Control Electrical Wiring Installation How To Protection

Wiring of the Distribution Board with RCD

(Residual Current Devices) – Single Phase
Home Supply
Electrical Technology  33  4 minutes read

Electrical Wiring Installation of the Distribution Board with RCD

(Single Phase Home Supply from Utility Pole & Energy Meter to
the Consumer Unit)

Table of Contents 
1. What is Distribution Board?
2. Types of Distribution Boards
2.1. MDB = Main Distribution Board
2.2. SDB = Sub Distribution Board
2.3. FDB = Final Distribution Board
3. Wiring Accessories for Single Phase Distribution Board
4. How to Wire RCD (Residual Current Device) ?
4.1. Double Pole MCB (DP) = The Isolator or Main Switch)
4.2. RCD (DP) = Residual Current Devices for Safety
4.3. CB (SP) = Single Pole Circuit Breakers

What is Distribution Board?

Distribution board is a safe system designed for house or building that
included protective devices, isolator switches, circuit breaker and fuses to
connect safely the cables and wires to the sub circuits and final sub
circuits including their associated Live (Phase) Neutral and Earth
conductors. Distribution board is also known as “Fuse Board“, “Panel
Board” or “Consumer Unit“. following are the types of Distribution boards.

Related Wiring Tutorial: Wiring of the Distribution Board (Single Phase

Supply From Utility Pole & Energy Meter to the Consumer Unit)

Types of Distribution Boards

Main Distribution Board (MDB)
Sub Distribution Board (SDB)
Final Distribution Board (FDB)

MDB = Main Distribution Board

A distribution board unit installed in the buildings which firstly receive the
incoming single phase electric supply (AC low voltage (LV) (230V AC or
120V AC in US) from transformer secondary through electric pole and
energy meter or the distribution company’s electric service provider outlets
is known as Main Distribution Board.

Main Distribution Board (MDB) is also known as Fuse board or consumer

unit where the main protective and isolation devices are installed to
provide electricity in a safe range to the connected electrical appliances.

Related Wiring Tutorials:

Different Types of Wiring Systems and Methods of Electrical Wiring

How To Wire Switches in Parallel?

SDB = Sub Distribution Board

The Distribution Board which is used to distribute electrical wiring and
circuits within a selected area in a building or house, i.e. floor in a multi
storey building. The Sub distribution board is connected and supplied from
the Main Distribution Board through different wires and cables rated
according to the load requirement.

FDB = Final Distribution Board

The Distribution Board which provide electric supply to the Final and Sub
Final Circuits is known as Final Distribution Board. FDB (Final Distribution
Board) directly connected through SDB (Sub Distribution Board) and the
final switches are used to control the connected electrical devices and
appliances such as light, air-conditioner, fan etc.

Related Post: How to Connect and Install a Portable Generator to the

Home Supply System (3 Methods)

Wiring Accessories for Single Phase Distribution Board

Main Distribution Board or Fuse Boards (Consumer Unit) usually contains
on the following three main units to control and distribute electric supply to
the different connected appliances and devices through electrical wiring
cables and wires.

DP = Double Pole MCB  (The main isolator or main switch).

RCD (Also DP) Residual Current Devices for safety.
SP = Single Pole MCB (Circuit Breakers and Fuses).
MCB & CB = Miniature Circuit Breaker and Circuit Breaker.
The above mentioned electrical wiring accessories and protective devices
are used to control and distribute electric supply (safely to connected
electrical appliances) around your home. The following diagram is showing
single phase home electric supply and wiring of distribution board with
RCD.

Related Electrical Wiring Guide: How To Wire a 3-Phase kWh Energy meter?

How to Wire RCD (Residual Current Device) ?

In this Single Phase home supply wiring diagram, the main supply (Single
Phase Live (Red Wire) and Neutral (Black Wire) comes from the secondary
of the transformer (3 Phase 4 Wire (Star) System) to the single phase
energy meter (Note that Single Phase supply is 230V AC and 120V AC in
US). These two lines (Line and Neutral) from energy meter are connected
to the Double Pole MCB isolator switch. They Live Wire is connected to the
RCD and then to the common busbar segment of Single Pole MCBs. The
outgoing lines from MCBS (SP) are connected to the final circuits and sub
final circuit and electrical devices like fan, lights, switches etc.

The Neutral are connected through Energy meter, MCB (DP), RCD and then
to the Neutral Link. All the sub circuits, sub circuits can be connected to the
Neutral Link. Keep in mind all the electrical devices and appliances should
be connected to the Earth Link for safety which is directly connected to the
earth electrode and earth plate for proper earthing and grounding.

In the following single phase electrical wiring for home supply, We used
63A MCB (DP), 63A RCD (DP) and different rating if MCBs (SP) such as
20A, 16A, 10A etc according to your need.

Details of each sections are given below the fig.

Click Image to enlarge

 Fig 1: How to wire RCD (Residual Current Device)?

 Wiring Color Code:

We have used Red for Live or Phase , Black for Neutral and
Green for Earth Wire. You may use the specific area codes i.e.
IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (UK, EU etc)
or NEC (National Electrical Code [US & Canada] where;

NEC:

Single Phase 120V AC:

Black = Phase or Line, White = Neutral and Green/Yellow =

Earth Conductor

Three Phase 208 AC:

Black = Phase 1 or Line1, Red= Line 2, Blue= Line 3, White /

Gray = Neutral and Green/Yellow = Earth Conductor

IEC:

Single Phase 230V AC:

Brown= Phase or Line, Blue= Neutral and Green = Earth

Conductor
 Three Phase 208 AC:

Grey= Phase 1 or Line1, Black= Line 2, Brown= Line 3, Blue =

Neutral and Green= Earth Conductor

Below is the given wiring diagram of Single Phase Distribution Board with
RCD in both NEC and IEC electrical wiring color codes. The same
description and detailes can be used as mentioned for the above fig 1.

Fig 2: Wiring Diagram of Single Phase Distribution Board with RCD  in NEC (US)
& IEC (UK & EU) electrical wiring color codes

Double Pole MCB (DP) = The Isolator or Main Switch)

This is the main operating switch which is used to control the electric
power supply in the building(s). The main switch can be used to
immediately turn ON or OFF the main electric supply to the connected
appliances in case of emergency like short circuits, electric shock, fire, or
while working on the main board, sub circuit or final sub circuits to
troubleshoot and for maintenance purposes. Multiple or separate mains
switch board or fuse board may be used if more supply unites are installed
in the system i.e. storage heater etc.

RCD (DP) = Residual Current Devices for Safety

A (RCD) Residual-Current Device, or (RCCB) Residual-Current Circuit
Breaker, is an electrical wiring device or switch that disconnects or trip a
circuit whenever it detects that the electric current is not balanced between
the energized conductor (L) and the return neutral conductor (N). And then
instantly disconnect the electricity flow in the connected circuits by
operating in the safe mode automatically to avoid electric hazards.

Related Wiring Tutorial: Staircase Wiring Circuit Diagram – How to

Control a Lamp from 2 Places by 2-Way Switches?

CB (SP) = Single Pole Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breaker is a device like a fuse which makes and breaks the circuit.
In other words, Circuit Breaker is a device which switch ON and OFF
electric supply at normal and abnormal condition respectively. These are
automatic protection devices in the Main Switch Board or Fuse-Box that
switch off a circuit if they detect a fault. Circuit Breaker may be Single Pole
(SP), DP-Double Pole (DP) and Triple Pole (TP). The size of the fuse and
Circuit Breaker are similar to use, but Circuit Breaker is more safe to use as
compared to fuses due to automatic operation as you can reset it again if it
trips ever.

Fig 1: Electrical Wiring Diagram of a 230V Single Phase, 63A Distribution Board
(Consumer Unit) with RCD for AC Units, Lighting & 13A Radial Circuits

You may also check the related Electrical Wiring Installation Tutorials given
below.
 How to Wire a GFCI Circuit Breaker? 1, 2, 3 & 4 Poles GFCIs Wiring
How to Wire GFCI Combo Switch and Outlet – GFCI Switch/Outlet
Wiring Diagrams
How to wire a GFCI Outlet? – GFCI Wiring Circuit Diagrams
Single-Phase Electrical Wiring installation in a Multi-Story Building 
Three-Phase Electrical Wiring installation in a Multi-Story Building 
Three Phase Electrical Wiring Installation in Home
Basic Homr Electrical Wiring Installation Diagrams & Tutorials

 Tags Circuit Breaker Distribution Board Electrical Wiring Energy Meter Home Supply

Main Switch MCB MCCB Miniature Circuit Breaker RCD Star Connection Utility Pole

33 Comments
Anonymous
hdmfhdf-[kj<br />t

Reply

Jims
It is hard to understand electrical distribution if you dont have background.

Reply

Paul Duncan
Does it matter Witch side you put the live and neutral on the underside of the incoming rcd
I’ve seen it on the right hand side is that ok

Reply

Micheal Bakare
It doesn’t matter if you don’t cross matched them but most RD will indicate N and L input.

Reply

Harold Michelo
anyway my man ,i think the diagram z well designed to understand

Reply

Muddasir Rathore
it good..

Reply
Ghaniyu Mwinibalonno Mustapha
assuming at 1000W/m2, a solar module power output is 100W at 25C and the average total
radiation per day G= 4600Wh/m2. compute the number of modules required for this installation

Reply

Fikyu Nasamu
it good to know the connection from the main DB to the final distribution board.

Reply

Anonymous
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johannesburg.com/east-rand/">the best in East Rand</a>, and I trust them for all sorts of
electrical repairs.

Reply

Anonymous
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Reply

Helal ameen
why not copy

Reply
High Voltage Commissioning
The information in your article is incredible. Very good article. It is very well written. I am looking
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Reply

Electrical Technology
You can connect the sub-circuit or final sub circuit to the out put of SP (Single Pole) Circuit
breaker.. in other words, click on image and check the SP&#39;s breakers outputs (1-8)… you can
see the mentioned title as &quot;Live Wires or Phase Supply to the Sub Circuits or Final Sub
circuits&quot;.

Reply

MD.Rubal Islam
Can anybody advise me The wiring diagram of USB socket for house wiring.

Reply

arslan
can you please tell me in this wiring diagram, should we connect earth bus bar with neutral bus
bar? i have seen this connection often. is this configuration is correct?

Reply

Gupta RK
No

Reply
zamakandlovu
Hi there
Am looking for wiring diagram for single phase without RCD CONNECTION FROM ENERGY
METRE PLS PROVIDE ONE FOR ME
THANK YOU

Reply

Electrical Technology
Dear… Link is already given in the above post… Thanks

Reply

Jey De Asis
http://s304.photobucket.com/user/jrda328/media/Join_zpsmufavywv.jpg.html
Hi, I need to check with you guys if the edited image on the attached pic is possible to do.
This is for the purpose of optimizing my home plug speed, since the Router is connected on a
different circuit (Living Room) from my Bedroom circuit.

Reply

Electrical Technology
Yes you can… But why did you short the output of the CB? Why do you not want to use 20A
CB instead?

Reply

avijit singh
I would like to installed a RCCB at the main consumer line distribution box where the other lines
outs. so which is better it installed RCCB or RCBO.

Reply
Ayman
perfect and clear design, I want to draw my own, would be soo nice of you to advise me about the
tools you used to draw this wiring, it is very easy to understand.
thanks

Reply

P. S.
`13860 watts of power consumption ? Isn’t it too much of power consumption ?
As it is single phase so I assume minimum 220 volts supply.
Main MCB is of 63AMP ! So total power consumption limit is 13860!
Isn’t is too high ?
Very confused am, because I think total consumption load in India on a single phase connection
allowed is 7500 watt max. So the main MCB should be a 30AMP one.
Please enlighten me.

Reply

Brian Walters
IT IS BETTER TO CONSIDER WATTS AS AMPS,
so 13860watts = 13860/220volts=63 amps.
Also 7500Watts/220=34.09Amps. So the main MCB should be double that figure.

Reply

Panford Prince
perfect, Brian Walters ,I am very proud of you.i will make you a friend if you accept.

Reply

Charlys
Very good explanation

Reply
Dorji
How to calculate the rating of mcb,red and numbers of such devices in a building.
Also explain with the diagram how to control different loads my each mcb.

Reply

JOHN MULINDI
Good description and easy to follow. This is a good post for students.

Reply

ZafarImam
Participants are often seen writing views with somewhat contradicting experience on electrical
practices.
It may be a best advice if a reliable tutorial on each confusion is offered by the head of this forum.
Thanks.

Reply

Chekus
Pls sir. I want to know the number of solar panel and battery volts, also the voltage of inverter to
use on a duplex that has about 4000 watts bulb, 9 television and 2 refrigerator. Please help me
with the calculations.

Reply

Electrical Technology
Hi there,

Here is the complete guide about solar panel installation with step by step calculation.
Thanks

Reply

olarenwaju Jamiu electrical engineering

electrical technology is a work but how to 3 phase ln the house

Reply
Katlego
Which one between Main switch and Earth leakage do we connect supply from energy meter

Reply