Introduction to MCB
MCB is a Miniature Circuit Breaker which is an automatically operated trip free switching mechanism that ensures protection for all electrical devices when excess electrical current flows through the circuit. It can detect the excess current and immediately cuts off the circuit to prevent any sort of damage in the circuit. This is actually the updated version of previous day fuses in circuits. They are better than fuse in providing better safety and accessibility. Unlike the fuses it does not even need to be replaced once the circuit breaks. Every time it can be rest to start working again hence cost wise also it is better than fuse. They are sensitive to any excess current flow and very efficiently immediately breaks the circuit to protect the devices. It never delays in breaking the circuit and prevents any sort of accidents. It is thus a useful name for ensuring safety both in residential and commercial purposes.
Some Marvelous Features of the MCB
The fast-acting BCMs have a wire that trips off when any fault arises. It makes it easier to detect faults. Its use of a knob ensures a better work process. It secures safety for human use and to the health of the electric device. MCB is a smart choice of usage as they are reusable, which makes it a cheap product. You don't have to spend lots of money on its maintenance.
The Working Mechanism of the MCB
A chain of reactions is lined together for the MCB to work. As you have read, the MCB has a bimetallic wire. This metal wire collapses in case of a current overflow or overheating issue. This, in return, opens up a latch that is connected to the operating mechanism. This then opens the MCB, and the MCB shuts off the circuit. It hardly takes a time of 2 seconds to complete the whole action.
After the process is completed, manual help is required for the MCB to start functioning again. Just switch it on to reconnect it with the power supply.
Types of MCB
The MCB comes in 6 different varieties, namely A, B, C, D, K, and Z. While Type A of MCB is best suited for semiconductor devices, the Type C MCB poses as the best choice for domestic uses.
Knowing About the Advantages of the MCB
You must now be wondering about the advantages of using an MCB? Let us jot a few of the advantages for you:
The first advantage is that you don’t need to invest in them a lot. They are reusable and are cheaper
Being more sensitive to current, it can detect faults as quick as a heartbeat.
It makes it very clear for you to identify the exact location of the fault
It has better usability than a fuse. It simply uses a knob to reattach itself to the current supply.
Keep these in mind and choose the best MCB for your electric circuit.
FAQs on MCB Full Form
1. What is an MCB?
The Full Form of MCB is Miniature Circuit Breaker. It is placed in a circuit to detect an overflow of power and heat. After it detects such a situation, it immediately shuts off the circuit.
2. How to Reuse MCB?
You simply need to switch the MCB on to get its functioning going after a short circuit. It uses a knob for reattaching itself to the current.
3. Are MCBs Safe?
MCB is a 100% safe product to use. They are more sensitive to current overflow, thus acting quickly to shut off the circuit. Since they are reusable, it becomes light of your budget as well.
4. Why is MCB better than fuse?
MCB and fuse both functions and ensures safety to the circuit and electrical devices when excess current flows. Though the principle of functioning is the same for the two, there is a difference between them in the principle of working. Fuse is just a piece of metal which breaks the circuit by melting and breaking the circuit and prevents the flow of current while MCB is an internal switch working on the principle of electromagnetism. MCB has some better advantages over fuse since it is MCB which can give a prior indication of overload which the fuse cannot. Using a fuse means lot of hassles since once the metal piece melts it has to be replaced by another while in case of MCB it only needs to be rest and just needs to put the switch on thus implying a fuse can be used only once but a MCB can be used for long time thus making it hassle free and sometimes cost effective. MCBS also provide extra protection against short circuits while fuse can only provide protection from excess flow of current. MCBS are also available in manually operated systems where the fuse is not available.
5. Are there any disadvantages of MCB?
MCBs have few disadvantages also. It needs a trained electrician to set MCBs since any unskilled electrician can often result in overloading the circuit rather than completely removing the circuit. MCBs are also more expensive than the simple fuses. MCBs are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Even the change in temperature of the surrounding can result in the bending of the metallic strip inside the switch and this gradually decreases its current capacity. It often fails and takes much more time to detect the excess current resulting in an accident.
6. Is it safe to reset the MCB of a tripped circuit breaker?
MCBs are like safety valves to protect the house, appliances and the family from any sort of electrical accidents. They generally do not fail in their duty. However the tripping of the circuit should never be taken casually. Often we do not know the actual reason for the excess current flow since a lot of appliances run at a time. A MCB can only be rest when you are very sure about the cause or the appliance which needs extra voltage and is the reason for excess current flow in the circuit. In that case only the load of that appliance should be removed and the MCB can be restarted to work again. However, in many cases even the electrical wires wear out with time and cause short circuits so MCBs in those cases should not be rest times after times without repairing the same. It may result in an accident.
7. What is the working principle of MCB?
MCBs trip the circuit when excess current flows in the circuit. They work as automatic switches which get off with excess load of current. The principle behind this working can be in two ways: one by magnetic tripping and the other by thermal tripping. When thermal energy is the cause it means the temperature of the bimetallic strip inside the switch increases and it bends and causes deflection in the metal thus tripping off the circuit. However in cases where the magnetic tripping occurs it implies that the magnetic field created in the metallic coil with excess current flow can result in bending of the trip and causing deflection of the metal thus tripping of the circuit and preventing any electrical damage or accident.
8. What is the purpose of studying the topic of MCB?
Purpose of study is to make us aware of everything that is going on in the universe. This prepares us to face and tackle them better. The students should study and learn with an aim to become suitable for the practical real world. Each and every concept of every subject is thus necessary for their full development. Knowledge about MCBs can make them aware of the fact how their home and family can be saved from any sort of electrical accident. They need to be a practical man and can apply their knowledge in their day-to-day life making it a better livable life.