Unit VI- Protective Devices and Switchgear

1. Fuse
Functions of fuse:
 To break the circuit under fault condition.
 To provide overcurrent protection to the circuit.
 To provide short circuit protection to the circuit.
 To provide safety to the users.

Diagram:

Working:
Fuse is an overcurrent/short circuit protection. The working principle of the fuse is
based upon “heating effect of the electric current”. It is fabricated in a form of strip
or thread of metallic wire. The connection of the Fuse in an electrical circuit is
always in series with device that is to be protected. Due to the heavy flow of
current in the electrical circuit, the fuse gets melted soften and it opens the circuit.
The extreme flow of current may direct to the collapse of the wire and
disconnection of the circuit that is protected
Types of Fuses:
1. Rewirable Fuses
2. HRC Fuse
3. Cartridge type Fuses
4. D-type Cartridge Fuse
5. Link Type Fuse
6. Blade and Bolted Type Fuses
7. Striker type Fuse
8. Switch type Fuse
9. HV (High Voltage) Fuses
10. Cartridge Type HRC Fuse
11. Liquid Type HRC Fuse
12. Expulsion Type HV Fuse

Applications of Fuse:
1. Protection against overload and short circuit.
2. Electrical Appliances, like ACs (Air Conditioners), TV, Washing Machines,
Music Systems…
3. Electrical Cabling in Home
4. Motor starters
5. Cameras, Scanners, Printers, and Photocopiers
6. Automobiles, electronic devices etc.
2. ELCB
Functions of ELCB:
1. Provides protection to apparatus by detecting the unsafe magnitudes of leakage
currents diverting to earth.
2. Disconnect the supply to the circuit if line to ground fault occurs.
3. Provides protection to users by detecting the unsafe magnitudes of leakage
currents diverting to earth.
Diagram:

Working:
 It works on principle of relaying when the current in the earth path exceeds a
set value.
 Under normal conditions (IL–IN) = If is very low or nearly zero. The CT
surrounding the phase and neutral senses the differential current under earth
fault and actuates the CB to operate (open). The difference current If through
fault path resistance Re is the leakage to earth. If this value exceeds a preset
value, then the ELCB opens.
OR
 The ELCB detects fault currents from live to the Earth (ground) wire within the
installation it protects. If sufficient voltage appears across the ELCB's sense
coil, it will switch off the power, and remain off until manually reset. A
voltage-sensing ELCB does not sense fault currents from live to any other
earthed body.
Applications of ELCB:
1. It is used for safety of the operator
2. It is used to detect presence of leakage current in a device.

3. MCB
MCB is an automatic switch that opens when excessive current flows through the
circuit. It can be reclosed without any manual replacement.
Types of Miniature Circuit Breaker
MCB trip curve decides the type of MCB that must be used for different appliances
or devices. There are 6 types of MCBs, they are:

 A Type
 B Type
 C Type
 D Type
 K Type
 Z Type
A Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 2-3 times the actual
current rating. A type MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker is highly sensitive to the
short circuit, and hence we can find its application in the manufacturing of
semiconductors.
B Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 3-5 times the current
flow and finds its application in cable protection.
C Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 5-10 times the actual
current flow and finds its application in domestic as well as commercial appliances
like transformers, fluorescent lighting circuits, and IT equipment like personal
computers, servers, and printers.
D Type MCB trips off the circuit when the current exceeds 10-20 times the current
flow and offers high resistance. It finds its application in motors.
K Type MCB can withstand up to 8-12 times the current flow and finds its
application in heavy-duty load devices like compressors, winding motors, and X-
ray machines
Working Principle of MCB
When the current overflow occurs through MCB – Miniature Circuit Breaker, the
bimetallic strip gets heated and deflects by bending. The deflection of the bi-
metallic strip releases a latch. The latch causes the MCB to turn off by stopping the
current flow in the circuit. This process helps safeguard the appliances or devices
from the hazards of overload or overcurrent. To restart the current flow, MCB must
be turned ON manually.

Applications of MCB:
 Used in lightning circuits.
 Used in distribution feeders.
 Used in switching motors.
 Used in capacitors.
 Used in power circuits.
 Used in control transformers.
4. Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)

MCB vs MCCB

MCB MCCB

These are used for low energy MCCBs are used in high energy requirement
requirements such as small electronic applications such as high-power equipment in
circuits or home wiring industries or for commercial purposes

MCBs have ratings under 100 amps MCCBs goes as high as 2500 amps

It is a low voltage circuit breaker It is also of low voltage to meet

Trip characteristics cannot be adjusted Trip characteristics can be adjusted

Interrupting rating under 18000 amps Interrupting rating ranges from 10000 to 200000
amps

Applications of MCCB:
Used in
 Distribution feeders,
 Distribution transformers,
 Diesel generating sets
 L.T capacitors
 Rectifiers panels,
 U.P.S, Electronic equipment,
 Motors,
 Furnaces
5. Difference between Switch Fuse Unit and Fuse Switch Unit

6. Earthing
Importance of Earthing:
1. To provide an alternative path for the leakage current to flow towards earth.
2. To save human life from danger of electrical shock due to leakage current.
3. To protect high rise buildings structure against lightening stroke.
4. To provide safe path to dissipate lightning and short circuit currents.
5. To provide stable platform for operation of sensitive electronic equipment’s.

Types of Earthing:
1. Pipe type earthing
2. Plate earthing
3. Rod earthing or Driven Rod earthing
4. Strip earthing or Wire earthing
Methods of reducing earth resistance:
Earth resistance can be minimized using any of the following measures
1. By increasing length of the earth electrode
2. By increasing no of Earthing rods
3. By treatment of the soil.
Soil treatment involve treating the soil with a salt, such as copper sulfate,
magnesium sulfate, or sodium chloride. Combined with moisture, the salts leach
into the soil to reduce earth resistivity.