Aim: To study MCB, MCCB and RCCB.

Theory: A) MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker):

1) Actuator Lever: It is used to manually trip and reset the circuit breaker. It ia
also indicates the status of the CB (on or off/tripped). Most breakers are
designed so they can still trip even if the lever is held or locked in the ON
position. This is sometimes referred to as free trip: or position trip
operation.
2) Actuator Mechanism: It forces the contacts together in normal condition or
apart the contacts in fault condition. The mechanism is made up of insulating
material. In MCB, it is made up of alloy of plastics.
3) Contacts: Allow current when touching and break the current when moved
apart.
4) Terminals: For connection of input & output.
5) Bimetallic Strip: It consists of material which has two different coefficient of
temperature. Both the metals are in closed condition at normal current. When
fault occurs, then expansion of material takes place whose temperature
coefficient is less as compared to other.
6) Calibration Skew: Allow the manufacture to precisely adjust the trip c/n of the
device after assembly.
7) Solenoid coil: It is used to hold the moving contact by creating its magnetic
field same as magnet.
8) Arc divider/ extinguisher: The function of arc splitter is to divide the arc in
number of parallel paths to extinguish it.

B) MCCB ( Moulded case circuit breaker ):

1) The tripping mechanism terminals contacts are assembled in moulded case

or frame, They ensure high mechanical strength, high dielectric strength and
virtually no ageing.
2) The current carrying part are made up of electrolytic Copper & Silver alloy
depending upon the rating of circuit breaker.
3) The arc chute has special construction which makes the different parallel
path of arc.
4) The operating mechanism is required to break the circuit according to
requirement.

C) RCCB (Residual current circuit breaker):

The photograph depicts the internal mechanism of a residual current

device ( RCD ). The device pictured is designed to be wired in line in an
appliance power cord. It is rated to carry a maximum current of 13 ampere
and is designed to trip on a leakage current of 30 mA. This is an active RCD,
that is, it doesnt latch mechanically and therefore trips out on power failure,
a useful feature for equipment and could be dangerous on unexpected
renergisation.
 The incoming supply and the neutral conductors are connected to the
terminals at 1 and the outgoing load conductors are conductors are
connected to the terminals at 2. The earth conductor is connected through
form supply to load uninterrupted.
When the reset button is pressed, the contacts and hidden behind
close allowing current to pass. The solenoid keeps the contacts closed when
the reset button is released.
The sense coil is a differential current transformer which surrounds
the line and neutral conductors. In normal operation, all the current down the
line conductor returns up the neutral conductor returns up the neutral
conductor. The current in the two conductors are therefore equal & opposite
and cancel each other out.
Any fault to earth causes some of the current to take a different
return path which means there is an imbalance in the current in the two
conductors or more. Generally a non zero sum of currents among various
conductors.
This difference causes a current in the sense coil which is picked
up by the sense circuitry. The sense circuitry then removes power from the
solenoid and the contacts are forced apart by a spring, cutting off the
electricity supply to the appliance.
The test button allows the correct operation of device to be
verified by a passing a small current through the arrange test wire. This
simulates a fault by creating an imbalance in the sense coil. If the RCD does
not trip when this button is pressed, then the device must be replaced.

Conclusion: Thus, we have studied the construction & operating principle

of MCCB, MCB & RCCB.