Why is a MCB important?

Hi!

Before explaining to you the actual concept of this post, let me share an incident with all of you.

One day, in the evening at around 9pm, my neighbor needed my help. After helping her, I was sitting reading a magazine. Then, her son came from outside and was feeling very tired. He wanted to take a bath. So he switched on the geyser and it caused an overload that left them in darkness. The sudden prolonged darkness caused a lot of problems as he couldn’t prepare properly for his exam which was the next day.

This can happen to anybody. But, do you know why this happened? This was because they were using a fuse and not a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB). Here, to fix the damage caused, they had to wait for an electrician till the morning, as it was already too late. If they would have used a MCB, it would have solved the problem. Unlike a fuse, a MCB can be reset immediately after the overload is detected and removed. So, in the above case, if a MCB was used, then it could have been reset immediately after the reason for overload was identified and isolated, and her son could have prepared properly for his exam, without facing such a problem.

Now let us come to our topic. Let me first tell you what a circuit breaker is. A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused due to excess passage of current. Its basic function is to detect a fault and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit breakers are made in various sizes, from small devices used to protect an individual household appliance up to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits to supply an entire city.

A MCB is a mechanical switching device which is capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and also making, carrying for a specified time and automatically breaking currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as those of short circuit. In short, MCB is a device for overload and short circuit protection. They are used in residential & commercial areas. Just like we spend time to make a thorough check before buying appliances like washing machines or refrigerators, we must also research about MCBs. Also, if you are still using a fuse then you must replace it with MCB.

I’m sure you don’t need any more persuasion to install MCBs as soon as possible!

Other than a MCB, there are also some products like RCCB and RCBO that prevent you from electric mishaps.

I will tell you more about them in our future posts.

Till next time,

Elex – Your Electricity Expert