Difference Between ELCB and RCCB

Difference Between ELCB and RCCB
Difference Between ELCB and RCCB

What is ELCB ? (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)

ELCB stands for “Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker” and it is used for protecting a person from electric shock and injury. The needs of these devices arise because of the number increasing in injuries as well as deaths because of electric shock.

This device is invented almost 50 years ago, but nowadays ELCB is not suitable because of its some disadvantages hence another device RCB (Residual circuit breaker) or RCD (Residual Current Devices) whose functionality is same with more advantages, but theory of operation is entirely different from ELCB.

What is RCCB ? (Residual Current Circuit Breaker)

Residual Current Breaker (RCB) works on the assumption that the current going to the electronics device must come out from the neutral wire, if there is no other way for current flow. In simple words, RCB measures the current going inside the connected device and coming out from the device. If both of these current are equal, then there would no problem with the normal functionality of the device.

Difference Between ELCB and RCCB



ELCB is working based on Earth leakage current.


Voltage operate

Current operate

Need good earth connection in order to function properly

Doesn’t need good earth connection working without earth wire

Low sensitive

High sensitive

  • AC =  used for Alternating Current

  •  A = Used for Square-wave

  • B =  Used to DC

  • AC = Used for Alternating Current

  • A = Used for Square-wave

  • B = Used to DC

Not recommended. Replace it with RCCD.

Almost all wiring systems use RCCD nowadays.


Less Cost


READ HERE  What is difference between MCB and RCCB?


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