MCCB, MCB, RCCB – All You Need to Know

Posted by Erric Ravi on February 17th, 2021

The circuit breaker is an absolutely vital device in the modern world and one of the most critical safety devices in your home. Whenever electrical wiring in a building has an excess of current flowing through it, these simple machines cut the power until the problem at hand can be fixed. Without circuit breakers (or similar alternative, fuses), household electricity would be impractical because of the possibility of fires and other damage resulting from simple wiring problems and equipment deficiencies.

Here is a brief understanding of some of the key types of circuit breakers -

MCB

MCBs stands for Miniature Circuit Breakers. It automatically switches OFF an electrical circuit during any unusual condition in the electrical network such as overload & short circuit conditions. However, a fuse may sense these conditions but it has to be replaced. An MCB on the other hand simply needs to be reset. The MCB is an electromechanical device that protects the electric wires & electrical load from over-current in order to avoid any kind of fire or electrical hazards. Using an MCB is significantly safer and it even swiftly restores the supply. When it comes to house applications, MCB is the most favoured choice in the case of overload and short circuit protection. These circuit breakers work on a bi-metal principle that offers protection against overload current & solenoid short circuit current.

MCCB

MCCB is the short form for Molded Case Circuit Breaker. It is another form of electrical protection that is used when the load current surpasses the limit of a miniature circuit breaker. The MCCB renders protection against overload and short circuit faults, also being used for switching the circuits. It can be applied for higher current rating and fault level even in the case of domestic applications. The wide current ratings and high breaking capacity in MCCB make them feasible for industrial applications as well. Common applications include the protection of capacitor bank, generators, and main electric feeder distribution. It offers sufficient protection whenever an application requires discrimination, adjustable overload settings, or even earth fault protection.

RCCB

A Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) is one of the many safety measures that can be used for electrical protection at smart home. It is an indispensable safety measure when it comes to the safety of power distribution to different devices/appliances. It can be explained as a current sensing device, that can automatically evaluate when to disconnect the circuit whenever a fault transpires in the connected circuit or the current caps the rated sensitivity.

With #SchneiderlectricIndia and similar brands in the market, there are an array of options in terms of electrical protection. Safeguarding yourself and your home’s appliances are easily achievable with technology-driven protection solutions available now.