Switchgear and Protection

Practical No.

a. Aim :
To understand construction, working principle, types and applications of Miniature Circuit
Breaker (MCB).

b. Introduction :

 A miniature circuit breaker (MCB) is an Electrical Switch that automatically switches

off the electrical circuit during an abnormal condition of the network means an
overload condition as well as a faulty condition.

 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.

 Nowadays we use an MCB in a low-voltage electrical network instead of a fuse. The

fuse may not sense the fault but the miniature circuit breaker does it in a more reliable
way. MCB is much more sensitive to overcurrent than a fuse.

 Handling an MCB is electrically safer than a fuse. Quick restoration of supply is

possible in case of a fuse because fuses must be re-wirable or replaced for restoring
the supply. Restoration is easily possible by just switching it ON.
c. Construction :

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

 The switching system consists of a fixed and a moving contact to which incoming and
outgoing wires are connected. The metal or current-carrying parts are made of
electrolytic copper or silver alloy, depending on the rating of the circuit breaker.
 The contact plates are held in position by an insulating material. Additionally, an arc
runner is provided to guide the arc produced between the main contacts.
 The operating mechanism incorporates both magnetic tripping and thermal tripping
arrangements.
 The thermal tripping arrangement consists of a bimetallic strip around which a heater
coil is wound to generate heat depending on the flow of current.

The main components are discussed as follows -

  External Casing –
External Casing holds all the internal components firm and protects them from dust. It
is made of insulating materials such as plastic or ceramics.

 Contacts -
An MCB consists of a pair of contact per phase. One of them is a fixed contact and the
other is movable. The movable contact is attached to the external knob. It enables the
opening and closing of the breaker.

 Knob -
External knobs are present to manually turn ON and OFF the device.

 Mechanical Latch -
A latch arrangement is made inside MCBs to hold the contacts under spring tension at
the ON position.

 Bimetallic strip -
The bimetallic strip offers delayed overload protection by sensing the prolonged flow
of current greater than it’s rated current.

 Solenoid -
Solenoid offers instantaneous protection against short circuits by releasing the
mechanical latch. Solenoid gets activated when the current through the coil exceeds a
particular value, normally more than 3 times its rated current. This solenoid is not
activated by overloads.

 Arc Chutes -
Arc chutes are used for splitting and quenching arcs. This enables arc extinction during
short circuits and on-load opening of the breaker.

d. Working Principle :
The typical working real-time MCB is shown in the picture below –
  If the circuit is overloaded for a long time, the bi-metallic strip becomes overheated and
deformed. This deformation of the Bi-metallic strip causes displacement of the latch
point.

 The moving contact of the MCB is arranged by means of spring pressure, with this latch
point, a little displacement of the latch causes, the release of spring and makes the
moving contact move for opening the MCB.

 The current coil or trip coil is placed so that during a short circuit fault the magneto-
motive force (mmf) of the coil causes its plunger to hit the same latch point and make
the latch to be displaced.

 Again, when the operating lever of the miniature circuit breaker is operated by hand,
that means when MCB goes off position manually, the same latch point is displaced as
a result of moving contact separated from fixed contact in the same manner.

 It may be due to the deformation of a bi-metallic strip, increased mmf of a trip coil, or
maybe a manual operation, the same latch point is displaced and the same deformed
spring is released, which is ultimately responsible for the movement of the moving
contact. When the moving contact is separated from fixed contact, there may be a high
chance of arc.

 This arc then goes up through the arc runner and enters arc splitters and is finally
quenched. When we switch it on, we reset the displaced operating latch to its previous
on position and the MCB is ready for another switch off or trip operation.

e. Types of MCB :
There are many types of circuit breakers while MCBs are classified into the following major
types according to their instantaneous tripping currents.
They are as follows –
1. Type A MCB
2. Type B MCB
3. Type C MCB
4. Type D MCB
5. Type G MCB
6. Type H MCB
7. Type K MCB
8. Type Z MCB

Each is designed to be responsive to the likely strength of electrical surges in different settings.
These variations are typically known as their ‘trip curve’ but can also be known as their tripping
characteristics or overcurrent characteristics.
  Type A –
With a tripping current range of 2-3 times their rated current, Type A MCBs respond
to overcurrent conditions at a relatively low threshold. This sensitivity is particularly
advantageous in applications where electronic devices and sensitive equipment are
prevalent

 Type B –
This type of MCB trips between 3 and 5-times full load current. Type B devices are
mainly used in residential applications or light commercial applications where
connected loads are primarily lighting fixtures, domestic appliances with mainly
resistive elements.

 Type C –
This type of MCB trips between 5 and 10-times full load current. This is used in
commercial or industrial type of applications where there could be chances of higher
values of short circuit currents in the circuit.

 Type D –
This type of MCB trips between 10 and 20-times full load current. These MCBs are
used in specialty industrial/commercial uses where current inrush can be very high.
Examples include transformers or X-ray machines, large winding motors etc.

 Type G –
Type “G” MCBs are capable of providing protection against both overcurrent and earth
fault current, similar to AFCIs and RCDs. They are typically required in specific areas
of residential and commercial buildings to enhance electrical safety.

 Type H –
Type “H” MCBs are similar to Type G MCBs, designed to provide protection against
both arc faults and over currents, especially in electrical systems powered by direct
current (DC) supply.

 Type K –
This type of MCB trips between 8 and 12-times full load current. These are Suitable for
inductive and motor loads with high inrush currents. The K and D curve breakers are
both designed for motor applications where ampacity rises quickly and momentarily
during “start-up.

 Type Z –
This type of MCB trips between 2 to 3 times full load current. These type of MCBs are
highly sensitive to short circuit and are used for the protection of highly sensitive
devices such as semiconductor devices.

MCBs can also be classified based on the number of poles such as single pole, double pole,
triple pole and four pole MCBs.
f. Maintenance of MCB :
Maintenance of a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) is generally limited to three basic actions:
 Proper Mechanical Mounting:
Ensuring the MCB is securely and correctly installed in the circuit board.
 Electrical Connections:
Checking that the electrical connections are secure and not damaged.
 Periodic Manual Operation:
Regularly operating the MCB manually to ensure it functions correctly and to remove
any accumulation of dust or foreign material on moving parts and contacts. Hence,
MCBs are designed to be simple, robust, and maintenance-free. However, if an MCB
fails to operate correctly, it should be replaced.

g. Testing Of MCB :
 Thermal Tripping Verification: This test is performed to verify the MCB's thermal
tripping behaviour. These tests are conducted according to 9.10.2.1 of IEC 60898-1
standard.
 Mechanical Test: This test involves the repeated opening and closing of the breaker.
An MCB must open and close at the correct speed and perform its designated duty and
operation without mechanical failure.
 Dielectric Test: These tests are performed to check power frequency and impulse
voltage withstand capacity.
 Short-Circuit Test: MCBs are subjected to sudden short-circuits in short-circuit test
laboratories, and oscillograms are taken to know the behaviour of the MCBs at the time
of switching in, during contact breaking, and after the arc extinction.

h. Applications of MCB –

 The main function of an MCB is to protect an appliance or device from short-circuit

and overload conditions.
 It is installed in homes, shops, offices, etc.
 It protects the home against the overload of the circuit.
 MCBs replace the usual rewireable fuses.
 It can be utilized by an arc-fault or GND fault mechanism as it includes a system that
simply opens the contacts once a fault from line to GND occurs.
 It is more expensive than fuses.
 MCBs are used as effective protection devices in small scale & large-scale industries
 MCBs play a significant role in effective electricity distribution across all house
lighting systems.
i. Conclusion :

In conclusion, a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) is an automatic switch that operates when
excessive current flows through the circuit. Unlike a fuse, an MCB can be reclosed without any
manual replacement, making it a more efficient and user-friendly option. The selection of an
MCB is determined by factors such as rating, breaking capacity, number of poles, voltage,
tripping curve, standard, frequency, and type of load. MCBs are primarily used as alternatives
to fuse switches in most circuits, serving as reliable means of protection. They are designed to
operate in less than 2.5 milliseconds during short-circuit faults and in the range of 2 seconds to
2 minutes in the case of overloads.

Group 1 / Batch 2:
Ruchika Dethe
Vijayaaditya Salvi
Yashoda Vyawahare
Manaswi Sonawane
Ankita Dound
Shreya Patil

Guide Names:
Prof. Shubham D Kamble
Prof. Prajakta Y Deshbhratar