1- Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB):

ELCB is an electromechanical safety device which is used for protection against leakage voltage. It is very important device for human safety from electrical shock. It is works on voltage basis.

It is very important for protection against earth fault because the earth fault may be cause for system heating, short circut , burning or shock. After sensing earth fault or shock then it will tripped and circuit will be open. So many reason is available for using ELCB.

2- Circuit diagram of ELCB:

3- Working principle of ELCB:

It works on voltage basis. It detects leakage voltage on earth. Earth connection is compulsory for detecting leakage voltage. When live wire is damaged and touched with metal body and earth received current in ELCB. Outgoing earth and incoming is monitored by ELCB. When It detects the difference if the difference is more than preset value then circuit will be interrupted and resultant equipment will be safe.

4- Types of ELCB:

1. According to Phase:
   • Single Phase ELCB
   • Three Phase ELCB
2. According to Pole:
   • Double Pole ELCB
   • Four pole ELCB
3. According to current ratings:
   • 16A, 25A, 32A, 40A, 63A
4. According to leakage current:
   • 30ma, 100ma, 300ma

5- Which is better ELCB or RCCB?:

For Electrical utilization now a days different types electrical equipments are used in domestic and industries. During operating of these equipment the power supply may be leakage and human can be contect with this so its sitiuation may be dangers for any human and equipment can be damage. Equipment live wire may be connect with metal body then the current will be pass on body. If any human touches equipment then he will get shock. So this condition is very dangers to the human. Other reason is due to leakage current, system may be heat or fire case in system.
So ELCB and RCCB is used for equipment and human safety.

ELCB:

It works on voltage basis. It detects leakage voltage on earth. Earth connection is compulsory for detecting leakage voltage. When live wire is damaged and touched with metal body and earth received current in ELCB. Outgoing earth and incoming is monitored by ELCB. When It detects the difference if the difference is more than preset value then circuit will be interrupted and resultant equipment will be safe.

RCCB:

It works on current basis. It detects leakage current. Phase outgoing current and neutral incoming current should be equal during without fault. When any phase touches with body then phase current will not be receive on neutral end point resultant phase flowing current and receiving current on neutral will not be equal. In that situation the RCCB will monitor preset value of leakage current like as 30 mA,100mA,300mA if the leakage current is more than preset value then it will interrupted the live circuit. In this way the equipment and human will be safe.

Observation:

RCCB works on current leakage basis so we have not required earthing and ELCB works on voltage and earthing based so earthing is requred for this and earthing may be fail without proper maintenance. So in this way RCCB is better leakage current sensing device and also it is latest generation device.

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