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Module 11 - Fuses and Circuit Breakers

The document discusses circuit protection devices and their functions. It explains the five circuit conditions - normal, overload, short circuit, ground fault, and open circuit. It then describes common protection devices like fuses, circuit breakers and ground-fault circuit interrupters. Fuses provide overcurrent protection by melting when current exceeds their rating, while circuit breakers can be reset after tripping. Ground-fault circuit interrupters detect current imbalances and open the circuit within 5 milliseconds if a ground fault is detected. The document also covers related topics like ampacity, branch circuits and feeders.

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Cled Villas
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66 views25 pages

Module 11 - Fuses and Circuit Breakers

The document discusses circuit protection devices and their functions. It explains the five circuit conditions - normal, overload, short circuit, ground fault, and open circuit. It then describes common protection devices like fuses, circuit breakers and ground-fault circuit interrupters. Fuses provide overcurrent protection by melting when current exceeds their rating, while circuit breakers can be reset after tripping. Ground-fault circuit interrupters detect current imbalances and open the circuit within 5 milliseconds if a ground fault is detected. The document also covers related topics like ampacity, branch circuits and feeders.

Uploaded by

Cled Villas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES

EE 122 AC APPARATUS AND DEVICES

Cesar G. Manalo, Jr. Malayan Colleges Laguna


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Explain the five circuit conditions.


 Explain the function and construction of some circuit protection
devices such as fuses and circuit breakers.
 Explain the function and wiring connection of ground-fault circuit
interrupters (GFCI).
FIVE CIRCUIT CONDITIONS

1) Normal – normal circuit loading of a circuit is when the


current flowing is within the capability of the circuit
and/or the connected equipment.

15 A fuse 9.987 A
240-V source
0.001 ohm 24 ohm load
resistance
15 A fuse

Conductors rated 15 amperes


Conductor resistance = 0.015 ohms
FIVE CIRCUIT CONDITIONS

2) Overload – a condition where the current flowing is


more than the circuit and/or connected equipment. The
conductors begin to get hot, but the 15-A fuses will open
before the conductors are damaged.

15 A fuse 19.973 A
240-V source
0.001 ohm 12 ohm load
resistance
15 A fuse

Conductors rated 15 amperes


Conductor resistance = 0.015 ohms
FIVE CIRCUIT CONDITIONS

3) Short circuit – a condition when two or more normally


insulated circuit conductors come in contact with one
another, resulting in a current flow that bypasses the
connected load.

15 A fuse 15,000A
240-V source
0.001 ohm 24 ohm load
resistance
15 A fuse

Conductors rated 15 amperes


Conductor resistance = 0.015 ohms
FIVE CIRCUIT CONDITIONS

4) Ground Fault – a condition when a “hot” or ungrounded


conductor comes in contact with a grounded surface,
such as a grounded metal raceway, metal water pipe, or
sheet metal.

15 A fuse
240-V source
0.001 ohm 24 ohm load
resistance
15 A fuse

Conductors rated 15 amperes


Conductor resistance = 0.015 ohms
FIVE CIRCUIT CONDITIONS

5) Open circuit – a condition where the circuit is not closed


somewhere in the circuit.

15 A fuse
240-V source
0.001 ohm 24 ohm load
resistance
15 A fuse

Conductors rated 15 amperes


Conductor resistance = 0.015 ohms
FUSES

 Is a low resistance resistor that acts as a sacrificial device to


provide over-current protection, of either the load or source
circuit.
 An element in a fuse melts once a current that is greater than its
capacity is detected. Fuses must be replaced once their element
has been blown out.
 Prior to replacement of blown out fuses, its cause must be
investigated.
CIRCUIT BREAKERS (CB)

 Is an automatically operated electrical


switch designed to protect an electric
circuit from damage caused by overload
or short circuit.
 Its basic function is to detect a fault
condition and, by interrupting the
continuity, to immediately discontinue
electrical flow.
 Unlike fuses, CBs can be re-used by
resetting it (either manually or
automatically) to resume normal
operation.
CIRCUIT BREAKERS

 Types of Circuit breaker by Rating:


o Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) - rated current not
more than 100 A. Trip characteristics normally not
adjustable. Thermal or thermal-magnetic operation.
o Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) - rated current
up to 2500 A. Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation. Trip current may be adjustable in larger
ratings.
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 Types of Circuit breaker by
Construction:
o Magnetic Circuit Breaker
 uses a solenoid
(electromagnet) whose
pulling force increases with
the current.
 As the current in the solenoid
increases beyond the rating of
the circuit breaker, the
solenoid's pull releases a
latch, which lets the contacts
open by spring action.
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 Types of Circuit breaker by Construction:
o Thermal Magnetic Circuit Breakers - type found in
most distribution boards, incorporate both techniques
with the electromagnet responding instantaneously
to large surges in current (short circuits) and the
bimetallic strip responding to less extreme but longer-
term over-current conditions
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
Normal Circuit Operation

6A
L Equipment
N
6A
Equipment Grounding
Conductor (EGC)

The same amount of current flow from line to load and returns from
load to line.
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
Ground – Fault (Indirect Contact)

L 12A

N 6A
EGC 5.94A

Ground-Fault

.06 A
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
Ground – Fault (Direct Contact)
Ground-Fault
6A
L
N
5.9A

.1 A
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
 A GFCI is not an overcurrent device like a fuse or circuit breaker.
 Designed to sense an imbalance in current flow over the normal
path.
 Contains a special sensor that monitors the strength of the
magnetic field around each wire in the circuit when current is
flowing.
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
 If the current flowing in the ungrounded wire (hot wire) is within 5
milliampers of the current flowing in the grounded wire (neutral)
all the current will flow in the normal path.
 If the current flow differs by more than 5mA +/- 1mA, the GFCI will
quickly open the circuit.
AMPACITY
 Is defined as the maximum amount of electrical current a
conductor or device can carry before sustaining
immediate or progressive deterioration.
 Factors affecting ampacity:
1) Insulation temperature rating
2) Conductor electrical resistance
3) Current frequency
4) Conductor’s ability to dissipate heat
5) Ambient temperature
AMPACITY
BRANCH CIRCUIT
 The part of a distribution system consisting of circuit
conductors, between the final over-current protection
and the outlet or load attached.
FEEDERS
 The conductors between the service equipment and the
branch-circuit overcurrent devices are called feeders
INTERRUPT RATING
 Interrrupt Rating - It is the maximum short-circuit
current that an overcurrent protective device can safely
interrupt under standard test conditions without
damaging itself.
BRANCH CIRCUIT OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
SELECTION
 Where a branch circuit supplies a continuous load or a
combination of a non-continuous load and a continuous
load the RATING of the overcurrent device shall not be
less than the non-continuous load plus 125 per cent of
the continuous load.
BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTOR SELECTION
 Basic Rule:
 The ampacity of branch-circuit conductors must not
be less than the load to be served.
 Continuous Load Rule:
 The allowable ampacity of branch circuit conductors
before the application of any derating factors (for
higher ambient temperature and for more than three
current carrying conductors in a raceway or cable)
shall be equal to or greater than the non-continuous
load plus 125 per cent of the continuous load.
END OF SESSION

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