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A residual-current device (RCD), residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB) or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) [a] is an electrical safety device, more specifically a form of Earth-leakage circuit breaker, that interrupts an electrical circuit when the current passing through line and neutral conductors of a circuit is not equal (the term residual relating to the imbalance), therefore ...
To address this the IEC introduced the term residual current device (RCD). Residual current refers to any residue when comparing current in the outbound and return currents in the circuit. In single phase circuits this is simply the line or phase current minus the neutral current. In a 3 phase circuit all current carrying conductors must be sensed.
Normally, a main switch, and in recent boards, one or more residual-current devices (RCDs) or residual current breakers with overcurrent protection (RCBOs) are also incorporated. In the United Kingdom, a distribution board designed for domestic installations is known as a consumer unit. [1]
To provide supplementary protection against high-impedance faults it is common to recommend a residual-current device (RCD) also known as a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), or residual current operated circuit-breaker with integral over-current protection (RCBO), which will cut off the supply of ...
When current flows from a line conductor to an earth wire, as is the case when a line conductor makes contact with an earthed surface in a Class I appliance, an automatic disconnection of supply (ADS) device such as a circuit breaker or a residual-current device (RCD) will automatically open the circuit to clear the fault.
Breakers for protections against earth faults too small to trip an over-current device: Residual-current device (RCD), or residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB) — detects current imbalance, but does not provide over-current protection. In the United States and Canada, these are called ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
Until the 1950s, isolated ground domestic mains supplies tended to have no Residual-Current Device or Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker , and too high a ground impedance to blow a fuse if a live-to-earth fault occurred. This could leave metalwork in the house live.
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