What exactly is an RCD and RCBO? How do they work? And is there any difference between them?

TIME:

2024/08/23

Most domestic fires are due to electrical fires

Most domestic fires are due to electrical fires, the majority of which are caused by faulty electrical appliances connection, faults in installations and degradation or aging of the

electrical switchboard.
The statistics seem dire and depressing, but they can be avoided by regularly checking your electric switchboard and connected appliances and installing a Residual Current Device

(RCD) or Residual Current Circuit Breakers with overcurrent (RCBO).
What exactly is an RCD and RCBO? How do they work? And is there any difference between them? Let's answer these questions.
What Is an RCD?
An RCD is a type of circuit breaker that can automatically open the breaker in case of an earth fault. This breaker is designed to protect against the risks of accidental electrocution and fire caused by earth

faults. Electricians also call it RDB (Residual Current Breaker) and RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker).

This type of breaker always has a push-button for the breaker test. You can choose from 2 or 4 poles, Amp rating from 25 A up to 100 A, tripping curve B, Type A or AC and mA rating from 30 up to 100 mA.
Why Should You Use an RCD?

Ideally, it would be best to use this type of breaker to prevent accidental fires and electrocution. Any current going through a person more significant than 30 mA can drive the heart into ventricular

fibrillation (or throwing the heart's rhythm off)—the most common cause of death through electric shock. An RCD stops the current within 25 to 40 milliseconds before an electric shock could occur.
By contrast, conventional circuit breakers such as MCB/MCCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) or fuses break only when the current in the circuit is excessive (which can be thousands of times the leakage current

an RCD responds to). A small leakage current coursing through a human body can be enough to kill you. Still, it would probably not increase the total current enough for a fuse or overload the circuit breaker

and not fast enough to save your life.

What Is an RCBO?
An RCBO is a type of breaker that combines the MCB and RCD functionality in one single breaker. An RCB, as discussed above, can sense the overcurrent caused by the short circuit. RCBOs can come in 1 pole, 1 + neutral or two poles as well as with an amp rating from 6 up to 100 A, tripping curve B or C, Breaking capacity 6K A or 10K A, RCD type A, A & AC.

Why Use an RCBO?
You need to use an RCBO for the same reasons we recommend an RCB – to save you from accidental electrocution and prevent electrical fires. An RCBO has all the qualities of an RCD with an overcurrent detector.

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