“ DISTRIBUTION BOARDS”

Made By: Azeem Sajid

Electrical Engineer |HSE | Instrument & Controls

linkedin.com/in/azeemsajid53

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 Distribution Box

• A distribution board (also known as panelboard, breaker panel, electric

panel, DB board or DB box)
• A distribution box is a device that is designed to distribute electrical power.
• It takes the electrical power from the main power line and distributes it
throughout the home or building with which it's used.
Advantages of Distribution Box:
• They reduce tripping hazards and protect against dangerous electrical
problems in the field.
• For instance, distribution boxes protect circuit breakers.
 What are Main Distribution Boards?

• The main distribution board is a low-voltage switchgear that is installed

in a building or its detached part.
• The MDB is used to distribute electrical energy between the
distribution and final circuits connected to it in the entire electrical
installation of a building or in some part of it.
What is the difference between Main Distribution
Board and Switchboard?

The Main Switchboard may also be known as the Switchgear Panel and Main
Distribution board.

Switchboards are used to safely distribute electricity throughout commercial

and industrial facilities
Types of Distribution Boards

• Main Distribution Board (MDB)

• Sub Main Distribution Board (SMDB)
• Distribution Boards (DB) / Consumer Units (CU)
• Automatic Power Factor Corrections Units (APFCU)
• Motor Control Centers (MCC) / Motor Control Panels (MCP)
Main Distribution Boards (MDB)
• MDBs are generally Floor Mounted Type.
• There will generally be one MDB for an electrical
installation such as apartment, hospital, factories, etc.
• There will be more than one MDBs in large electrical
installations such as shopping complexes, hotels, etc.
• The Low Voltage (LV) output of the transformer will be
directly connected to the MBD.
• Sometimes, MDB will consist of Automatic Transfer Switch
(ATS) also in order to receive power supply from CEB and
Generator. The fault current at MDB level is very high as it
is very closer to the Transformer (10 – 15 m distance).
• It mainly consists of ACBs and MCCBs as the fault current
rating of these are very high.
• MDBs are generally made out of sheet steel of 1.5 – 2.0
mm thickness.
 Sub Main Distribution Boards (SMDB)
• There will generally be one SMDB per floor / section of an
electrical installation.
• The SMDBs are directly fed from MDBs.
• The fault current at SMDB level is lesser than that of MDB.
Nevertheless, it is more than the fault current ratings of the
standard MCBs.
• Therefore, SMDBs mainly consist of MCCBs and MCBs.
• SMDBs are generally made out of sheet steel of
1.2 – 1.5 mm thickness.
• These generally come as Wall Mounting Type. Nevertheless,
there are Floor Mounted Type SMDBs also.
Distribution Boards (DB) / Consumer Units (CU)
• These can be used to isolate the incoming main electricity supply
to specific areas of the building.
• Consumer unit is simply a distribution board that has been
approved as a suitable and safe electric panel design for use in
typical workplace settings.
• There will generally be one DB / CU in a designated consumer area
such as apartments, guest rooms, patient rooms, etc.
• These are directly fed from SMDBs.
• The fault current at DB / CU level is generally below 10 kA.
• DBs / CUs mainly consist of MCBs, whose fault current rating
comes as 4.5kA, 6kA and 10kA.
• DBs / CUs are generally made from sheet steel of 1.0 – 1.2 mm
thickness / Polycarbonate.
• These are feeding to all the final circuits such as light points, socket
outlets, etc.
• These generally come as “surface mounted” type or “recessed
mounted” type.
 The Main Components of the DB

• Circuit Breaker
• Neutral Link
• Earth Link
• Comb Busbar
Circuit Breaker:
A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit
from damage caused by overcurrent.
Neutral Link:
Link wire is that used to connect the phase wire to the neutral wire in order to complete
and close off the circuit loop.
Earth Link:
Earthing is used to protect you from an electric shock. It does this by providing a path
for a fault current to flow to earth.
Comb Busbar:
Comb busbar is one of the most basic switch gear instruments. The main purpose of a
comb busbar is to distribute power to switch gear components such as MCBs.
 Low-voltage & High voltage switchgear

• Low-voltage switchgear provides short-circuit and overload protection via low-

voltage power circuit breakers (LV-PCB) with integral trip units.
• High voltage switchgear is any switchgear used to connect or disconnect a part of
a high-voltage power system.
• This equipment is essential for the protection and safe operation, without interruption, of a
high voltage power system, and is important because it is directly linked to the quality of
the electricity supply.
 Types of Low Voltage Switchgears
Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB)

Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCB)

Air Circuit Breakers (ACB)

Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCB)

Residual Current Breaker with Over Current (RCBO)

MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Types of MCBs used in DBs

Single Pole Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB, SP)

• Single pole breakers are designed to serve low-voltage

circuits.
• These are the MCBs that you usually use to control specific
electric lines – socket outlets or lighting systems – in your
home.
• They can be used for general lighting outlets, fans, vacuums,
outdoor lighting, and air compressors.
Double Pole Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB, DP)

• Double-pole breakers have two hot wires that are

connected by a single neutral wire.
• If there's a short circuit on either of the poles' hot wires,
both trip.
• These breakers can be used to serve two separate 120-
volt circuits, or they can serve a single 240-volt circuit,
such as your central AC circuit.
Tripple Pole Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB, TP)

• TP MCB is used in 3phase 4wire system.

• It is denoted as TP+N which will mean a
three-pole device with external neutral link
which can be isolated if required.
 Four Pole Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB, FP)

• Four pole miniature circuit breaker

is used where is the possibility of
high neutral current (due to
unbalance loads multiple of 3rd
harmonics current etc.) and Neutral /
Earth Protection is provided on
Neutral.
• For the 4 pole breakers, protection
applies to current flow through all
poles, however when breaker trips
or manually opened, all poles are
disconnected.
 What is a Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB)?

• MCB is an automatically operated electrical switch in case of excess current to

prevent damages to the electrical circuit or appliances.
• In other words, the MCB is used for the protection against “Overload” and “Short
Circuit” conditions.
 How does a MCB work?

• Miniature circuit breakers are triggered by

overcurrent - electrical current that exceeds a
designated safe current and makes use of a
relatively robust mechanical mechanism
designed to minimize failures and false alarms.
• Overload protection – It is provided by
bimetallic strip using thermal operation. The
excess current causes the bimetallic strip
within the MCB to heat, bend and trip.
• Short circuit protection – It is provided by
electro-magnetic operation.
Components of MCB
Types of MCBs
There are different types of MCBs. The major types based on the
instantaneous tripping current, which are:
✓ Type B
✓ Type C
✓ Type D
 Type B MCB

• Type B MCB is the most sensitive type of MCB.

• Mainly used for domestic application and light
commercial applications, where the switching surges /
inrush currents are low in the range of 3 – 5 times of
the rated/ nominal current of the MCB.
• This is intended for circuit with resistive loads.
• Examples – Lighting, General purpose socket outlets,
Computers, etc.
 Type C MCB
• Mainly used for commercial and
industrial applications, where
the switching surges / inrush
currents in the range of 5 – 10
times the rated / nominal current
of the MCB.
• This is intended for circuits with
medium inductive loads.
• Examples – Induction motors,
discharge lights, etc.
Type D MCB
• This class is mainly used for heavy duty
commercial and industrial applications, where
the switching surges / inrush currents in the
range of 10 – 20 times the rated / nominal
current of the MCB.
• This is intended for circuits with highly inductive
and capacitive loads.
• Examples – Large induction motors,
Transformers, Welding plants, X-ray machines,
Capacitor Banks, etc.
Comparison of Tripping Current of
Different Types of MCBs

MCB Types Instantaneous Tripping Operating Time

Current
Type B 3 – 5 times the In 0.04 – 13 sec.
Type C 5 – 10 times the In 0.04 – 5 sec.
Type D 10 – 20 times the In 0.04 – 3 sec.
 Standards Applicable to MCBs
There are MCBs certified under IEC 60898-1 and IEC 60947-2.
✓ IEC 60898-1
It is applicable to MCBs of residential usage, it relates to A.C low-voltage circuit breakers for
household and similar applications– also known as MCBs (miniature circuit breakers)–
which we find in homes, schools, shops, and office electrical distribution switchboards.
✓ IEC 60947-2
It is applicable to MCBs of Industrial usage. This part of IEC 60947 series applies to circuit-
breakers, intended to be installed and operated by instructed or skilled persons, the main
contacts of which are intended to be connected to circuits, the rated voltage of which does
not exceed 1000 V AC or 1 500 V D.C.
Summary of MCBs
• The MCBs are used to provide protection against “overload” and “short circuit”
conditions in electric circuits.
• The MCBs are produced in compliance with IEC 60898-1 and 60947-2.
• The available nominal current ratings (In) of the MCBs are 0.5 – 63 A.
• The MCBs are available in 1, 2, 3 and 4 poles.
• The MCBs are available 240 V or 415 V.
• The available fault current ratings of the MCBs are 4.5, 6, 10 kA.
• The impulse withstand voltage of the MCBs is 6 kV.
• The overload tripping characteristics of a MCB shall be as follows:
➢Conventional no tripping current = 1.13*In
➢ Conventional tripping current = 1.45*In
RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICES
Residual Current Devices
(RCD)
• RCDs are used for protection against the risk of
electrocution and fire caused by earth faults.
• RCDs will trip the circuit within 10 – 40
milliseconds in case of an earth fault.

How it works?
• They are devices installed within an electrical
system unit to provide protection to the wiring,
fixed appliances and persons using the
installation.
• Protection is achieved by constantly monitoring
the electric current flowing through one or more
circuits that an RCD is used to protect.
 Operating Principle of the RCD

• The vector sum of the current (I1+I2) is equal to

zero in absence of an earth fault.
• The vector sum of the current (I1+I2) will not be
equal to zero in case of an earth fault as there
will be a leakage current to the earth.
• If the vector sum of (I1+I2) exceeds the rating of
the RCD under an earth fault, the RCD operates
to disconnect the circuit.
Available Ratings of the RCDs
• 10 mA RCDs – used for human safety in wet areas.
• 30 mA RCDs – used for human protection.
• 100 mA RCDs – used for protection against fire hazards.
• 300 mA RCDs – used for protection against fire hazards.
• 500 mA RCDs – used for protection against fire hazards.
• 1 A RCDs – used for protection against fire hazards.
• If higher rated RCDs are required, then Earth Leakage
Relays (ELR) are the options.
• ELRs will be used with SHT or UVR in order to achieve the
circuit breaking in case of earth leakage beyond the
acceptable levels.
MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Moulded Case Circuit Breakers
• MCCBs have higher fault current withstand capacities compared to MCBs.
• MCBs – 4.5kA, 6kA, 10kA and 16kA (rarely).
• MCCBs – 25kA, 36kA, 50kA, 65kA and 100kA.
• So, MCCBs are required to be used in places where the fault current rating is high.
• MCCBs are available from 20A to 2500A and in different poles such as SP, DP, TP and
4P.
MCCBs are used for the following's purposes:
• Overload protection.
• Short circuit protection.
• Isolation / Disconnection.
• Overload protection is achieved by a bimetallic contact as in the case of MCBs.
• Short circuit protection is achieved based on the principle of electromagnetism.
Characteristics of MCCBs
• Rated Frame Current (Inm)
The maximum current that MCCB is rated to handle. This defines the
upper limit of the adjustable trip unit.
• Rated Current (In)
This refers to the current that determines when the MCCB trips due to
overload protection. This can be adjusted to a maximum of the Inm.
• Rated Insulation Voltage (Ui)
This refers to the maximum voltage which MCCB can resist in lab
conditions.
• Rated Working Voltage (Ue)
This value is the rated voltage for the continuous operation of the MCCB.
This is normally the same as or close to the system voltage.
Categories of the Circuit Breakers
• As per IEC 60947-2, there are two main selectivity categories. Those are Category
A and B.
• Category A:
Mainly MCBs and some MCCBs comes under this category. In the event of a short
circuit, they trip immediately.
• Category B:
Mainly MCCBs comes under this category. In the event of a short circuit, they will not
trip immediately and hence allow the downstream circuit breaker to trip.
• The Category A circuit breakers will be used for the protection of final circuits.
• The Category B circuit breakers will be used in MDBs, SMDBs and MCCs /
MCPs.
Thank You