and small commercial buildings. Industrial applications that require more current
use 3- and 4-pole ELCBs.
• Double pole breakers have two incoming hot wire terminals and two outgoing hot wire
terminals, and one neutral wire terminal. A 3-pole breaker has three incoming and outgoing
terminals for three hot wires. A 4-pole breaker does as well, but also provides protection for the
neutral wire. So if there is an excess current coming from the neutral wire, the 4-pole breaker
will trip.
Voltage ELCB limitations
• It’s useful to understand voltage ELCBs because older electrical systems may still be using
them. However, they are typically considered obsolete in comparison to current ELCBs.
Voltage ELCBs do have advantages such as protecting against electric shock, lower sensitivity
that results in fewer unnecessary trips, and lower cost. The list of disadvantages outweighs the
advantages, though.
• Voltage ELCBs cannot detect leakage from the phase wire to other earthed bodies.
• Voltage ELCBs only trip when current flows through the earth conductor.
• A voltage ELCB will not prevent shock if the phase conductor is directly touched.
• It cannot detect low leakage current due to its lower sensitivity.
For extra protection, it may be necessary to replace a voltage ELCT with a current ELCB (also known
as RCD). Consult a professional electrician to determine whether or not this is the case.

Safety Precautions and First Aid

➢ First Aid for Electric Shock Victims
• Don’t touch them!
• Unplug the appliance or turn off the power at the control panel.
• If you can’t turn off the power, use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, dry rope or dry clothing,
to separate the victim from the power source.
• Do not try to move a victim touching a high voltage wire. Call for emergency help.
• Keep the victim lying down. Unconscious victims should be placed on their side to allow drainage
of fluids. Do not move the victim if there is a suspicion of neck or spine injuries unless absolutely
necessary.
• If the victim is not breathing, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim has no pulse, begin
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Then cover the victim with a blanket to maintain body heat,
keep the victim’s head low and get medical attention.

➢ First Aid for Electrical Burn Victims

Electrical burns vary in severity depending upon:
(1) how long the body is in contact with the electric current;
(2) the strength of the current;
(3) the type of current; and
(4) the direction the current takes through the body.
• Often these burns are deep. There may be more than one area burned. One area may be where
the current entered the body and another may be where it left.
• Electrical burn wounds may look minor on the outside, but could be severe on the inside.
• If a person has received an electrical burn, check for shock and follow the steps outlined above.
• If the person is conscious and there are no signs of shock (such as being cold, clammy, pale
and having a rapid pulse), begin treating the burned area.
• Do not apply grease or oil to the burn. Cover the burn with a dry, sterile dressing, but do not
cool the burn. Keep the victim from getting chilled. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.