Question

What is the use of earth leakage circuit breakers?

Answer 1

Hint
From the word earth leakage circuit breaker we can understand that it prevents the transmission of current in the circuit if it detects any chance of causing shock.

Complete step by step answer
Earth leakage: Earth leakage also known as ground leakage is the flow or leakage of current from the live conductor to the earth.
A standard electrical system has three paths that live neutral and earth.
Live (live conductor): A conductor or conductive part that conducts high electricity from the source that supply current.
Neutral: A conductor wire with zero potential volt.
Earth: A safety wire that connects earth to the metal equipment to prevent shock.
Earth leakage breaker is a device which is used as a safety measure to prevent us from getting shock due to leakage of electricity in the circuit. It detects the leakage of voltages in electrical equipment even if it is a small leakage.
This Earth leakage breaker was introduced to mankind about 80 years ago. The working of the Earth leakage breaker is simple. one terminal of the Earth leakage breaker’s coil is connected to the metal surface of the equipment to be protected against leakage and the other terminal is connected to earth directly.
If there is any leakage of electricity in any equipment and if the living body touches the metal equipment then the Earth leakage breaker will conduct the electricity to the tripping point associated with the circuit breaker to disconnect the power supply and power goes off, the live body is prevented from getting shock.

Note
Even though every electrical system has an Earth leakage breaker it is a good prevention measure to use rubber gloves and slippers whenever you touch or work with electricity or electrical appliances that have a high risk of causing shock.