5 October 2019

Difference between RCCB and ELCB

ELCB measure the voltage in earth link wire or ground wire to trip whereas RCCB measure sum of currents in neutral and phase to trip. They both are different in function but not in design and speed. Let us have a deep insight into the definition of ELCB and RCCB and the difference between them in this article. 


What is ELCB?

The ELCB stands for, Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker, it is a  basically safety device is used in electrical installations with high earth impedance to prevent shock. It detects small stray voltages on the metal enclosures of electrical equipment and also interrupts the circuit if some dangerous voltage is detected.

What is RCCB?

RCCB stands for Residual Circuit Breaker, It is essentially a current sensing device used to protect a low voltage circuit in case of a fault. It contains some switch device that switches off whenever some fault occurs in the connected circuit. 

Difference between ELCB and RRCB :

  • RCCB is the new name that specifies a current operated new name to distinguish from voltage-operated while ELCB is the old name and often refers to voltage operated devices that they are no longer available and it also advised you replace them if you find one.
  • RCCB stands for residual case circuit breaker while ELCB stands for earth leakage circuit breaker.
  • ELCB is an old technology while RCCB is a new technology.
  • ELCB is connected to phase, natural as well as earth line, RCCB is connected only phase and natural line. 
  • Both are working for the same, but the thing is connectivity is the difference.
  • RCCB does not monitor the system earthing status. It monitors only the live and neutral while in ELCB ensure the system is connected on perfect earth which means ELCB sense the connectivity of earthing.
  • In ELCB cost is high compare to RCCB.
  • ELCB is not recommended over RCCB while in RCCB  is also known as the current operated ELCB.
  • ELCB detect earth faults that flow back through the main earth wire, RCCB will detect any earth faults, that's why they are using mow instead of ELCB.
  • ELCB is working based on earth leakage current while RCCB is not having sensing or connectivity of earth because fundamentally phase current is equal to the neutral current in a single phase.

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