Electricity keeps getting more advanced, and now it is easy to use and very efficient. There are so many things that make a system run smoothly without any issues, and there is a whole process for it.
Circuit breakers are a very important part of the entire system, and there are many different types of breakers these days, out of which MCBs and MCCBs are a major part. Here is what they mean and their difference:
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCBs)
An MCB is an automated electrical device intended to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by any excess current usually occurring from an overload or short circuits. The main function is to interrupt the current flow once a fault is seen or detected.
They have two where one is movable and can be shifted, and the other one is fixed and does not move. Once the current increases from the limit it was supposed to be at, the movable contacts get disconnected from the fixed contacts, the circuit receives open and disconnects them from the main supply.
Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB)
An MCCB is a Moulded Case Circuit Breaker; an electrical device made to protect the circuit from overloading. But unlike the MCB, it is used in places where adjustable tripping is required. The MCCB features a manually operated switch for the circuit that trips mainly used for high current applications.
MCCB has two arrangements, out of which one is for the over-temperature, and the other one is for over current. During the normal operating conditions, the contact allows the current to flow smoothly through the circuit.
In case of the current rising beyond the predefined limit, the contacts will get warm and expand until they get open. As a result, the circuit disconnects from the main supply, protecting the equipment from any damage.
Difference
There is a major difference between MCB and MCCB, and that is their capacity, but there are many other differences that are mentioned here:
- The significant difference between the two is their breaking capacity. MCBs are used for low current requirements, whereas MCCB is used for high power consumption to protect the circuit.
- Miniature Circuit Breaker protects the system from overload current and such issues, while Moulded Case Circuit Breaker is meant for short circuit faults and over temperature.
- The removal on and off is possible in MCCB but is not possible in MCB.
- The size of the MCB is smaller in comparison to the MCCB.
- Modern MCCBs have an alarm system, while MCBs don’t.
- The trip current of power adjusts in MCCB, but it cannot modify in MCB.
- MCCB has much more carrying capacity than the miniature breaker.
- MCB is meant to be used at homes or for domestic purposes, while MCCB is used for official areas and industries.
- The cost of the MCB is lesser than that of the MCCB.
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