Q9Basic Electrical Engineering
Question
2 marks
Explain MCB.
Answer
An MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) is an automatic electromagnetic switch designed to instantly protect circuits from overcurrents and short circuits.
Unlike a fuse that must be physically replaced after blowing, an MCB can be simply manually reset after tripping. It contains two tripping mechanisms:
- Thermal Trip: Uses a bimetallic strip that bends and trips the mechanism during prolonged, slow overloads.
- Magnetic Trip: Uses a solenoid coil that acts instantly to pull the trip latch during massive, sudden short-circuit currents.