FUSE VS MCB VS MCCB VS ELCB

What is FUSE?

Fuse is an electrical safety device that helps the electrical and electronics equipments from overcurrent.

What is MCB?

MCB stands for Miniature Circuit Breaker. It is designed to turn off electrical circuits automatically if there is a fault in the circuit, such as an overload or a short circuit. Traditionally, a fuse was used to protect the device from the issues mentioned, but nowadays, the fuse has been replaced by an MCB.

image

What is MCCB?

MCCB stands for Moulded Case Circuit Breaker. It’s a device that protects electrical devices from overload and short circuits by switching on and off. Fault sensing arrangements are installed inside MCCBs and shunt release is provided for remote tripping of MCB.

What is ELCB?

ELCB stands for Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker. It is designed to prevent shock due to earth leakage. It is designed to turn off the electricity if any leaking in electricity to the earth occurs.ELCB is also known as RCD (Residual Current Device)

image

Fuse MCB MCCB ELCB
Designed to prevent from overcurrent Designed to protect devices from overcurrent and short circuits Designed to protect devices from overcurrent and short circuits Designed to prevent shock due to earth leakage
Cannot be reused Can be reused after clearing the faults Can be reused after clearing the faults Can be reused after clearing the faults
Faster than MCB Slower than fuse Slower than fuse Slower than fuse
Cheaper than MCB, MCCB, ELCB Costlier than fuses Costlier than fuses Costlier than fuses
Less breaking capacity High breaking capacity High breaking capacity High breaking capacity
Can’t calibrate fuse accurately Can calibrate accurately Can calibrate accurately Can calibrate accurately

What is Fuse and advantages of fuse?

What is MCB and advantages of MCB?

What is MCCB and the advantages of MCCB?

What is ELCB and the advantages of ELCB?

Some useful questions

  1. How to identify MCB and MCCB?

|Properties|MCB |MCCB| |—|—|—|—| |Tripping circuit|Fixed |Movable| ||| |Interrupting Rating|1800A|10k-200k| |Remote on/off|Not Possible|Possible| |Rating Current|100 amps|10-200 amps| |Uses|Domestic use|Commercial & industrial use|

2. Which is better MCB or MCCB?

The MCB is primarily used for low-current applications such as home wiring and small electronic circuits, whereas the MCCB is better suited to high-power applications.

3. Why use MCCB instead of MCB?

MCCBs have as high as 2500 amps whereas MCBs are available in less than 100 amps. MCBs are mainly used for domestic purposes and MCCBs are used in commercial as well as industrial purposes. MCCBs are suited for high-power applications.