Presented by :-

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Schneider Electric Egypt
1 - Dec - 2004

Risks
Short-circuits
Overloads
Earth leakage

Deterioration of conductor insulation

Surface" current flows
(water, dust)

Causes
phase to earth current flow (Ph/Frame)

Consequences
fire hazards
damage to loads

electrocution

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Risk of fire
250 mA is enough to ignite a fire

250 mA is enough to ignite a fire

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Damage to loads
Damage caused to an
installation

The phase/frame fault current

in some earthing systems may
reach several times the rated
current and is liable to damage
motor windings and age or
destroy magnetic circuits.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

What happens within a real installation or within an

?equipment

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

There is pollution and humidity on the surface of the. 1

insulation
Clamping unit
Conductive frame
Insulation material
Cable

A small leakage current flows through pollution and/or humidity

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

There may be tiny sparks during the drying stage. 2

Clamping
unit

Insulation
material

Conductive
frame

Cable

The dryest part cannot withstand the voltage, there

may be tiny sparks on the surface. Center of sparks is very
hot >1000C.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Certain places remain slightly carbonized. 3

Clamping unit
Conductive frame
Insulation material
Cable

Places remain carbonized after the drying-out

period ; the material is slightly damaged.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

The leakage current flows again during the next humidity period . 4

Clamping unit
Conductive frame
Insulation material
Cable

During the next humidity period a slightly greater current

flows on the damaged surface.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

During the following drying stage there are new sparks . 5

Conductive frame
Clamping unit
Insulation
material
Cable

The number of sparks increases, the carbonized surface

becomes wider, the material is more deeply damaged.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

The damaged surface increases over the months or years. 6

Clamping unit

Cable

Conductive frame
Insulation material

Bit by bit the resistance of the material decreases, the current

grows with each cycle.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

After a certain time the material may be ignited. 7

Clamping unit

Conductive frame
Insulation material

Cable

If the current becomes high enough, the sparks may be sufficiently

energized to ignit the material.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

What is the
solution : to
eliminate any
dangerous
leakage
current ?

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Risk of electrocution
Direct contact
IEC standards now recognize
high performance RCDs as
supplementary protection
against direct contact
electrocution, especially in
domestic applications.10 mA,
30 mA, may be used to provide
instant tripping of the faulty
phase conductor.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Risk of electrocution
Indirect contact occurs
when exposed
conductive part
becomes alive due to
insulation fault and are
touched.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Effects of sinusoidal alternating

current in the range of 15 Hz to 100 Hz
Risk of electric shocks

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Impedance of human body

Depends on different Parameters such as
-Touch voltage
-Current path
-Contact surface
-Dry or humid conditions
-Frequency
Values for Dry Conditions and large contact surface
Touch Voltage
50 V
220V
Impedance: (Ohms)
1450/4375
1000/2125
Calculations are often made with Z=1666 Ohms
(50V / 0,030A)

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Electric shock
-It is caused by the current that flows through the human body.
-The current depends mainly upon the skin contact resistance.
-The contact resistance varies with ( thickness, wetness and resistively of the skin ).
-In general :
Current<5mA is not dangerous .
10mA< current <20mA
The current is dangerous because the victim loses muscular control and so may not be
able to let go .
Current>50mA the consequences can be fatal .

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Electric shock
Resistance of human body Rb:
Rb : between two hands or between one hand and a leg ranges
from 500 Ohms to 50 K Ohms
if Rb = 50 K ohms
The momentary contact with 600 V may not be fatal .
I body = 600 V / 50 K Ohms = 12 mA
but if Rb = 500 ohm and voltage is as low as 25V ac
I body = 25 V / 500 Ohms = 50 mA (may be fatal )
the current is particularly dangerous when it flows in the region of the heart .

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Electric shock
statistical investigations have shown that a current may cause death if it satisfies the
following equation
Ib = 116/ square root ( t )
where :Ib : current flow through the body in mA
t : time of current flow second
116 : an empirical constant, expressing the probability of a fatal out come .
[ IEEE transactions on industry and general application ]
vol. IGA - 4, No. 5 , pages 467 to 475.
example:
A current of 116 mA for 1 s could be fatal .
Ventricular Fibrillation is considered to be the main cause of Electrocution

Breaking time for RCDs 30mA (300mS), 60mA(150mS), 150mA(40mS)

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Earthing Systems
The selection of RCD is according to [ section 533 NF C15-100 Rules ] and method of
earthing of power supply system.

T : Terre
I : Isolated
N : Neutral
C : Common
S : Separate

First letter
: Earthing of system ( Source )
Second letter : Earthing of metallic or conductive part of installation

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Grounding systems
IEC 364
TN system
TNS systems

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Grounding systems
IEC 364
TN system
TNC systems

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Grounding systems
IEC 364
TN system
TNC-S system

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Grounding system
IEC 364
TT system

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Grounding system
IEC 364
IT system

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

LV Grounding systems
LV electrical network may supply several types of applications.
Only one type of Earthing System cannot be suitable for all applications.
It is advisable to mix various Grounding Systems in an electrical
installation.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

48

Mixing of different Grounding systems

Series association.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Mixing of different Grounding systems

Parallel association.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

EDC
network
TN-C

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Actual Egyptian grounding

system
In residential areas
Consumer
installation

Hazards
In residential areas

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

F1) Direct contact fault loop

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Hazards
In residential areas

Hazards
In residential areas

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

F2) Indirect contact fault loop

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Hazards
In residential areas

Further Safety
All conventional grounding methods are
usually adequate (up to 65 % 70 % safe)
safety measures are needed in some cases.
Example 1:
suppose a person sticks his finger into a lamp
socket .
special case where a grounding wire does not
afford protection.
(direct contact with live terminal)
although the metal enclosures is securely
grounded, the person will still receive a painful
shock.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Further Safety
EXAMPLE 2:
Suppose a 220 v electric toaster falls suddenly into a swimming pool. The heating
elements and contacts will produce a hazardous leakage current through out the pool
even if the frame of the toaster is security grounded.
Therefore, devices have been developed that will cut the source of power as soon as
such accidents occur.
These ground faults circuit breakers will typically trip in 25 ms if the leakage current
exceeds 5mA

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Hazards
In residential areas

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Operating principle of Earth leakage protection

Detection

Tripping

Measurement

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

General Specifications
Number of poles 2 or 4
Rated voltage not exceeding 1000 v.
Rated breaking load current
Rated breakage earth leakage fault current.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Installation of RCD
General Notes
Every installation which includes exposed conductive parts should be protected by one
or more RCD
If an installation is protected by one RCD , This device should be Located at the
starting point of the installation
The exposed conductive parts of the protected appliance should be all connected to
an earth electrode of suitable resistance

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Installation of RCD
Depending on the type of the installation and the risks involved , it may be
necessary to provide RCD having different sensitivities in order to protect
different parts of the installation

It is also necessary to arrange for a measure of selectivity ( Coordination )

between the operation of the RCDs located at different parts in the
installation

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Measures of Selectivity
No Selectivity or only partial Selectivity
Horizontal Selectivity
Vertical selectivity

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Measures of Selectivity

DR
MS

No Selectivity or only partial selectivity

A. The installation is protected by a single RCD

DR
MS

B. The installation is protected by more than one RCD

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

DR

DR

HS

HS

Measures of Selectivity
C. The arrangement shown in the Fig. is
similar to the given in B but HS is replaced by
MS devices but their rated residual current is
less than half of the device on the supply side
eg.
If the normal leakage current of the devices
on the consumer side is 100mA therefore the
normal leakage current of the device on the
supply side is 300 mA

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Examples of Vertical Selectivity

(1) Two levels of Protection

(2) three levels of protection

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Permanent Insulation monitors PIM

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

What is the hazard (F4) ?

If the neutral is broken at the
upstream of a group of installations
supplied by different phases an over
voltage may happen leading to
destruction of loads.

If the neutral being broken,

houses 2 and 3 are supplied by an
artificial neutral.
Artificial neutral is created by
the downstream network.
The phase-to-neutral voltage is
then redistributed in the
impedance ratio and can reach
high level.
Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Upstream

Down
stream

MSU release
Protection against accident breaking of neutral

Install

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Connect

MSU release
Protection against accident breaking of neutral

Protect

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Proposed product range

1)

RCCB + MCB

Advantages
2, 4P for single or three phase supply.
Rating from : 16 to 100 A
Auxiliaries MSU (possible addition ) if MSU
In case of failure in neutral connection
Possibility to use 1-P & 3-P MCB K60N
Most economic solution.
Disadvantages
No solid connection between MCB and RCCB.
NO possibility to lock (Secure ) the wiring.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

MCB 3-pole

RCCB 4-pole

MCB 1-pole

RCCB 2-pole

Proposed product range

2) Vigi module + MCB

MCB 2-pole

Vigi ( RCCB ) 2-pole

Advantages
2,3, 4P for single or three phase supply.
Rating up to 125A
Auxiliaries MSU ( Same as before )
Solid connection between Vigi and
MCB.
possibility to lock the wiring.
MCB 4-pole

Disadvantages
MCB should be 2P or 4P.

Dipl. Eng. Tarek Ismail

Vigi ( RCCB ) 4-pole