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Anonymous Poster #1

Elcb Tripping

12/26/2011 12:10 AM

a 3 phase 4kw Motor with no load,is connected through a MCB and a ELCB . i want to know whether MCB or ELCB trips when i remove one of the phases. the voltage is 400v ac.

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Guru
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#1

Re: elcb tripping

12/26/2011 3:46 AM

i assume it is a 3-pole MCB, and a 4-pole ELCB. The 3-pole MCB is nothing but 3 single-pole MCBs ganged together. This is not sensitive to phase-loss. The ELCB will not sense anything except earth leakage.

So neither device will trip when you remove one of the phases, provided the motor is lightly loaded. If it is running at full load, the two healthy phases will start carrying √3 x FLA, so the MCB will trip on overload in due course.

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: elcb tripping

12/28/2011 2:55 PM

If it is running at full load, the two healthy phases will start carrying √3 x FLA, so the MCB will trip on overload in due course.

At the time of starting if motor is fully loaded, it might not be able to produce enough starting torque and consume 5 times current which will trip MCB.

At running also if it is full loaded at single phasing condition probably motor will stall.

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Guru
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: elcb tripping

12/28/2011 8:46 PM

Do you mean the situation if the supply is only 2 phases at starting? If so, there will not be any rotating field at all ! The MCB will trip sensing locked rotor current.

Yes, depending on the design, a fully loaded motor may stall on single-phasing, but i have not seen this often. Mostly it continues to run, and the severe negative sequence currents can damage the rotor unless protection is proper.

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#5
In reply to #1

Re: elcb tripping

12/29/2011 5:23 AM

KVS! Are three pole ELCBs available in the market?

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Guru
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: elcb tripping

12/29/2011 8:01 AM

Not to my knowledge, 2 and 4 pole are what i have seen.

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#7
In reply to #5

Re: elcb tripping

12/29/2011 8:26 AM

Generally in motor circuit ELCBs are not used. Fire protection is provided through earth fault relays with trip setting around 300mA. They are of three pole type.

Digital clamp type O/L relays with inbuilt earth fault protection are wided used. Example Siemens 3RB series.

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#2

Re: elcb tripping

12/26/2011 7:00 AM

If you want each phase of the three phase supply to the motor to be monitored sensitively. Then you install a "Phase Failure Device". The "phase failure device" will take out all three phases if one phase is low, over voltage, or a short occurrs on it.

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#8

Re: Elcb Tripping

07/17/2023 5:18 AM

As the purpose of the <...MCB...> is to protect the wiring, of which details have been withheld from this forum, it is not possible to say.

To protect the <...Motor...>, a motor overload device is needed in addition to the <...MCB...>.

Why anyone would <...remove one of the phases...> is a mystery that remains unsolved.

The <...ELCB...> serves no real purpose if there is no risk of a human being being downstream of it.

If in doubt, consult a qualified local Electrician.

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