Residual Current

Circuit Breakers

RCCB

Contents
General Information..............................................................

24

Application............................................................................

24

How To Identify An RCCB From Its Markings...........................

24

Technical Specifications.......................................................

26

Working Principle...................................................................

27

Protection Against Hazardous Shock Currents........................

27

Protective Action...................................................................

28

The Installations Standards.....................................................

29

Selective Tripping..................................................................

29

Protection Against Transient Currents............................................ 30

Precautions................................................................................. 31
31

Dimensions............................................................................

32

Order Information.................................................................

33

R
C

Circuit Connection................................................................

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RCCB

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

General Information
Sigma RCCBs are designed to protect equipment and people from
low level ground faults. Typical applications include resistance and
impedance heating systems; submersible pumps; semiconductor process equipment and wet location equipment.
The RCCBs use the residual current sensing method to detect ground
faults. The units monitor the load currents and will trip immediately
should they detect any imbalance greater than the rated trip level.
Sigma RCCBs derive the energy required to trip from the ground fault
current alone. They will operate normally even if the system voltage
drops or if the neutral wire is disconnected. They will also operate
normally during long periods of over voltage.

Application
Sensitivity

Application

30mA

Tripping current designed for additional protection against direct contact, the 30 mA RCCB protects against leakage currents and
indirect contact with earth loop impedance up to 167 ohms; for use as additional protection against direct contact, residual tripping
current must not exceed 30 mA.

300mA

A lees sensitive protection suitable for large installations having high levels of leakage current: 300 mA RCCBs protect against
leakage current and indirect contact up to 167 ohms earth loop impedance

How To Identify An RCCB From Its Markings

Test button
Rated conditional
short-circuit current
On-Off indicator
Rated current
Rated Residual Current
Lowest operational
Ambient Temperature

Rated residual current In is the value of residual current

I specified by the manufacturer at which the residual
current circuit breaker must switch out under specified
conditions. Alternating residual current must release the
residual current circuit breaker within (0.5 1) In
Rated current In is the value of current specified by the
manufacturer, which can be transferred by the residual
current circuit breaker continuously. So the current In can
pass through the contacts for an unlimited time. Therefore
it is, for instance, possible to use a residual current circuit
breaker with In = 25 A in 16 A circuit.
Ambient temperature T for the residual current circuit breakers is (-5 +40) C according to almost all international

standards. Some residual current circuit breakers work in an extended range (-25 +40) C. This possibility is identified by the following symbol on the
rating plate.

Rated operating voltage Ue is the voltage the residual current circuit breaker is to be connected to and which properties are related to. The connected
voltage has no effect on the device function but on the function of the test circuit and isolation properties.
Rated frequency fn is the frequency the residual current circuit breaker is designed for and at which it works correctly under stated conditions. Majority of residual current circuit breakers are designed for fn = 50 to 60 Hz. As the residual current circuit breaker function is based on the induction
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Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

principle, the residual current behaviour and frequency show an effect upon tripping. When using a device designed for 50/60 Hz in a network with a
different frequency, the user must count on a change of the tripping threshold i.e. a change of In
Rated conditional short-circuit current Inc short-circuit strength. The function and design principle does not allow for the residual current circuit
breaker use for protection against short-circuit. For circuit protection it is necessary to use a circuit breaker or a fuse. These elements cut the shortcircuited circuit safely off . The residual current circuit breaker must only withstand the through-going short-circuit current. The amplitude of the
maximum through current is defined as rated conditional short-circuit current Inc. The short-circuit strength is then expressed by the current Inc. For
example, on the rating plate, Inc = 10 kA is expressed by the following symbol:

Residual current circuit breaker type AC reacts to sine-wave residual current it is used in conventional AC networks.

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25

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

Technical Specifications
Type

SGM-2

SGM-4

SHM-2

SHM-4

SDM-2

SDM-4

No of Poles

Rated Current

In

25, 40, 63

25, 40, 63, 80, 100

Rated Residual Current

In

mA

30, 300

30, 300

Hz

50-60

50-60

Rated Frequency
Current Sensitivity

AC

AC

AC

Tripping Time

< 0.3

< 0.3

0.13<t<0.5

Delay Time

ms

Without Delay

Without Delay

min. 130

240

240

Rated Voltage

Ue

Rated Inslutaled Voltage

Ui

660

660

Rated Impulse Voltage

Uimp

kV

10000

6000

4000

4000

20000

20000

IP 20 (IP 40)

IP 20 (IP 40)

Rated Short-Circuit Withstand Current

(With NH Fuses)
Electrical Life

ope.

Mechanical Life

ope.

Degree Of Protection (After Assembly)

AC

230

415

415

240

Ambient Operational Temperature

-25 / +40

-25 / +40

Storage Temperature

-40 / +55

-40 / +55

Dimensions

mm

mm

70

35

70

35

80

83

Colour

RAL 7035

RAL 7035

Assembly Way (EN 60715)

35 mm DIN rail

35 mm DIN rail

1.5 - 35

1.5 - 35

Connection Capacity (Min./Max)

mm2

Weight

gr

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26

35

194

334

203

339

203

415

70

339

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

Working Principle
RCCB works on the principle that in an electrical circuit the incoming current
is the same as out going current as shown in the diagram. RCCB incorporates a core balance transformer having primary and secondary windings
and a sensitive relay for instantaneous detection of fault signal. The primary
winding lies in series with the supply mains and load. Secondary winding is
connected to a very sensitive relay. In a faultless situtation, the magnetized
effects of the current carrying conductors cancel each other out. There is no
residual magnetic field that could induce a voltage in the secondary. During
flow of leakage current in the circuit an imbalance is created in the circuit
which gives rise to leakage flux in the core. This leakage flux generates and
electrical signal that is sensed by the relay and it trips the mechanism thereby disconnecting the supply.
When pressing the TEST button T, a fault is simulated via the test
resistance & RCCB trips.

The structure of electro mechanical RCCB

Protection against hazardous shock currents

Application
Protection against indirect contact (indirect personnel protection). Protection is provided by disconnecting hazardous high touch voltages caused by a short
circuit to exposed conductive parts of equipment.
When using RCCBs with In 30 mA, protection from direct contact (direct personnel protection) is also provided. Supplementary protection measure by
disconnection when live parts are touched.

Current ranges acc. to IEC 479

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RCCB

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

Protective Action
While RCCBs for rated fault current In > 30 mA provide protection against indirect contact, the installation of RCCBs with In 30 mA provides a high
level of additional protection against unintentional direct contact with live parts. The above diagram shows the physiological responses in the human
body when current flows through it, classified into current ranges. Current/time values in range 4 are dangerous, as they can initiate heart fibrillation
which can result in death. The tripping range for RCCBs with rated fault currents of 10 mA and 30 mA is also indicated. On the average, the release time
lies between 10 ms and 30 ms. The permissible release time, according to EN 61 008 of max. 0.2 s (200 ms) or 0.3 s (300 ms) is not reached.
Thus, RCCBs with rated fault currents of 10 mA or 30 mA provide reliable protection even if a current flows through a person as a result of unintentional
direct contact with live parts. This level
of protection cannot be achieved by any
other comparable means of protection against indirect contact. Wherever
RCCBs are used, an appropriate protective ground conductor must also be provided and connected to all of the equipment and parts of the system. Thus, a
current can only flow through a human
body if two faults are present or if the
person accidentally touches live parts.

Examples for unintentional direct contact

If a person directly touches live parts, two resistances determine the level of the current
flowing through the human body, i.e. the
internal resistance of the person RM and the
local ground leakage resistance RSt. For the
purpose of accident prevention, the worst
case must be assumed which means that
the local ground leakage resistance is almost
zero. The resistance of the human body is
dependent on the current path. For example,
measurements have shown for a hand-tohand or hand-to-foot path, a resistance of
approximately 1000 W.

I M:

Shock current

R M : Internal resistance of
human beings
R St : Standard ground leakage
resistance
R A : Grounding resistance of
all conductive parts
exposed to the grounding electrodes

For 230 V AC fault voltage, this results in a

current of 230 mA for the hand-to-hand path.
Schematic drawing: Additional protection when directly touching live parts

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Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

The Installations Standards

RCCBs may be used in all three distribution network types (DIN VDE 0100 Part 410) and in an IT network system provided that the capacity of the network to ground is sufficient to allow a fault current to flow which has the same level as the rated fault current. The IT network can still be monitored
using an insulation monitor. Both protective systems do not mutually interfere with one another.

Selective Tripping
Residual current operated circuit-breakers normally have an instantaneous release. This means that a series connection of such residual current operated circuit-breakers with the aim to provide selective tripping will not operate correctly when a fault occurs. To achieve selectivity when RCCBs are
connected in series, the devices connected in series must be graded both with regard to the release time as well as with regard to the rated fault current. Selective RCCBs have a tripping delay.
Selective RCCBs have the symbol

The table opposite shows a possible grading of RCCBs for selective tripping when the RCCBs are connected in series without time delay.

Main
distribution
board

Sub distribution
board
RCCB

RCCB

Selective version

RCCB

For undelayed
disconnection

undelayed

n = 300 mA

10 mA or 30 mA

= 500 mA

10 mA or 30 mA

n = 1000 mA

10 mA or 30 mA

0,3; 0,5
AI2_06168d

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Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

In1= 300mA

In2= 30mA

(ms)
1000

500

500
300

300

200

150

130

Tripping time

100

60
40

150

150

50

40

40

S
Delayed type

40

G
10

10

10

10

10

Without delay type

Undesired tripping
region

Tripping time span

Her iki anahtar stte:

10

15

30

60

In2

2In2

100

150

5In2

200

300

600

In1

2In1
In1
In2

Type

In (A)

In (A)

General
(Instantaneous)

All Values

All Values

Selective

>25

>0,030

1500 (mA)

500A
In

5In1

Rated residual current values for delayed

type
Rated residual current values for without
delayed type

Standardised Value Of Operating And Non-Operating Times (in seconds) At:

In (A)

In (A)

2 In (A)

500 A

0,3

0,15

0,04

0,04

Max. Operating time

0,5

0,2

0,15

0,15

Max. Operating time

0,13

0,06

0,05

0,04

Min. Operating time

Protection Against Transient Currents

In order to avoid nuisance tripping (unwanted tripping due to an impulse voltage) due to lightning surges, switching on high capacitance circuits and
switching surges, Rcd's series have a high level of immunity to transient currents.

Type A, AC..............................................................250 A 8/20

Type S, AC.............................................................3000 A 8/20

Transient current at 250A (peak current) at point on wave 8/20ms

(VDE 0664)
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Transient current at 200A (peak current) at minimised point on wave

0.5ms-100kHz (pr EN 61.1008)

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

Precautions

Wiring should be done by a trained & qualified electrician as per the wiring diagram.

All wiring necessary for operation shall be passed through the RCCB.

The neutral conductor must be insulated against earth to the same extent as the live conductors.

All equipments used must be properly earthed.

To ensure correct functioning care must be taken that the neutral conductor on the load side of the RCCB must not be connected to earth, otherwise
nuisance tripping may occur or tripping may be impaired.

Suitable device either MCB or HRC fuses shall be used for short circuit and overload protection of the circuit under installation.

Dont expose the circuit breaker to direct sunlight, rough weather and keep it away from the influence of magnetic field.

Circuit Connection

2 poles RCCB

4 poles RCCB

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31

RCCB

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

Dimensions

SGM-2 / SGM-4

SGM-2 / SGM-4

SHM-2 / SHM-4 / SDM-2/ SDM-4

SHM-2 / SHM-4 / SDM-2 / SDM-4

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32

SHM-

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

Order Informations

2P 30 mA 6 kA RCCB's

4P 300 mA 6 kA RCCB's

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

SHM-2

25

30

SHM2025030

SHM-4

25

300

SHM4025300

SHM-2

40

30

SHM2040030

SHM-4

40

300

SHM4040300

SHM-2

63

30

SHM2063030

SHM-4

63

300

SHM4063300

SHM-4

80

300

SHM4080300

SHM-4

100

300

SHM4100300

2P 300 mA 6 kA RCCB's

2P 300 mA 6 kA selective type RCCB's

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

SHM-2

25

300

SHM2025300

SDM-2

25

300

SDM2025300

SHM-2

40

300

SHM2040300

SDM-2

40

300

SDM2040300

SHM-2

63

300

SHM2063300

SDM-2

63

300

SDM2063300

SHM-2

80

300

SHM2080300

SDM-2

80

300

SDM2080300

4P 30 mA 6 kA RCCB's

4P 300 mA 6 kA selective type RCCB's

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated
Current
(In) A

Rated Residual
Current
In (mA)

Order code

SHM-4

25

30

SHM4025030

SDM-4

25

300

SDM4025300

SHM-4

40

30

SHM4040030

SDM-4

40

300

SDM4040300

SHM-4

63

30

SHM4063030

SDM-4

63

300

SDM4063300

SHM-4

80

30

SHM4080030

SDM-4

80

300

SDM4080300

SHM-4

100

30

SHM4100030
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33

Residual Current
Circuit Breakers

RCCB

2P 30 mA 10 kA RCCB's
Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated Current Rated Residual Current

(In) A
In (mA)

SGM-2

25

30

SGM2025030

SGM-2

40

30

SGM2040030

SGM-2

63

30

SGM2063030

Order code

2P 300 mA 10 kA RCCB's
Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated Current Rated Residual Current

(In) A
In (mA)

SGM-2

25

300

SGM2025300

SGM-2

40

300

SGM2040300

SGM-2

63

300

SGM2063300

Order code

4P 30 mA 10 kA RCCB's
Type
Code

No Of
Poles

Rated Current Rated Residual Current

( In) A
In (mA)

SGM-4

25

30

SGM4025030

SGM-4

40

30

SGM4040030

SGM-4

63

30

SGM4063030

Order code

4P 300 mA 10 kA RCCB's

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Rated Current Rated Residual Current

( In) A
In (mA)

Type
Code

No Of
Poles

SGM-4

25

300

SGM4025300

SGM-4

40

300

SGM4040300

SGM-4

63

300

SGM4063300

Order code

QUALITY CERTIFICATES

ISO 9001:2008

Do not risk your safety!

Ekiolu Mah. Yeni ile Cad. No:40 34794 Alemda - ekmeky / stanbul / TURKEY

Tel: +90 216 429 72 01 (pbx) Fax: +90 216 484 41 01

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sigma@sigmaelektrik.com