Are circuit breakers enough to protect us against electric shock?

avnishm said:
ELCB is useful when there is a current leakage via earth wire, e.g. Somehow current flows to surface of Geyser or Cooler and so when you touch it, the main board will be trip. However it wouldn't protect against scenarios when you accidentally touch a live wire because then the current doesn't flow via earth wire but directly through you. So in short, ELCB is great but RCCB is slightly better.
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So should we install both ELCB AND RCCB or will RCCB serve the purpose of both?
 
grenade0 said:
So should we install both ELCB AND RCCB or will RCCB serve the purpose of both?
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RCCB is enough, it does what ELCB does, but is not dependant on the ground connection being intact. Even if there is a leakage to ground wire (and ground is not shorted to neutral in your house), there will be a current imbalance between phase and neutral, causing the RCCB to trip.
 
Also search for rcbo. Rcbo is rccb with current overload and leakage protection. You can replace the isolator with rcbo if putting new box is an issue.
Rccb and rcbo has button to test if the protection is working. Old houses with improper wiring trips too much I heard. Not sure if replacing isolator with rcbo is allowed.
 
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RCCB's are mostly installed in modern apartments and its a common way to increase profit margins. these things fail very quickly and very often. Apartments have generator power backup and these things usually go bad during power switching. they just burn out. I had two of these replaced in my rented apartment and most people just had them removed all together.
 
freelancer said:
these things fail very quickly and very often.
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These are highly reliable devices that rarely fail on their own. They are built to meet strict safety standards and include a test button designed for regular user checks. In critical situations, they are often the only line of defense between safety and serious harm or even death.

In countries like the USA, multiple RCCBs are installed in every home or apartment, often with one per room.

If yours are frequently tripping or failing, it's a strong indication that the electrical installation may be faulty or not up to standard.
 
If you want the function of MCB and RCCB in one unit, you need to get a RCBO. Space occupied is the same in the DB box but easier wiring .
 
Desktop said:
Here is Photo of RCCB. The 2 in middle @ encircled are RCCBs.

Yes, You can get RCCB installed now. Get the electrician who did your MCB installation. After Installing RCCB, test its function by pressing the small button, it should trip the MCCB. Also get your earthing checked whether its upto specs and functioning properly.
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Thanks.
There is no earthing installed and we will get it installed soon. There has been few incidents where lightning has struck some of the homes in our area. So, Will rccb enough for such cases. Or should we install both elcb and rccb?
 
So
msvsme said:
For lightning, best is to have earthing and SPD installed. RCCB is not enough for lightning.
video of spd at work. Video pretty cool
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So for lightning strike we need to install earthing along with this SPD. THEN do we need to install ELCB AND RCCB TOO OR Will rccb serve the purpose of both elcb and rccb?
 
msvsme said:
Put
1. Rccb/rcbo
2. SPD. This needs earth. Google it.

If you’re already making electrician install it, then why not consult him.
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I live in a village, and the electrician Here are old school, they don't have much idea about these. If possible can you please tell me what kind of spd and rccb used for normal houses.
Thanks
grenade0 said:
I live in a village, and the electrician Here are old school, they don't have much idea about these. If possible can you please tell me what kind of spd and rccb used for normal houses.
Thanks
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Is this good?
 
Get schneider, havells rccb. Ampere rating according to your load.
For spd I use this: spd
I doubt that amicismart rcbo will last. It's better to use dual-pole-mcb/isolator+spd+rccb
 
msvsme said:
Get schneider, havells rccb. Ampere rating according to your load.
For spd I use this: spd
I doubt that amicismart rcbo will last. It's better to use dual-pole-mcb/isolator+spd+rccb
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So this is how the setup looks like now. Is it normal for rccb to not trip, when we tried purposely tried to shortcurit by touching to wires that were plugged in? Instead of rccb these green 10A mcbs were tripping.
 

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grenade0 said:
Is it normal for rccb to not trip, when we tried purposely tried to shortcurit by touching to wire
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When short circuit occurs (phase + neutral), it quickly develop very high currents - This trips MCB. Short circuit causes very high current instantly, not necessarily imbalance between phase and neutral.

Current imbalance between phase and neutral trips RCCB. i.e Loose Connection in sockets, plugs, accidental touch of any wire.

There will be a "Test Button" on RCCB, push it to test if RCCb is working or not. If RCCB trips on pushing test button, its working.
grenade0 said:
few incidents where lightning has struck some of the homes in our area
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Lightning Protectors SPD Type1 - are generally installed on high rise buildings, Mobile phone towers, solar panel installations, etc.

In homes generally SPD type 2 are installed in main switchboard i.e near mcbs and rccb - These help to handle switching surges i.e current surge on switching on/off high ampere appliances within the house.
Type 3 SPDs are installed in sockets of switch board sockets for sensitive appliances. generally to protect appliacnes from high voltages, main component being resistors or MOV.
There are SPD Type 1+2 - two in ones. don't have that in my home - consult electrician regarding this.
 
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