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Circuit Protection

Circuit Protection definition

Circuit protection devices include products used to protect electrical circuits from damage caused by hazards such as static discharge (such as Transient Voltage Suppression diodes and gas discharge tubes) as well as products designed to reduce the risk of fire caused by electrical overload or circuit failure, such as fuses and circuit breakers. Related Circuit Protection Accessories designed for use with such products are also included, such as fuse holders, fuse pullers, and mounting bases for circuit breakers.

What is Circuit Protection

Circuit protection is the purposeful installation of a weak link in an electrical circuit to prevent a short circuit, excessive current or high temperature in a conductor. To protect the electrical circuit, there are a wide range of circuit protection devices in the marketplace, including electronic fuses, thyristors, gas discharge tubes (GTD), diode arrays, ESD protection, RCCB (Residual-Current Circuit Breaker), circuit breakers, etc.

Types of Circuit Protection Devices

There are various different circuit protection types, such as: Circuit Breaker, RCCB (Residual-Current Circuit Breaker), Inrush Current Limiter, Fuse, Gas Discharge Tube (GTD), PolySwitch, Lightning Arrester, Metal Oxide Varistor, Spark Gap, etc. Please keep reading, if you would like to get more detailed information about them.

Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker is a type of switch that protects against damage caused by a power surge or a short circuit. High-quality circuit breakers protect everything from power tools and appliances to medical equipment and networking systems. The circuit breaker is a necessary item in today's world and one of your home's most vital safety features. When a building's electrical wiring has too much electricity running through it, these basic devices shut the power until the problem is fixed. Household power would be impracticable without circuit breakers due to the risk of fires and other havoc caused by simple wiring issues and device failures. AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers), Standard breakers (single-pole circuit breakers, double-pole circuit breakers) and GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers) are the 3 types of circuit breakers.

Fuse

A fuse is an electrical safety device that protects an electrical circuit against overcurrent in electrical and electronics engineering. A fuse is made out of a thin wire that melts easily. If the fuse's current is too high, the wire warms up until it melts and the circuit is broken. Fuse comes in a variety of fuse types: BS88 HBC (High Breaking Capacity Fuses), BS1361/1362 cartridge fuses and BS3036 rewirable fuses.

RCCB

The RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) are the electrical safest device to protect equipment by promptly breaking an electrical circuit when current is unbalanced. There are two similar electrical safety devices with RCCB: RCD (Residual-Current Device) and GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter).

Inrush Current Limiter(ICL)

An inrush current limiter(ICL) is a thermistor made of transition metal oxide material sintered at extremely high temperatures. They have various benefits over their competitors, including the ability to provide a single-part solution. This eliminates the requirement for a resistor, relay, and timer, making the system more cost-effective and simpler.

Because they don't have any moving components or need logic control, inrush current limiters are also more dependable. In terms of power usage, they are more cost-effective in continuous operation. Finally, they can be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) or in-line in power distribution and control boxes.

Gas Discharge Tube (GDT)

A GDT (gas discharge tube) is a glass-enclosed, sealed device that traps an inert gas mixture between two electrodes. The higher voltage ionizes the gas, allowing it to conduct electricity and redirect the excess voltage to ground when a voltage larger than the GDT's rating is exceeded.

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Recommended Manufacturers

3MAbracon LLC.Adam TechAlpha and Omega Semiconductor, Inc.Altech CorporationAmerican Electrical, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a circuit protection device?

Fuse, electromechanical circuit breakers, and solid state power switches are all examples of overcurrent protection devices. They're used in just about every electrical system where there's a risk of overcurrent harm.

What is circuit protection components?

Circuit Protection Components are devices that safeguard electronic equipment's secondary circuits from overcurrent and overvoltage (static electricity). Chip type shields are more appropriate for creating compact equipment and match the criteria for high density surface mounting technology.

What is a circuit breaker and how does it work?

A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that protects an electrical circuit from overcurrent/overload or short circuit damage. After protective relays identify a malfunction, its primary job is to halt current flow.

Fuse vs Circuit Breaker: What's the difference between them?

Fuses and circuit breakers are both meant to stop electricity from flowing. They do so, however, through various ways. When the fuse is overheated, it acts like a piece of metal that melts. When an overload of power is detected, a circuit breaker activates a switching mechanism.

What is difference between RCD and RCCB?

Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) is an acronym for Residual Current Circuit Breaker. RCB or RCD are other names for RCCB. The terms RCD and RCB stand for Residual Current Device and Residual Current Breaker, respectively. 

The RCCB is an electrical wiring device that detects a current leak to the ground wire and disconnects the circuit. It also guards against electric shock or electrocution from direct touch. Residual current protection devices, such as RCBOs and RCCBs, are used to guard against residual current. The current flow in the line and neutral are monitored to provide this protection. The current flowing through the line equals the current flowing through the neutral in a healthy circuit.

In the case of any irregularities, however, this return flow may not be equal to the line's present flow. In this case, a residual current device will detect the situation and interrupt the circuit.

What is difference between RCCB and MCB?

The circuit breaker, also known as an automatic circuit breaker or a miniature circuit breaker, is a device that trips the entire system and protects the wires from harm if a fault occurs. The residual current device, on the other hand, guards against life-threatening disorders. RCCB monitors current leakage and protects against electric shock. That is the distinction between MCB and RCCB.

How does inrush current limiter work?

The inrush current limiter's nature is to self-heat when more current is supplied, generating heat, which causes resistance to reduce, enabling the current to flow freely. This self-heating phenomenon is the basic reason why the inrush current limiter works so well.

How do PTC resettable fuses work?

One-shot fuses are replaced by PTC resettable fuses. They heat up and change from a low resistance to a high resistance state when a short circuit occurs. Allowing them to cool (usually by turning off the power) restores their low resistance state.

What are TVS diodes used for?

High-voltage transients are protected by TVS diodes, which are employed to safeguard semiconductor components. Their p-n junctions have a greater cross-sectional area than a regular diode, allowing them to safely carry huge currents to ground.

What is the purpose of a varistor?

Varistors are used in circuits to protect them from excessive voltage surges. When a large voltage surge is introduced to a circuit, the result is almost always disastrous. Across the signal lines, a capacitor might be put. This capacitor, on the other hand, is incapable of suppressing voltage spikes.