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Cahier
technique
no. 114
Residual current devices in LV
R. Calvas
“Cahiers Techniques” is a collection of documents intended for engineers
and technicians, people in the industry who are looking for more in-depth
information in order to complement that given in product catalogues.
Foreword
The author disclaims all responsibility subsequent to incorrect use of
information or diagrams reproduced in this document, and cannot be held
responsible for any errors or oversights, or for the consequences of using
information and diagrams contained in this document.
Roland CALVAS
Contents
1 Introduction 1.1 The RCD: its scope p. 4
1.2 “Residual current protection” and “Earth leakage protection”: p. 4
two separate notions
1.3 The RCD, a useful protection device p. 5
2 The patho-physiological effects 2.1 Effects according to current strength p. 6
of electrical current on people 2.2 Effects according to exposure time p. 6
2.3 Effects according to frequency p. 8
3 Insulation fault protection 3.1 The installation standards p. 10
3.2 The direct contact risk p. 11
3.3 Fire protection p. 11
3.4 The “TT” earthing system p. 11
3.5 The “TN” earthing system p. 12
3.6 The “IT” earthing system p. 12
4 RCD operating principle and description 4.1 Operating principle p. 14
4.2 Sensors p. 14
4.3 Measuring relays and actuators p. 17
4.4 Product manufacturing standards p. 19
4.5 The various devices p. 21
5 Optimised use of the RCD 5.1 EMC: manufacturers’ obligations and what this implies p. 22
for contractors
5.2 A need: discrimination p. 23
5.3 Avoiding known problems p. 26
5.4 RCDs for mixed and DC networks p. 27
6 Conclusion p. 31
Bibliography p. 32
Outgoing
current i1 In
Load Id I1
i2
Source Fault i3 I3
Return Load
current I2
current Source in
id = ia - ir
30
20
10
66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
Years
Fig. 4 : graph showing the evolution of deaths by electrocution due to the use of hand-held tools in Japanese
companies. This figure begins to drop in 1970, the year after that in which a law was decreed making the use of
high sensitivity RCDs compulsory.
The patho-physiological effects of electrical sensitivity thresholds of people and of the risks
current on people (tetanisation, external and incurred.
internal burns, ventricular fibrillation and cardiac The International Electrotechnical Committee
arrest) depend on a variety of factors: the (IEC) has looked into the problem in order to
physiological characteristics of the person in pool, at international level, a variety of viewpoints
question, the environment (e.g. dry or wet) and reflecting and even often defending national
the characteristics of the current passing through practices, habits and standards. Many scientists
the body. have participated in this undertaking and have
As protection of people is the main function of helped clarify the subject (Dalziell, Kisslev,
the RCD, it is clear that optimum implementation Osypka, Bielgelmeier, Lee, Koeppen, Tolazzi,
of these devices requires knowledge of the etc.).
2000
1000
500
1 2 3 4
200
100
50
20
mA
10
0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 50 100 200 5001000 2000 500010000
Threshold = 30 mA Current flowing through the body
Fig. 6 : duration of current flow in the body as a function of current strength. In this chart, the effects of AC current
(15 to 100 Hz) have been divided into four zones (as per IEC 60479-1).
Id
RCD PE
RCD
Ud
RB RA
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
10 100 1 000 10 000
50
Frequency (Hz)
Limit
A type ID
AC type ID
Vigirex RH328A
Fig. 9 : variations in ventricular fibrillation threshold (as per IEC 60479-2) and thresholds of various RCDs set on
30 mA, for frequencies of between 50/60 Hz and 2 kHz (source: Merlin Gerin).
RB RA RB
RB RB
Auxiliary
supply
source
Fig. 11 : functional diagram showing an electronic RCD with auxiliary supply source.
4.2 Sensors
Two types of sensors are normally used on The current transformers (CT)
AC circuits: To measure the residual current of a three-
c The toroidal transformer, which is the most phase electrical circuit without neutral, three
common for measuring leakage currents. current transformers must be installed as shown
c The current transformers, used in HV and MV in figure 12 .
and sometimes in LV.
According to their technology Fig. 19 : the fault current, via the toroid, supplies
energy to an electromagnet whose moving part is
“Electromagnetic devices” (see fig. 19 ). “stuck down” by a permanent magnet. When the
These modern devices are of the “own current” operating threshold is reached, the electromagnet
type and use the principle of magnetic latching. destroys the attraction of the permanent magnet and
A very low electrical power (100 µVA for some) the moving part, drawn by a spring, opens the
is sufficient to overcome the latching force and magnetic circuit and mechanically controls circuit-
cause the contacts to open by means of a breaker opening.
mechanical amplifier.
Id
A
Id
B
t
Fig. 21 : fault currents stipulated in the RCD construction standards.
Fig. 22 : standardised values of the maximum operating times and non-operating times as per IEC 61008.
t
(ms)
500
200 S max.
100
50 G
20
500 A
10
1 2 5 10 Id / I∆n.
Fig. 23 : maximum operating time curves for “S” (selective) and “G” (general purpose) residual current circuit-
breaker or device.
5.1 EMC: manufacturers’ obligations and what this implies for contractors
EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility) is the manufacturers also propose devices with high
control of electrical interference and its effects: sensitivity and reinforced immunity such as the
a device must neither be disturbed nor disturb its Merlin Gerin RCDs of the “si” type (I∆n i 30 mA).
environment. Thus, confronted with this problem, installation
All electrical equipment manufacturers must service quality is only dependent on the device
naturally comply with certain EMC standards. chosen.
RCDs are tested for electromagnetic
compatibility (emission and susceptibility)
according to the European Directive which
u a
specifies compliance with a certain number of
standards (for example: EN 61543 for domestic
RCDs).
However, electrical installations generate or
transmit disturbances (see “Cahier Technique”
no. 187), which can be permanent or temporary,
alternating or impulse, low or high frequency, as
well as conducted or radiated, common or
differential mode, internal or external to
buildings. Overvoltage is one of the most t
troublesome disturbances. 1,2 µs 50 µs
Overvoltage withstand I b
RCDs can be sensitive to lightning strokes,
particularly on overhead networks which are
more likely to be affected by atmospheric
disturbances. In point of fact, according to the
distance of the cause of the disturbance, an LV
network can be subjected to:
c An overvoltage occurring between the live
conductors and the earth: the disturbance flows
off to the earth well upstream of the RCDs t
(see fig. 26a ). 10 µs
c An overcurrent, a part of which flows off in the
network downstream of the RCD, particularly via
the stray capacitances (see fig. 26b ).
c An overcurrent detected by the RCD and c
I
which is due to breakdown downstream of this
RCD (see fig. 26c ).
Technically speaking, solutions are known and
normally implemented by RCD manufacturers.
Such solutions include:
c For electromagnetic relays, installation of a
parallel diode on the relay exciting circuit. This
solution is used for incomer circuit-breakers.
c For electronic relays, use of a low-pass filter at t
signal shaping level (see fig. 11). 8 µs 20µs
Manufacturing standards make provision for Fig. 26 : standardised voltage and current waves
RCDs immunised against these stray currents: representative of lightning.
the “S” type RCDs (I∆n u 100 mA). However
RCD RCD
Vigicompact Vigirex
tr = 60 ms t = 200 ms
RCD RCD
Vigirex RH Vigicompact
tr = 15 ms tr = 60 ms
tc = 30 ms tf < 140 ms
tf = 45 ms
Fig. 29 : two examples of time discrimination, associating a residual current device of the Vigicompact type and a
Vigirex relay (Merlin Gerin). Note that these times are far shorter than the authorised tripping times in figure 24.
(A) (B)
Da Db
RCD RCD
1 Cp
RCD
2
3
Db (B)
RCD
Fig. 33 : in the presence of a fault, Da may open instead of Db. Use of time-delayed RCDs is often necessary to
protect against nuisance tripping on healthy outgoers.
3L
3L
3L N
3L
3L
3L
N
N
Transfer
N
switches
Bypass circuit
3L
N
Transfer switches
N
Power loss (Maintenance) Backed up
detection relay K equipment
Fault supplied by the self-generating UPS
Fault supplied by the mains
Fig. 35 : on detection of mains power loss on the UPS supply, the contactor K reproduces the TT system downstream of the UPS.
t (s)
5
2.5
1
0.75
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.08
Sensitivity
and
100 % Sinusoidal AC fault
On-load motor
and
50 %
90°
Off-load motor
20 %
and Ud/Udo
135° 0.15 100 %
R
ωt
N
ph B/
Television, battery charger, etc. Id
ωt
N
ph C/
Light dimmer, arc welding machine Id
ωt
N
ph D/
Household appliances with Id
motor (universal)
M
_
ωt
N
E/
Id
ph
R
N
ωt
F/
Id
ph
R
N
ωt
Fig. 38 : form of the fault currents detected on the single-phase supply of rectifiers when an insulation fault occurs on their positive output.
(+) H/
Rectifier set for: Id
c industrial DC network Fault on (+)
c electrophoresis
1
2 R
ωt
3 N
(+) J/
Variable speed controller for DC motor.
1
2 M
_
3
L (+) K/
Stationary battery charger for: Id
c DC auxiliary network Fault on (+)
c UPS +
1
2 ωt
N
3
-
NB: In this diagram, the smoothing Fault on (-)
(-) reactor (L) causes conduction
(cyclic and in pairs) of the thyristors
such that the fault point (+) or (-) is always
electrically connected to the neutral, resulting
in a virtually pure DC fault current.
Fig. 39 : form of fault currents detected on the three-phase supply of rectifiers when an insulation fault occurs on their output.
3 Da (A)
2 N
N
1
311 V
Db
-
(B)
i1
Ru
i2 Ru
Fig. 41 : the current of a latched fault at the rectifier output (non-opening of Da) may “blind ” the RCD placed
on B.
6 Conclusion
At a time when electricity, as an energy source, v to be provided in the case of very long
is playing an increasingly dominant role in outgoers in the TN and IT systems.
housing, tertiary and industry, it is useful to point c For protection of people against direct contact
out and quantify the electrical hazard and to risk, an RCD is very useful and often stipulated
further knowledge of Residual Current Devices. by standards as an additional precaution
These devices, like any others, have their strong irrespective of the earthing system.
and weak points. Not yet fully perfected, they c RCDs also provide protection against:
play an increasingly important role in the
v fires of electrical origin,
protection of people and equipment. All
industrialised countries make extensive use of v destruction of machines in the TN system,
RCDs, with a variety of earthing systems, both in v electromagnetic disturbances in the TN-S
industry and housing. system (neutral insulation monitoring).
Generally speaking, the following information is Present day RCDs comply with construction
important for installation standards and standards (see chapter 4) and continue to
practices: progress in terms of reliability and immunity to
c For protection of people against the indirect interference phenomena which are not
contact risk, an RCD is: ascribable to insulation faults.
v compulsory in the TT system, The purpose of this study is to further knowledge
v necessary in the IT system if there are several of residual current devices and thereby
earthing connections, contribute to the safety of us all.
063139L 06-99