Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

Student name : Jovan Mohamad

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB):
 

is a safety device used in electrical installations with high earth

impedance to prevent shock. It detects small stray voltages on the
metal enclosures of electrical equipment, and interrupts the circuit if
a dangerous voltage is detected. Once widely used, more recent
installations instead use residual current circuit breakers which
instead detect leakage current directly.

There are two type

1- Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (vELCB)
vELCB is a voltage operated circuit breaker, the device will function when the
current passes through the ELCB. vELCB contains relay loop which it being
connected to the metallic load body at one end and it is connected to ground wire
at the other end. If the voltage of the load body is rise which could cause the
difference between earth and load body voltage, the danger of electric shock will
occur. This voltage difference will produce an electric current from the load
metallic body passes the relay loop and to earth. When voltage on the load
metallic body raised to the danger level which exceed to 50Volt, the flowing
current through relay loop could move the relay contact by disconnecting the
supply current to avoid from any danger electric shock.

2-Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (iELCB)

iELCB is current operated circuit breaker. Current-operated ELCBs are generally
known today as RCD (residual current device). These also protect against earth
leakage, through the details and method of operation are different. The device will
function with when the Current passes through ELCB. This current admitted to
current transform device and on the load. Current from the load also admitted
again to transform device. In normal state, total current applied to load is equal
with total current out of the load. Because of the balance of in and out of current,
it does not affect the current transform device. If there is any earth current leakage
caused by earth damage, then the in and out current will no longer in balance. This
unbalance current phenomenon will generate the current and if the current
exceeded the prescribed rate, the ELCB will jerked and cut off the supply. The
device also being called RCD, Residual Current Device in IEC or RCCB, Residual
Current Circuit Breaker

A fault is any abnormal situation in an electrical system in which the electrical

current may or may not flow through the intended parts. Equipment failure also
attributable to some defect in the circuit, example is loose connection, insulation
failure or short circuit etc.

The type of faults in a distribution network that is detected

by an ELCB is:
i. Over-Current Fault ii. Short-Circuit Fault iii. Lightning Fault

Single phase Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

Single-pole circuit breakers supply 120-volt power to circuits, while double-

pole circuit breakers supply 240-volts to circuits. Single-pole breakers come in
a wide range of amperage ratings, with 15-, 20-, and 30-amp circuit breakers
being the most commonly used in most household installations.
These circuit breakers come in different shapes and sizes, depending upon
the manufacturer of the circuit breaker box. Single-pole breakers supply and
protect 120-volt branch circuits from the service panel. They have a handle to
manually turn the circuit breaker both on and off. This handle has a specific
amperage labeled on it that is the maximum amperage allowed to pass
through the circuit breaker before it trips.
Single-pole circuit breaker is designed to trip if the amperage rating labeled on
the handle is exceeded. This occurs when the circuit is either overloaded or
a short circuit occurs somewhere within the branch circuit that it is connected
to. An overload occurs when too many things or to great a load is connected
to any one circuit. A short circuit occurs when the hot wire is forced to connect
to either the neutral or ground wire within a circuit. It could be a motor winding
shortingtwo wires together or as simple as a hot wire falling off of a
terminal within an outlet boxand hitting the ground wire.

Three phase Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

Specification :
1-Rated voltage three phase rated voltage (380V – 415 V)
2- Number of pole of three phase equal 3 pole .
3-Rated current of three phase is equal (40-60) A
4-Leakage action time (s) equal < 0.1 second
5-Leakage action current in three phase equal 100 mA
6-Leakage dead current in three phase 50 mA
Difference between single phase and three phase
earth leakage circuit breaker
- Cost : single phase is cheaper than three phase earth leakage
circuit breaker
- The size single phase is smaller than three phase earth
leakage circuit breaker
- Rated voltage of single phase 220V but three phase rated
voltage 380V
- Number of pole of single phase 1 pole but the number of pole
of three phase 3 pole
- Rated current of single phase equal ( (1-10) ,(15-32) ) A and in
three phase the rated current is equal (40-60) A
- Leakage action current single phase (mA) equal 30 mA but in
three phase 100 mA
- Leakage dead current single phase (mA) equal 15 mA but in
three phase 50 mA