Electrical Protection Devices to Safeguard Your Home



Electrical disasters are unlikely phenomena when you have had the best builders construct your home. However, the electrical side is something that generally gets lesser focus from the builder or supervisor’s end. This could be why customers are sometimes heard complaining of short circuits, power failures, etc. in their new homes. All this could not only happen to new homes, but would pop out later in the future when you are least expecting it.
It is always best to stay on your guard equipped with the necessary steps to prevent these disasters from entering your home. As we, all are aware there are a variety of devices that are available to protect and safeguard our homes. These devices or equipments commonly referred to as the protective devices can be used to safeguard a variety of electrical devices, machinery or components. This is applicable across both electrical and electronic circuit to protect the devices from short circuits (over earth and current fault) with the installation of these electrical protection devices.
Prevention is always better than cure. Why take risks?
Before we reveal further details on what kind of devices are used as protective devices, you need to know about what kind of electrical disasters can arises we bet that no one has ever told you about.
  1. Overloading
  2. Severe shock (which arises when a faulty equipment comes in contact with the operator accidentally)
  3. Voltage variations that are irregular
  4. Short circuit (as discussed)
Here, look at the devices that you can install to protect your home from any of the aforementioned disasters:
  1. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)
  2. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)
  3. ELCB and MCB
  4. Grounding
  5. Fuse wire
  6. Residual Current Device (RCD)
So, how can all these help in protecting or safeguarding your home?
  1. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

This can be used to protect your homes from something that can happen in your home at any time of the day or night and it comes at the most unannounced time. But, let us stay prepared to face it.
A small leakage that might run into the earth or body of the device or appliance, which we might not be even aware of, can be stopped by installing this domestic safety device.
It will go over and trip on the device or appliance into which the leakage is running by protecting the operator from shocks or accidents. ELCBs are connected to the circuits of the device.
Here are the two types of ELCBs :
  • Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
  • Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
  1. Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB)

This device built on the principles of magneto thermic release acts as the bridge between load and supply. If you think you haven’t seen this device, you are wrong. Keep down your reading glasses and just have a look at the meter board of your house. It is all there.Usually, this device comes in the standard rating of 6A to 40A.
There are times when the current is overloaded or drawn above the expected or regular levels, so this is that apparatus, which will come into the rescue of the electrical or electronic device, that might otherwise get affected. All it will do is trip off the circuit when the load derives current above the usual level.
Things to know about MCB:
  • You can reset it and ensure that the supply is restored.
  • It is proactive at such a level that all the actions are taken in less than 5 milliseconds (blink of an eye!)
  • No repairs are needed
  • The switches are all switched off automatically in a heavy load situation
  1. ELCB and MCB

Yes, when both ELCB and MCB are combined, don’t you think magic can happen. You have already learned about their powers separately. So combining these can create wonders.The combined action of both gives double or triple protection to your home safeguarding your people.You already know that ELCB helps in protecting the appliances from shocks or earth leakages, while MCB is capable of protecting or safeguarding whenever the load draws current above the expected or set rate.
In addition, in the case of MCB, no rewiring is required. It goes back to the old state upon being reset.So, combine both these and ensure protection from overloading, leakage and extra protection for your appliance or devices.
  1. Grounding

Also, popularly known as earthing, grounding is something that usually helps in safeguarding all the electrical and electronic appliances.
The metallic body of your electrical appliance or equipment is installed or connected to the earth, which is why the process is known as either earthing or grounding.
The connection to earth is established using a wire with low resistance.
Why do we recommend earthing?
  • Have you experienced situations during heavy lightning or thundering when your electrical devices act a bit weird and you do not really know how to save the situation? Here is where earthing comes into the scenario. The lighting induced - high voltage is absorbed by the earth through the grounding wire, which protects the machine.
  • There are situations when appliances can sent out shock waves in case a live wire comes in contact with it. But, since the appliance is directly grounded to the ground, there is no shock emission and hence, the user is safe.
  1. Fuse

Yes, it’s the same fuse we are discussing here that everyone knows about very well.All the above-discussed four in one.Fuse wires positioned inside a fuse holder melts at low melting point and is manufactured using a material of low resistivity.

How does a fuse work?

  • Serially connected to the circuit of the devices that needs to be protected
  • This connection is usually running into the supply phase of current
  • In situations, where the circuit happens draw current exceeding the specified or stipulated load, the fuse wire will melt and break down. This is how the fuse protects the devices by disconnecting these devices from the circuit.

How to identify a good fuse wire?

  • Low melting point
  • Low conductivity
  • Low resistivity

Here are the two different types of fuse wires

  1. HRC fuse

Also known as the High Rupture Capacity fuse, it is manufactured to deal and manage high current. Unlike MWCs these need to be replaced. You cannot rewire these as they are sealed.
Why you should be choosing HRC fuse?
  • Offers a unswerving performance
  • High-speed
  • Reliable
  • Can be used with high and low fault current
  1. Cartridge Fuse

It gets its name from the shape that resembles a cartridge.Similar to HRC fuse, these cannot be rewired, but replaced as they come with seal.
There are two kinds of Cartridge fuses:
  • Heavy duty fuse that comes with a delay in time to act
  • General purpose fuse with no delay and ensures that appliances, branch circuits and fuse panels are well protected.
  1. Residual Current Device (RCD)

These could be used as alternatives to the grounding devices that we have discussed about.
Comes into the scenario and acts when there happens an imbalance in the flow of current between neutral and live wires. (Usually when the imbalance exceeds 30mA)
It is advantageous to use RCDs as they can provide protection to single or any number of circuits.Also, you do not have to worry that it will trip off the entire current system in your house in case of a leakage, but just the affected circuit.
An advanced version of RCD is the Residual Current Breaker Overload protection (RCBO).RCBO offers the combined functionalities of an RCD and MCB in one. It gives protection for a single circuit unit rather for a whole building.

These are some of the simple electronic or electrical protection devices that every home must have for safety.Check whether your home have these.




Comments