What is Earth Leakage Current？
The unwanted, unused, waste current flowing from a live conductor or terminal to the ground or earth through the ground conductor or any other conductive path is called Earth Leakage Current.
In a standard and proper electrical installation, the current should be flowing through the live conductor, neutral conductor, and load with proper balancing. If any unbalancing happens, then it indicates the leakage current.
Leakage current not only occurs in the electrical installation system, but it may also happen with electrical or electronic equipment, circuits, etc.
Example of Earth Leakage
Earth leakage(with a high current) mostly occurs in electrical transmission lines(it can be called earth fault), transformers, and other electrical devices.
Earth leakage(with the medium and low current) occurs with electrical and electronic devices such as washing machines, refrigerators, micro oven, etc.
Earth leakage(with a very low current) or normal leakage occurs in electronic circuits, PCB boards, mobile chargers, radio-electronic devices, etc.
Importance and Effects of Earth Leakage
It is very important and must be considered with proper measurement, protection system because it is directly related to human safety from electricity, burning of conductors, fire, etc.
There are many bad effects of earth leakage. For example when earth leakage occurs in the transmission line a huge amount of current flowing to the ground, so it trips the main breaker installed in the substation. So the whole power system will be interrupted which will create economic losses.
The bad effect of earth leakage in electrical devices or equipment is an electrical shock hazard. If the equipment is double insulated or properly grounded there is a low risk of electrical shock. But if the equipment is not properly insulated or not grounded then there is a very big chance of electrical shock when anyone touches the equipment's metal body.
Protection Against Earth Leakage
ELCB and RCCB are protective devices that can give protection and eliminate the effects of earth leakage. ELCB means Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker which is specially designed for the protection of earth leakage from one source only.
RCCB means Residual Current Circuit Breaker, it also can be used for the protection of Earth Leakage. The advantage of RCCB over ELCB is, it can sens the earth leakage from anywhere in an electrical circuit and give protection against electrical shock.
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