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ELCB / RCD Model: Earth Leakage Detection and Trip

Approx. component budget: Rs. 4,000 - 8,000

Objective

Build a residual current device model and measure its trip current and trip time for different leakage currents.

What you will build

A current transformer (core-balance) around live and neutral wires, an amplifier and comparator circuit with a microcontroller, a trip relay and a controlled leakage path with a rheostat.

Results you can expect

• Trip current threshold
• Trip time vs leakage current
• No-trip at normal load
• Comparison with the standard limits

What you will learn

Electrical safety, residual current protection, core-balance sensing and testing against standards.

Tools and notes

Current transformer, Arduino, relay, oscilloscope. Connects to mains and creates a controlled leakage path, so use an isolating transformer, current-limiting resistor and strict supervision.

Resume points from this project

• Built and tested ELCB / RCD Model: Earth Leakage Detection and Trip; objective: build a residual current device model and measure its trip current and trip time for different leakage currents.
• Measured and analysed trip current threshold and trip time vs leakage current; wrote the report and presented the results in a viva. Add your own numbers: [x].

Replace [x] with your own measured results. Write only what you really did.

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