i) MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)
* MCB provides short circuit protection.
* MCB provides overload protection
* ELCB provides earth fault protection.
* MCB is in series with load and ELCB is across the supply.
The standard specifications of MCB available in the market:
1. Single pole
2. Two pole
3. Three pole
4. Four pole
5. For available current rating : 0.5A, 1A, 1.6A,2A,5A, 6A, 10A,16A,20A, 25A, 30A, 32A, 40A, 50A, 60A and 63A 250V and 450 v
ii) ELCB- (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)
An Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) is a device used to directly detect currents leaking to earth from an installation and cut the power and avoid the person from getting shock.
There are two types of ELCBs:
1. Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (voltage-ELCB)
2. Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (Current-ELCB).
OR
Earth leakage circuit breaker is a safety device used in electrical installations with high earth impedance to prevent shocks and disconnect power under earth fault conditions. Works on principle of relaying when the current in the earth path exceeds a set value. ELCB is used for protection against electric leakage in the circuit of 50 Hz or 60 Hz , rated voltage single phase 230 V, 3 ph. 400 v. Rated current up to 60 Amp. When the earth fault occurs, the ELCB cuts off the power within 0.1 sec. automatically to protect the personnel.
The standard specifications of ELCB available in the market:
1. There are three categories as per the sensitivity :’ B’ class ELCB for residential, ‘C’ Class ELCB for commercial and ‘D’ class ELCB for industrial.
2. The ELCB are available in 100 mA, 300 mA, 500 mA and 1000 mA
3. The low sensitivity ELCB are used for electrical machine the rating is in between the 3A to 10 A