A question re: direct mains feed.

I have a Merlin Gerin ELCB, 30 amp capacity, 30mA sensitivity. So that's what I would recommend

Can anybody outline the difference/benefits of ELCB v RCCB ??

Without breaking the forum rules!

Cheers

Don

OK I did a google and these answers came up from one forum:-

1/ ELCB means earth leakage circuit breaker which operates when there is a leakage of current from phase to earth.
Rccb means residual current circuit breaker which operates when there is a difference in current between any two phases.This differential current is called residual current.


2/ ELCB is a voltage operated device.RCCB is a current operated device.IN ELCB, Trip coil is connected between system ground and non current carrying part of the machines.RCCB having CBCT(Core Balanced Current Transformer).CBCT consists of 2nos of primary winding (P1,P2) and one secondary winding(S1).Primary windings are
in series with the load and secondary winding connected to Trip coil.In case of healthy time, voltage in both the primary windings will be cancelled and hence no voltage on
secondary winding.During the leakage or If any body touch the live wires of the machines, current will passing through the body and connected to ground.It will cause the voltage difference in primary windings and induced voltage
in secondary operates the trip coil(operating time 50ms).

3/ No difference both are earth leakage protection device.

Good to know definitive answers are to be found on other forums too.

From another source:-

However, and this is where many people get confused by this, a standard RCD does this by electronic determination of the load current via the detection circuitry unlike the MCB's and RCBO's. The torus forming the heart of the RCD has a small detection circuit attached to it via an op amp. The magnetic field detected by this circuit is carefully measured and if it exceeds a certain thresh-hold, as determined by the maximum load rating, then it will disconnect the circuit

To clarify this, RCBO's combine the operation of the MCB and the RCD into one unit. The RCD part operates in exactly the same way as the standard RCD, however for overload protection the RCBO contains magnetic or thermal trips, in good quality units, such as MK, Merlin-Gerin and Hager, the RCBO contains BOTH thermal and magnetic trips, just as an MCB does.

It is these differences that dictate the use of such devices. RCBO's are used to protect individual circuits that need that extra level of safety, but overload protection is still a vitally important aspect, whereas RCD's are useful, in certain circumstances, for replacing Isolators in Consumer units, Distribution Boards etc where effective disconnection may be required in an emergency or for maintenance etc, but overload protection is not required.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Also what would be the recommended maker?

Latching or Non Latching (Active or Passive), may be more important than maker. A latching unit would switch on your entire HIFI simultaneously when power is restored after a power cut. I think.

quote:

Originally posted by fatcat:

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Also what would be the recommended maker?

Latching or Non Latching (Active or Passive), may be more important than maker. A latching unit would switch on your entire HIFI simultaneously when power is restored after a power cut. I think.

A good point , but how often does the power go out and come back, when you don't know?
I know there is a power up/down sequence, but only used when purposely powering on and off.

I guess a non-latch unit will prevent a non standard power up though.

What's worse - an instant re-start and continued power to the gear though perhaps not in the 'correct' start up sequence OR the gear being kept shut down after a power cut and effectively going 'cold' and needing some day(s) to come back on song...??