What are RCCBs and their benefits?

Residual Current Circuit Breakers or RCCBs are precautionary devices installed in electrical circuits. These are part of a system of safety measures taken to ensure that electrical circuits remain protected at all points. RCCBs primarily sense and measure leakage currents. When a leakage does occur, the RCCB springs into action and automatically disconnects the circuit. Usually, in an RCCB, there is a small window that displays the On and Off status of the RCB - where green indicates ‘OFF’ and red indicates ‘ON’.

Working Of RCCBs

There is a law called Kirchhoff’s Current Law that offers the basic principle for the working of RCCBs. This law states that the current leaving a circuit needs to be exactly equal to the total current entering the circuit. So, the electric current that flows through the live conductor must be equal to the current flowing out of the neutral conductor. This balance of electrical supply ensures the safe operation of the circuit. In certain cases, there is an imbalance in the supply of the current. This is where RCCBs come in.

RCCBs usually have a sensitivity for leakage current, which is usually less than 30 mA. This threshold is a very strategic one since human beings can handle electrical contact of up to 10 mA, which would lead to a slight tingling. Anything above this number can lead to muscular contracts. Hence, when a leakage does occur, the RCCB identifies this owing to its highly sensitive build and auto-detects the abnormalities in the solenoid and disconnects the circuits within milliseconds. This protects the device and the individual from any electrical shocks.

This RCCB mechanism works with the aid of several components. These are incoming terminals, outgoing terminals, reset button, contact, solenoid, sense coil, sense circuitry, test button, and test wire. All these components work together in unison to ensure the smooth functioning of the RCCB.

Types of RCCB

There are 3 main types of RCCBs usually used. These are:

1. 2 Pole RCCB - In 2 Pole RCCBs, a single-phase supply is present, which contains a neutral wire and a live wire. These two wires are connected at the two ends of the single-phase supply. These types of RCCBs can be easily operated using a rotary switch. In addition, these are equipped with test buttons that can be used to test if the RCCB is working accurately or not.
2. 3 Pole RCCB - The mechanism of a 3 Pole RCCB is very similar to that of a 2 Pole RCCB except for one differentiator - this works on a three-phase supply connection.
   
3. 4 Pole RCCB - The 4 Pole RCCB also has a 3-phase supply connection. This includes one neutral wire and 3 phase wires. These wires are all connected at the ends of the 4 Pole RCCB. The remaining functionality and operational process for 4 Pole RCCBs remain similar to those of 4 Pole RCCBs.

Also Read: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISOLATOR, RCCB, & MCB

Benefits of RCCBs

Let’s dive deeper into some of the many advantages offered by RCCBs.

• RCCBs offers efficient protection against leakage current and earth leakage faults.
  
• RCCBs have advanced mechanisms that automatically turn off the power supply to the circuit when it detects a high sensitivity.
  
• RCCBs are perfect for use in cable and busbar connections since it offers the option of dual termination.
  
• These are also inbuilt with a filtering device that detects and acts against voltage fluctuations.

RCCBs by Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric offers a wide range of electrical circuit protection devices, and this also includes RCCBs. These devices developed by Schneider Electric come with a wide range of protective measures that safeguard devices and equipment. The RCCBs offered by Schneider Electric have standard sensitivity thresholds and offer additional protection against direct contact, fire breakouts, and indirect contact. These also come equipped with a 3-phase rectifier that protects the installations at all points. One of the other core features of RCCBs developed by Schneider Electric is its ability to trip closest to the site of the fault - making it easy to identify faulty areas and undertake immediate repair.

In addition, the team at Schneider Electric has ensured that compliance standards for regular use and industrial use are met for all their RCCBs. These are all the measures the brand consciously takes to ensure that only safe and high-quality RCCBs are installed by individuals and businesses. Since the RCCB is what will invariably protect you and your property in case of current anomalies. So, investing in a robust and dependable RCCB is essential and it is just these types of RCCBs that you can find at Schneider Electric.